CREATIVITY IS PIERCING THE MUNDANE TO FIND THE MARVELLOUS. - BILL MOYERS
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Behind a Wildlife Photographer’s Lens
Wildlife photography entails tremendous patience to capture a precious moment. Join Mr Avishek Mitra as he talks about the challenges of clicking animals in their natural habitat and the stories behind some of his most cherished photographs.
Saraswati Puja
There will be no Friday Evening Special this week as we take a pause for Saraswati Puja. We look forward to seeing you next week!
PAST EVENTS
Cinema Cinema 3
We returned to conclude our three-part presentation on the history of Kolkata’s cinema halls. In this final session, Mr Saptarshi Ray Bardhan explored the single-theatre cinemas of South Kolkata, weaving together the evolution of cinema-going culture with the lived history of the city and its people. The conversation flowed from iconic films to the eateries that sprang up around these theatres, and even to patterns of consumer behaviour that continue to this day. It was a fascinating talk that left our members fondly reminiscing about their favourite movie haunts.
How Fake News Works
This was not our first session on fake news, but we chose to revisit the topic not only because it affects elders on a daily basis, but also because it is important to examine it from different perspectives. After last year’s session with an editor from The Times of India, we invited Dr Sramana Majumdar, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Ashoka University, to speak about why and how fake news circulates on social media, and how elders can steer clear of it. Our members engaged in an energising discussion on psychological manipulation through disinformation and ways to build emotional defences. As Ms K. Guha aptly noted, “The responsibility ultimately lies with us. We must pause and think before circulating news blindly. Thank you for such a cogent discussion on the subject.”
Cinema Cinema: Part 2
In the second part of our film adda, members were taken down memory lane as the conversation turned to the cinema halls of Central Calcutta: iconic English movie theatres such as Metro, Chaplin, and New Empire. Along the way, we uncovered several little-known facts and even picked up fascinating insights into the city’s history. The session left our members reminiscing fondly and eagerly looking forward to the final part of the series, scheduled to be held in two weeks’ time.
SE Clubs
NURTURING AND SHARING THE JOY POETRY BRINGS
"The crown of literature is poetry" - W. Somerset Maugham
Our poetry-loving members meet every week to enjoy the beauty of the verse. While some enjoy reciting poems by well-known poets, there are others who pen poems and are thrilled to dig out their long-lost poems—poems that they had thought had lost their value over the years. But we know that good poetry is perennial.
Watch TrailerCome and join us to express your love for poetry every Thursday. Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
TOGETHERNESS AND CAMARADERIE
Storytelling and connecting are the essence of ‘Adda’ or ‘Gupshupp’ as we call it. For our Gupshupp Club members, it is a time of unadulterated fun when they delve into their memories of yore or are in splits over someone else’s story or talk on pre-decided topics or even sing songs. The feeling of togetherness and camaraderie is what makes them look forward to each meet.
Members have discussions on pre-decided topics, chosen by all participants, the previous week.
Watch TrailerCome join us every Tuesday on Google Meet. Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Be Lit!
Organised every Monday 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the SE-Lit Club members have a most enjoyable time discussing different genres of literature in different languages, the culture and ethos of different cities, mythology and much more.
Watch TrailerCome and join our SE Lit Club every Monday
Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Let Your Hearts Sing!
Our Antakshari club members enjoy singing mixed with fun! They have to sing songs based on given prompts and retro movie clips or instrumental music is played and members need to identify the songs, the lyricist, music directors, the singers and so on.Watch Trailer
Join these exciting sessions to brighten up your Monday mornings from 4:45 p.m. to 5.45 p.m and enjoy your Tuesday evenings from 4:45 p.m. to 5.45 p.m
When Music is the Food of Life
Organised every Wednesday 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. members love singing songs of their choice—different languages, from films and otherwise, Rabindra sangeet, Nazrul geeti, Bhojpuri, folksongs and so on.
Watch Trailer
Organised every Wednesday from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

