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Senior members of the audience dancing in the aisles and even on stage, "fun and frolic,” and an update on the proposed merger of the two residents’ welfare associations within Nowroz Baug marked the 73rd annual cultural program of the Nowroze Baug Play Centre (NPC) at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium on June 15, 2024. Titled "Ek Shaam -- Sangeet Ke Naam (An evening dedicated to music),” the nearly full house was "enthralled” by the performances of Nitin Sampat and his team of budding talents, who are also his students, noted Naznin Govadia, NPC cultural secretary. "The event was filled with melodies from new and old Bollywood numbers.”  Sampat’s daughter, 15-year-old Tatsavi, was part of the troupe. The highlight of the evening was the non-stop medley before the interval and towards the end of the show. The evening started with the playing of the national anthem. Govadia gave the welcome address.

Homi Ustad, NPC president, highlighted some of the developments and initiatives taken by the Centre for its activities in education, medical assistance and also in the field of sports. The older of the two welfare associations, the N. N. Wadia Welfare League, is slated for merger with NPC (see "Accord among associations,” Parsiana, July 7-20, 2023). "Though the paperwork and approvals may take some time, the ball has started rolling,” stated Ustad. 

Nitin, an accomplished vocalist, dedicated guru and talented composer, who was trained in classical Sangeet Visharad from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, is a disciple of renowned veteran Hindustani classical singer Pt Dinkar Kaikini. He threw light on the contribution of Parsi musicians, Kersi Lord and Homi Mulla "for background music with different type of instruments in earlier days where technology was not used or even heard of.”

In her vote of thanks Govadia noted that the event was sponsored by former Bombay High Court Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla and World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) Trust Funds, and powered by Reliance.                        F. J.