With its shining glass facade, slick interiors and a sunlit lobby, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre could well have been a shopping mall where young Mumbaikars could while away a weekend. Instead, the centre, more commonly known as NMACC, is the cultural heartbeat of the Nita Ambani-led Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of her husband Mukesh Ambani's influential Reliance Industries.
Designed by American architects, the building lies within the precinct of Mumbai's much larger Jio World Centre, a business and leisure hub centrally located at the heart of Bandra Kurla Complex's commercial district. There are no designer brands inside, only humble artists who have set up studios and are busy weaving their indigenous motifs into hand-painted tapestries as curious onlookers stop and watch.
The NMACC opened with three centrepiece shows on March 31 — Sangam/Confluence; India in Fashion; and The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation. The first two are on public display until June 4, while the latter, a Feroz Abbas Khan-ran theatrical spectacle, runs until April 23.
Four-storey gallery Art House is currently hosting the group show Sangam/Confluence. The contemporary visual arts exhibition has been curated by Jeffrey Deitch and Ranjit Hoskote.
Featuring Indian artists such as Bharti Kher, Bhupen Khakhar and Ratheesh T, alongside global artists including Anselm Kiefer, Lynda Benglis and Cecily Brown, Sangam/Confluence aims to capture affinities between the East and West.
"Many great European and American artists have been deeply affected by their study of Indian art and philosophy. One of the important objectives of Sangam/Confluence is to further this Indian and international artistic dialogue," says Deitch, pointing to Kher as a perfect example of a truly global artist whose art straddles Indian, European and American traditions. Kher's sculpture An Absence of Assignable Cause (2007) is on display at the exhibition.
Also on display are late pop artist Khakhar's Fishermen in Goa; Self-Portrait in Kashmir Landscape (After Joachim Patinir) by Raqib Shaw, who was born in Kolkata, raised in Kasmir and lives in London; and German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer's There Are Still Songs to Sing Beyond Mankind.
The Great Indian Musical is an immersive theatrical performance that has been conceived and directed by Khan with music by popular duo Ajay-Atul and choreography by Mayuri Upadhya and Vaibhavi Merchant. The piece has been designed as an epic sweep narrating the cultural arc of India. Bollywood's go-to fashion designer Manish Malhotra has contributed more than 1,100 costumes for the musical, staged inside the 2,000-seat Grand Theatre.
Given India's rich textile and craft heritage, it is fitting to see India in Fashion: The Impact of Indian Dress and Textiles on the Fashionable Imagination being given such a pride of place. A short walk from the Art House, this captivating costume show takes up more than 4,600 square metres of pavilion space on the ground floor. It has been curated by English fashion journalist Hamish Bowles and designed by celebrated exhibition director Patrick Kinmonth and Mumbai architect Rooshad Shroff. Shroff says it explores India's history of textiles from the 18th century to contemporary times and how the different periods have "shaped our culture besides inspiring iconic Parisian fashion designers" such as Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel.
Across 10 sections, the exhibition celebrates the thematic narrative of India's fashion journey. Visually arresting, each enclosure is dramatically designed to reflect Indian architectural marvels and motifs — one recreates the Mughal gardens, while another reinterprets the Jantar Mantar observatories of Jaipur and New Delhi and the famous stepwells from Rajasthan and Gujarat.
India in Fashion exhibition at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre — in pictures
One section is dedicated to the journey of the sari, detailing how it has inspired western fashion designers, including Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jean Paul Gaultier and Cristobal Balenciaga.
"We wanted to create an immersive experience that takes these iconic garments and puts them into a space that serves as a tribute to the grand architectural moments of India," says Shroff. "The high-tech facilities at NMACC allowed us to work freely and creatively to achieve our vision. I don't think there's another venue like this in Mumbai that can bring alive a historical fashion statement in such a unique way."
Shroff has been working behind the scenes on the show for almost two and a half years, while Bowles, who is currently Vogue's global editor-at-large and editor-in-chief of The World of Interiors magazine, has been at it for "even longer".
Shroff, who holds a master's degree in architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design in the US, is hopeful that NMACC will be a creative outlet for the people of Mumbai. "While studying in America I had great exposure to the arts but when I came back to Mumbai I quickly realised the cultural vibe was missing here. That was the biggest vacuum I felt," he says.
Shroff is not alone in feeling that, despite Mumbai's reputation as being India's financial capital, the metropolis has always lacked access to world-class private museums with the kind of infrastructure and amenities that Indian visitors find on their cultural pilgrimages abroad. Many hope that NMACC's arrival on the cultural scene could remedy that void.
Mumbai is home to a few state-run institutions, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Dr Bhau Daji Lad history museums, as well as the National Gallery of Modern Art. However, as a privately funded cultural hub, the NMACC has the potential to stand out in the city, which has a population of more than 12 million. Its wider metropolitan area stretches beyond 22 million according to some research reports.
Speaking to The National, Tasneem Mehta, who runs the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, is enthusiastic about Mumbai's newest cultural destination. "We are excited for NMACC," Mehta says. "I can tell you that producing big art shows is an expensive affair. Funding is always an issue. But private institutions are much more nimble and have good budgets. My hope is that NMACC will be a game-changer for India."
NMACC has already been touted as a first-of-its-kind in India, particularly in the way it brings visual arts and performing arts together under one roof. “It is so much more than a space — it is the culmination of my mother’s passion for arts, culture and her love for India," says Isha Ambani Piramal, the only daughter of Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Like the rest of her extended family, Isha lives in Mumbai.
"It is commendable that the Ambani family could dip into their wealth, resources, connections and goodwill to build this centre. It proves Nita Ambani's commitment and deep respect for the arts," says Priyasri Patodia, a Mumbai gallerist. "It is not hard to see that this space will help foster many different art forms in the near future, primarily by providing a platform to folk artists, musicians or other talented performers with limited means."
Patodia was one of the hundreds of special guests who attended the centre's high-profile launch, which was followed by three days of festivities attended by international celebrities including Penelope Cruz, Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and Tom Holland, who mixed with Bollywood stars such as Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan. The event was dubbed the Indian Met Gala.
Scroll through the gallery below to see which stars attended the opening last month
"Right now, everybody is still talking about the opening. They can't get over it," Patodia laughs. "But once all this hype and buzz settles down, you will see that this space is meant not just for the rich and famous. It is for everyone who loves art and culture.
"I have always believed that art binds and NMACC, with its emphasis on inclusivity and diversity, will play a huge role in bringing people together."
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Squad: Majed Naser, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Khamis Esmail, Habib Fardan, Mohammed Marzouq (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalid Essa, Muhanad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak, Mohammed Jamal, Ahmed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Ahmed Rashid, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Wahda), Tariq Ahmed, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak, Jassim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Yousef Saeed (Sharjah), Suhail Al Nubi (Baniyas)
Company%20profile
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
