Katha 2026’: Salaam Bombay Foundation Celebrates the Creative Talent of Students from Resource-Challenged Backgrounds
Mumbai, Mar 13: Salaam Bombay Foundation hosted its annual showcase, ‘Katha 2026’, at the YB Chavan Auditorium, providing a vibrant platform for students from resource-challenged backgrounds to present their talents in arts and media. The event highlighted dance, theatre, storytelling, music, photography, puppetry, creative arts, and podcasts, showcasing professional-level performances by young creators.
Students from government and government-aided schools, trained through Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Academy of the Arts and Media Academy, spent the year honing their skills under mentorship from industry experts including Uday Sabnis, Rashmi Varang, Priyanka Babbar, and photographers Hridgandha Mistry, Aslam Saiyad, and Prashant Nakwe.
Themed around the legendary voyages of Sindbad the Sailor, the event celebrated courage, resilience, curiosity, and leadership—mirroring the journeys of students navigating challenges, discovering new possibilities, and building life skills for their future.
Notable attendees included Padma Shri Waman Kendre, theatre director; Phulwa Khamkar, dance director; filmmakers Oorvzhi Irani and Prateek Kothari; singer Ishita Vishwakarma; and writers and actors from various creative fields.
Rajashree Kadam, Chief Sustainability Officer & Sr. VP – Arts & Media, Salaam Bombay Foundation, said:
“When students from resource-challenged backgrounds are given opportunities to express themselves through art and storytelling, they begin to see their potential differently. Platforms like Katha nurture creativity, build confidence, and equip students with critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills—opening pathways to meaningful careers and helping break the cycle of poverty.”
Since its inception, over 27,000 creative voices have been amplified through the Academy of the Arts and Media Academy. ‘Katha 2026’ offered students a professional stage to showcase their talents, gain exposure, and experience the transformative power of creative expression, reaffirming Salaam Bombay Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people to reshape their futures.
