Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Satej Shinde

Sweet new beginnings

A young girl in Dombivli sells batasha har (garlands of colourful sweetmeats) for the approaching Gudi Padwa festival

Parsi women power

Designer Ashdeen Lilaowala (inset), who is known for reviving the Parsi gara, recently joined hands with Iconic Women Project - an art platform for gutsy women, to put together a series on #IconicParsiWomen. The series brings to us Lady Meherbai Tata, who was an accomplished tennis player, Bhikaiji Rustom Cama, a prominent figure in the Independence movement, and India's first woman photojournalist Homai Vyarawalla, among others.

A model emulates Homai Vyarawalla and Lady Meherbai Tata's (right) style

Lilaowala shared, "We wanted to present these women through our rendition of their fashion. Each had a unique style sense. The elements used are from my 15-year-old archive." He told this diarist that Lady Meherbai Tata's costumes were more elaborate: "She sported gloves and diamonds quite effortlessly. While reproducing her style, we were mindful of making it all blend beautifully."

The Americans arrive in BKC

Suburban foodies can do a jig as SAZ American Brasserie will open their second outlet in BKC after debuting in Lower Parel. The new place that promises to intermesh the classic sentimentality of New Orleans' jazz-era with a chic feel is bound to bring cheer to their loyalists.

Radhika Dhariwal, its founder and managing director, said, "Patrons can expect a bright and airy feel during the day, and contemporary chic vibes at night. The outpost will be as suited for lunches and brunches as it will be for dinner. Our signature dishes include guacamole that will be made live, tableside, hand-rolled pasta varieties, and the decadent SAZ brookie. Our craft cocktails will surely be on the menu, too."

All hands on deck

Sir JJ College of Architecture, built in 1913, is Asia's oldest architecture school. The building, having witnessed the rise of the city, is calling out for some TLC. Architect, conservation consultant and alumnus, Rahul Chemburkar (inset), said, "We have invited former students for a clean-up drive at the school of architecture.

The structure has its legacy; our efforts will be directed at reinstating the building's heritage value by giving it a facelift, introducing new amenities, and beautifying the surroundings. For now, it is a cultural shout-out to discuss a common goal." The group will be gathering on the campus this weekend to decide their course of action.

Cine circle

The National Film Archive of India (NFAI) is back with its usual weekly dose of classics for lovers of cinema. "Film Circle, our screening arm, was on hold during the pandemic; but now its members can get unlimited access to Indian and foreign classics. In the Indian context, we will screen multilingual productions to experience different cultures. These will be held on Saturday evenings; the membership will also ensure free access to NFAI's library," shared Prakash Magdum, director, NFAI. Movie-lovers can find more details on nfai.gov.in.

A buttoned-up childhood

Actor and playwright Manav Kaul's second novel that was released yesterday, has an interesting title. Shirt Ka Teesra Button, his eighth book, derives its name from the vulnerability of a child who is not quite comfortable in the world he lives in. Kaul told this diarist, "Imagine a person looking at the third button of their shirt; that posture unravels a feeling of helplessness. I narrate the story of a child who wants to be someone else." Kaul added that he has attempted to fulfill an idea he used to mull as a young reader: "What if Bhagwati Charan Verma's character Chitralekha wrote letters to Rodion Raskolnikov, the protagonist in Crime and Punishment?" Read Kaul's Hindi novel to find out that answer.