Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

That film Arundhati Roy wrote
Arundhati Roy, winner of Booker Prize for the cult novel, God of Small Things, has declared that she is returning her National Award for Best Screenplay in 1989 for the film, In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones.

Arundhati Roy

The fact, that this was the first big award for the writer, might come as a surprise to many as her engagement with cinema has been much less talked about after the Booker glory, and recent political essays.

The film, which is now available on YouTube, is the story of an architecture student, Anand Grover, better known as Annie, who is victimised for making fun of his principal and repeating his fifth year for the fourth time.

He spends his days in the hostel daydreaming about socially useful architecture. It portrays a delightful inside view of student life in Delhi of a hip time gone by, and features Roy as student. For Shah Rukh Khan fans, he appears on screen in a teeny role too. Time to check it out?

When music fuses for a cause
Philanthropy seems to be Niladri Kumar's middle name. Just a month ago, he announced a national tour as a tribute to the International Year of The Girl Child. This Wednesday, Kumar performed for another cause.

Niladri Kumar (third from left) at the concert at NCPA

SoBo's audiences were treated to a delightful music ensemble when Kumar took to the stage with his signature Zitar (an electric sitar). Accompanying him were aces Gino Banks (drums), Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla) and Sheldon D'Silva (guitar).

The proceeds from the fusion concert will go towards charitable initiatives such as curative cancer for children (through The Tata Memorial Hospital), solving health problems of underprivileged kids, rural development and women's empowerment. Salute!

Love all, actually!
Shuttler Jwala Gutta's ‘Love All' tattoo, caught our eye at an event. Also in pic is her on-court doubles partner, Ashwini Ponappa.

Shuttler Jwala Gutta. Pic/Atul Kamble

Cheers to this street
Asado in Bandra, which had downed shutters a month ago, is back in a new format, as Asado The Cocktail Street. On offer are heady cocktails with innovative presentations (think cocktail for a group served in what looks like a Mayan pyramid, and test tubes for DIY). They plan to offer indoor and al fresco seating options starting November 9.

How Bollywood got framed
(Extreme right) Photo journalist Fawzan Hussain peeks into a page from his book, Silver Screen & Beyond, released on Wednesday evening on the terrace of Jehangir Art Gallery.

Pics/Atul Kamble

Instead of getting an A-lister, Hussain invited veterans, (left-right) lightman Mohan Mishra, production hand, Salim Shaikh and background artist, Narayan Rathod to release this visual tribute.

All Stir Fry in Sahar
Another bit of food news that excited us is that Colaba's All Stir Fry (Gordon House Hotel) is heading to Andheri. Known for its interactive noodle and produce bar and a la carte options, it is set to open doors at Waterstone's Hotel in a few weeks.