Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Whispers

Fashion and farmers
Put your money where your mouth is, we've often said to the city's glam set. With so many causes in dire need of attention and support, it seems we can't do enough to extend a helping hand. Poonam Dhillon is doing her bit this week by rounding up a handful of her influential friends.

Poonam Dhillon making fashion worthwhile. File pic

The actress is hosting a high tea at Blue Sea in Worli on June 25, in aid of Maharashtra's needy farmers. From Anita Dongre, Anju Modi and Adarsh Gill to Tarun Tahiliani and Wendell Rodricks, acclaimed designers from across the country have contributed garments and accessories to the cause, with all the afternoon's proceeds going directly to farmers and their families.

One hears though that the charitable evening is for (ahem) a select set of invitees only... We say, fashion and farmers may seem to have a tenuous connection but as long as the needy get help, we say cheers to this cocktail of kisaan and couture.

Fluttering by in beauty
After Mumbai got its very own butterfly, the Common Mormon, a couple of years ago, it was the turn of all of Maharashtra yesterday to get its state butterfly, the Blue Mormon or Papilio polymnestor.

The Common Mormon. Pic/Sachin Kalbag

If you spot one of these lovely insects flying past, do stop whatever you're doing because the sight is mesmerising. It's like seeing a small aura of blue light dancing along. We spotted it once at a bus stop, and we nearly forgot to get into the bus.

The Blue Mormon. Pic/courtesy Rajesh Shah

And before you think that can't be possible, the Blue Mormon has been seen sometimes in gardens and even in the middle of busy traffic in large cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. So, keep an eye out for those gossamer wings.

The mice have it
Electronic dance music (EDM) DJ Deadmau5 (real name Joel Zimmerman) has, we hear, settled a dispute with Disney over the use of the characteristic exaggerated mouse ears which have become his trademark. Unfortunately, Mickey Mouse was there first and so Disney had raised a red flag.

Deadmau5 can go right ahead

However, Zimmerman has retained the right to use the ears (and the crossed "dead mouse" eyes) as part of his stage persona. Deadmau5, you may recall, had wowed us last year with electrifying (yes, yes) performances in the city and other parts of India. Good to hear he's going to keep looking the same!

Close encounters of the furred kind
Those of us who work late shifts are used to seeing our home neighbourhoods dark but by no means silent. While the security guards do their rounds hitting their night sticks on their favourite railings, there are some of us who have our own security-minded friends, the four-legged kind.

Of course, we are referring to dogs, and their tendency to treat the "colony" and its surroundings as their own area. They will bark at strange dogs, of course, but did you know that they also recognise vehicles? We wouldn't go as far as to say that they read number plates, but the dogs we have met "challenge" vehicles that are not from the premises, barking until the human security goes to investigate.

And "known" vehicles are greeted with a tailwag even before the occupants have emerged. If anyone wants to do a scientific study of this, we are glad to help!