Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Pic/Rane Ashish

Brun-maska for the macaw, please

A pet macaw pauses to pose in between hopping from one table to another at Koolar & Co in Matunga

The Five grow up

An illustration from Bruno Vincent's Five Go Parenting. PIC COURTESY/AMAZON.IN

When Jayadev Calamur (inset) was told about spotting Five on Brexit Island in a food court on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway by a family member, he dismissed it as some random rip-off. But recently, he chanced upon Five Give Up The Booze - another title from the series, Enid Blyton for Grown-ups - at the same location.

On returning home and researching this development, the communications professional was introduced to the parody fiction of Bruno Vincent fashioned after Enid Blyton's inimitable writing style. Calamur told this diarist, "Vincent uses phrases like ‘jolly smile' and describes food the way Blyton did. It's the same charm with adult themes."

Vivaan's Poe of view

In a departure from his hard-boiled pulp paperback works, actor-writer Vivaan Shah is set to foray into science fiction horror with his upcoming title, The Forsaken Wilderness. Announcing the book on his 33rd birthday, Shah revealed that it revolves around a civil engineer who sets off on a daunting trek to Ranibaug, a treacherous mountain peak. The title, which will hit the bookstores in February, is a tribute to his late friend Shiv Subrahmanyam, he told this diarist. It draws from a tradition of literature pioneered by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Joseph Conrad - which the actor, along with Subrahmanyam, explored in theatre. "It's a labour of love that I've worked on since 2014. It's my most ambitious work. Poe has meant to me as much as Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto have meant to my parents; it's a shrine to him. The prose style is quite flamboyant as opposed to the minimalism prevalent now. I hope people enjoy it," he added.

Also Read: Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Sri Lankan flavours return to the city

If you live in SoBo and are craving hoppers, mutton kottu, polos roll or prawn moilee, key in Hoppumm on a food delivery app. The Bandra outpost that had popularised Sri Lankan cuisine in the city, is back in a different avatar. "We pushed through the pandemic for as long as we could, but in its last leg, we were at our wits' end. We have thought our return through," shared its founder and head chef, Lakshit Shetty. They are currently delivering across town from a central kitchen near CSMT. "We are also looking at spaces in Bandra. A restaurant there will allow us to cater to diners in the area and beyond," he revealed. Shetty also revealed that Hoppumm has been catering for home events since Diwali and their catering menu comprises lamprais - a biryani from the country, Lankan squid curry, Jaffna prawn curry and cashew curry.

Ready, steady, go!

This Sunday, Juhu beach will host Q-Games organised by Humsafar Trust. Tinesh Chopade, its associate advocacy director, said that visibility was the main nudge for the event. "The games started in response to Section 377, but we have continued because of the still-prevalent stigma. As kids, many from the community had to refrain from playing their choice of games," he said, adding that the intent is to let attendees relive childhood games more inclusively. Anyone aged 18 and above, including allies, can participate.

Adieu, virtuoso

Jeff Beck. PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM

Fans of rock music were saddened with the passing of guitarist Jeff Beck. One of the most influential guitarists of all time, the 78-year-old passed away after suffering from bacterial meningitis earlier this week. Composer Dhruv Ghanekar described him as the most unique guitarist after Jimi Hendrix. "Jeff Beck is one of my biggest influences stylistically because he redefined guitar playing in the '70s," he said.

Dhruv Ghanekar and Ehsaan Noorani

Describing Beck's use of the tremolo, Ghanekar noted, "It was a very lyrical style, very veena-like, with Eastern influences," he said. Ehsaan Noorani agreed. "It was this amazing technique where he used his volume control and tremolo arm together to create a wailing kind of sound." Pointing out that Beck's skills only improved over time even till his latest work, Noorani stated, "He leaves a legacy of having influenced millions of guitar players. But out of all those millions; not one of those guitarists can sound like him."