Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

The inheritance of loss

A child plays with a calculator while her father checks the accounts in a shop in Malad

Catch 'em young

A young boy shoots a scene for his Filmit project

Children always find a new perspective for things, and INTACH's Greater Mumbai chapter in association with its Heritage Education and Communication Services Division is tapping into that talent. The organisation is holding Filmit - the annual curation of films made by students, for students - at the Sir JJ School of Applied Art today.

Katyayani Agarwal (inset), convenor, said that children from across 15 Indian cities had spent the last year documenting projects that offered a new overview on communities around them. "The communities that these children document through the films are part of our ongoing heritage," she said. Agarwal noted that the films are an insight into the new generation. "We want them to experience their perspective and the outlook of other kids who have been invited to participate in the festival."

Also Read: Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Running with the stars

Devika Sundar

Two marathons slated for this Sunday will push runners to put their best foot forward for the sake of health - theirs, their family's and the environment's. Neha Dhupia will flag off the Lupin Aptivate Champion Run 2023 for kids at MMRDA, Bandra. Dhupia shared, "As a mother of two, I closely connect with the cause. Easy access to electronics and fewer play areas have resulted in an almost sedentary lifestyle among kids. There is a dire need to increase awareness among parents about focussing on physical activities for children and boosting their appetite to improve well-being." Milind Soman will lead the runners at the ninth edition of Hiranandani Thane Half Marathon. This year's marathon is called Run For Earth, where participants will pledge to reduce their carbon footprint. Stressing on the importance of incorporating eco-friendly practices into our daily life, Soman told this diarist, "We have the power to make a significant impact on the planet and create a better world for ourselves and for future generations, and inspire people to take small yet meaningful steps toward a healthier and sustainable future."

Opening up the white cube space

Milind Soman. PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM

A well-balanced list of programmes covering pertinent topics helps the ongoing India Art Fair 2023 widen its audience. Disability (with)in the arts: Looking Inwards, a panel discussion part of the Align and Disrupt Series curated by Shaleen Wadhwana includes Nu Mishra, Devika Sundar and Anahita Sarabhai. Nu will explore the politics of entering an art space. "For instance, I'm given help more readily than someone with an invisible disability," They explain. Sundar shared, "Many art spaces have physical barriers. [I'll talk about] intentionally creating spaces of rest, experiences that welcome different bodies, ways of physical engagement and multisensorial spaces where you can engage with art not just through visuals."

Wah! Ustad

(From left) Pandit Tejendra Majumder with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan during a tour

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan's prowess with the sarod was well known, but the legendary sarod player was just as skilled with the gearbox, shared his disciple, Pandit Tejendra Majumdar. The musician noted that Khan saab and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi were among the two rare classical musicians who loved their cars. "Khan saab would drive for concerts from Bombay to Calcutta on his own. He loved to drive and even drove a Cadillac while in Canada," Majumdar revealed. Set to pay tribute to Khan saab with a concert in the city this weekend, Majumdar recalled how his teacher's knowledge of roads surprised him during a trip in the '90s. "He was bored and wanted to go out to eat at a small restaurant in Churchgate. At the time, there was no Google map for directions, and we were not too familiar. He drove right to the spot without any directions, despite having spent a lot of time travelling abroad."

The elephant smiles

A spread from the Gajapati Kulapati series. Pic Courtesy/Pinterest

What role can a children's book series play in a fragmented world? "It unites people across cultures and languages," says Mukul Deora, founder of Lava Media - the production firm behind the Oscar and BAFTA-nominated film, The White Tiger. The company recently acquired the rights for Gajapati Kulpati by Ashok Rajagopalan, an endearing series for kids. Deora said, "These stories will resonate with the Indian audience. We are planning to adapt it into an ecosystem of toys, games, applications and animation videos."