Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Cloudy in the city

Grey skies over Mahim beach create a dramatic silhouette around a man sitting on a tetrapod.

Teaming up for mangroves

The pond and its surrounding areas after the team's eight-week-long efforts; (right) plastic bags, rubber waste and thermocol boxes dumped in the pond

Some of Mumbai's most notable environmental organisations are set to join hands this weekend to add their finishing touches to an ongoing mangrove clean-up in Nerul. "We started clearing a pond in the area near Sarsole Jetty eight weeks ago. What seemed like an impossible task, is now one step away from completion," shared Dharmesh Barai, founder, Environment Life.

Starting with a modest three-member group, Barai has managed to draw in organisations like the Mangrove Foundation, Maharashtra Forest Department, National Service Scheme and other local bodies. "It happened naturally, with word-of-mouth over time," shared Barai. The upcoming drive will witness nearly 300 volunteers from Pune, Raigad and Odisha join the efforts. "The aim was to clean the area, and return it to nature the way it was intended to be," he concluded. Those keen to sign up can call 9773274296.

And there was light

A participant studies a camera

On their way to making media literacy accessible, city-based media education NGO Nazaria made a pit stop at the Light N Light Studio in Jogeshwari earlier this week. A hands-on exploration was led by cinematographer Sunny Lahiri as a part of an ongoing filmmaking programme, Reimagine, that aims to train 20 aspiring filmmakers from marginalised communities. "Our programme is split into four phases. We started with extensive film studies. In the second phase, the focus is on familiarising them with filmmaking equipment. The participants learnt the basics of lighting a scene from Lahiri. The efforts will be reflected in four self-made short films that are slated for release as soon as August," shared co-founder (left) Nandini Kochar.

From Mumbai to Changwon

A performance by Ddaeng Crew in 2023

While celebratory chants marking Korean boyband BTS' 11th anniversary that was on June 13, will continue to echo in the city all month, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai has bigger plans. A K-pop contest announced by the Consulate in collaboration with India-Korea Friends Mumbai (IKFM), will offer fans a chance to showcase their talents at the Changwon K-pop World Festival in October. "The Consulate has been watching the growing K-pop fanbase in the city closely. We are excited for the collaboration, and the dancing and singing talents that it will unveil," shared Orlinda Fernandes (inset), founder, IKFM. For more details, check out @s.korea.in.mumbai.

A poster memory

A recreated poster from the series

Versova Homage Screening (VHS), a new film club in the city, is giving filmmakers a fresh perspective on their own films. "We gift a redesigned poster to every filmmaker we invite to our screenings. It's a souvenir that we hope will remind them of us forever," shared Balram Vishwakarma (right), co-founder, adding, "We make sure a postcard-sized print is handed to the audience. It reminds me of the feeling of taking movie tickets back home as a souvenir."

All fun and games

Young students at a previous session in the city

The city-based NGO Toybank-Development Through Play recently sat down with kids and play experts to understand the role of games in personality development. Celebrating the International Day of Play on June 11, a team of researchers faced questions by students from grade 11 on why play is essential, especially in today's times. Shweta Chari (inset), founder and CEO of The Opentree Foundation said, "Children aren't born with skills - they are born with the potential to develop them. Through play-oriented practices, we ensure that our children develop these capacities. Research on the developing brain shows us that early childhood experiences build the foundation for a skilled generation."