Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Let the Hoomans Exercise
Two canines prefer to take it easy as a man does some stretching exercises at Five Gardens in Wadala over the weekend.

Recycle is the mantra

To mark World Recycling Week, which began on March 18, Sava @ Melange on Altamont Road is hosting a series of events focused on recycling and upcycling in fashion and food. Founders Sangita Kathiwada and Kavitha Mantha (in pic) have joined hands with Fashion Revolution, a non-profit working to promote conscious fashion.

The space will host a pop-up comprising various products that are up-cycled and made from recycled waste. A chef herself, Mantha, has created a menu themed on recycling foods. There's a panel discussion with Jyoti Kumari from ThinkRight.me on reducing waste and creating zero-waste kitchens. Head to instagram.com/savagoodness to learn more.

Lullabies on call

With our largely indoor-bound lifestyles wreaking havoc on our sleep cycles, the role of sleeping aids has come to the fore. This has inspired a digital series named Sounds of Sleep (on YouTube), which explores the role of music, specifically regional Indian lullabies, as a relaxation tool. The series will be hosted by actor Kalki Koechlin, whose videos of her playing the ukulele and singing lullabies to her baby, went viral.

An ode to street performers

Poornima Sardana

Ishamuddin Khan, a madari magician from West Delhi, dreams of creating a tourist village for street performers, where people can learn about these art forms. He will discuss his plans with Poornima Sardana from Museums of Hope, an organisation that re-imagines museums for the well-being of diverse people.

Sardana said, "Artistes like Ishamuddin are well-travelled and have observed how heritage is treated in different places. It will be interesting to see the ideas they have drawn and understand the support they need." You can register for the talk at facebook.com/museumsofhope.

Tom's big Bollywood break

Jamie Alter

"My father (Tom Alter) found an advertisement for the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, which was regarded as the best route to enter Bollywood. He mailed his form and was subsequently to Delhi for an audition, where he was among 800 contenders vying for two roles," son Jamie, shared with this diarist after posting a nostalgic video of his actor father.

Tom Alter

Interestingly, it wasn't until Tom watched Shakti Samanta's Aradhana, starring Rajesh Khanna that he realised that acting was his calling. Find out how Alter became one of Bollywood's most recognised faces, on Jamie's YouTube channel.

Gujarati cinema goes global

The critically-acclaimed Gujarati short film named Rammat-Gammat, which premiered at the 64th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in 2018, can now finally be caught on streaming platform Mubi. The story tracks two young boys from different backgrounds who bond over soccer, until a new pair of shoes strains their friendship.

A still from the Gujarati-language short film Rammat-Gammat

"It's a story that will spark a discussion about merit versus money, class and caste divides, and friendship," writer-director Ajitpal Singh said. He also shared that he had based the story on his own experience of facing discrimination due to anti-Sikh sentiments during his formative years and hoped that "viewers can see beyond these limitations, as children do."