Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

We're in it together

A group of women sit on a fishing boat as they spend their morning at Versova beach.

All about fun, games and learning

Students rejoice over free games given to them by the team on August 15, 2022

Over 1,600 students from government schools across Malad will gather on August 26, as they celebrate Opentree Foundation's 19th birthday. Toybank is one of the primary projects of the non-profit organisation that aims at making children learn and grow through games. "Playing games helps children improve their intellectual skills, as they learn life lessons and values. Toybank has many play centres installed across India, where teachers are trained to educate students how to learn via games," co-founder Shweta Chari told this diarist. The organisation will distribute free games among the children present for their birthday, and also host other engaging workshops like storytelling and origami. "We have always only focused on games, and never introduced books in our teaching methods. We think that games, as a method of learning, are very underrated in our country," she said.

Shweta Chari

Create drama

Children engage in a previous workshop

Wouldn't it be fun to recreate Dali's elephant and swan ashtray? Last Saturday, after youngsters toured the NGMA's exhibition Maharaja's Treasure: Select Works of Art from the Famed Air India Collection, they were guided into recreating the works using props and costumes in a workshop titled Interpret the Art Thru Drama by ACE Productions and The CREATE Foundation. "They pushed the boundaries of artistic expression and performed their interpretations in front of theatre personalities," Raëll Padamsee shared.

Treasure trove

Zubin Mehta's autographed baton; a self-portrait by Dr Homi Bhabha, 1928

The treasure of Sierra Madre would have paled in comparison to the riches that emerged in the special auction held at the NCPA last Saturday. The institution offered items for patrons in a bid to raise proceeds for the procurement of new musical instruments. Managed by fine art specialists and auctioneers, Pundole's, the live auction conducted over a dinner at the institution, included an experience such as dinner with Ustad Zakir Hussain, and treasures like his autographed tabla set and also an autographed baton by conductor Zubin Mehta. "He [Mehta] has been very generous. To perform, and give away his baton is quite remarkable," gallerist Dadiba Pundole noted. In addition to the baton, Mehta has also donated a cricket bat autographed by the 2015 Indian cricket team that played South Africa. "He is a big cricket fan, and often spends time backstage checking match scores," the gallerist revealed. Another rare treasure comes from the Jamshed Bhabha Estate, which includes two portraits painted by Dr Homi Bhabha. "He was an extremely skilled artist, and famously said that art is a science. The two are interwoven," Pundole recalled.

Mehta during a performance. Pics Courtesy/NCPA

Back with a pop

Visitors at one of the pop ups

On May 19, we reported on this page how Bandra's Adagio was shutting down its space to operate remotely due an issue with their landlord. But that was far from ‘The End' for the hotspot of vintage music lovers. Amid their regular small scale pop ups, they are now set to host a bigger one on August 26 and 27 at a Bandra venue, which, Angel Alleluya, communication manager, told us will "fit the analogue music vibe of Adagio". They will also host a pub experience for the first time; alongside other fun stalls. Log on to @adagio72 to learn more.

Act 1, scene 2

Aadyam Theatre will witness a change of scene as they ready to carry two of their best pieces, The F Word and Betrayal, to Bengaluru's iconic theatre venue Ranga Shankara. "We've always wanted to expand across the country, especially Bengaluru. This will be our first time in the vibrant theatre city, and we have chosen two plays that have high standards in terms of their rich content, artistic quality and production value. They are sure to win the theatre enthusiasts over," shared Shernaz Patel, artistic director of Aadyam.