Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Ashish Raje

Ravan in the making

Two artists from Uttar Pradesh's Noida create a 10-headed effigy at Girgaon Chowpatty for the upcoming Ramleela.

The real super Mario

The Accident by Mario. Pic courtesy/Mario Gallery

Some people's work continues to stay relevant, long after they are gone. Like late cartoonist and master artist Mario Miranda, whose cartoons are shared on social media by Mario Gallery, periodically. The latest one has a city connection. Called The Accident, this cartoon is a dig at Mumbai's traffic woes and crowded streets.

Late Mario Miranda (in black). Pic courtesy/Wikiemedia Commons

In the artwork, people surround the ‘injured' cycle and not the cyclist. "Mario lived most of his life in Mumbai and drew lots of interesting things about the city, like the bus conductor, the traffic and the crowded streets. So, we are releasing these artworks as a series every week," shared Gerard Da Cunha (left), curator of the Goa-based Mario Gallery.

Arey what men, Thomas!

Leons accepts the East Indian Influencer of the year award

Earlier this month, this diarist had witnessed a host of East Indians (EI) being celebrated for their work across fields at the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat East Indian Community Awards 2023. Among them was Advocate Leons Thomas (@leonsify), a content creator known for his Catholic community-inspired jokes. He was awarded EI Influencer of the Year. "It's a great feeling to be recognised by one's community," he shared, noting how people from within the community enjoy the relatability of his content, while those outside get to learn about inside jokes and quirky nuances.

Raise a toast to the chef

Rao at a farm in Dahanu. Pic courtesy/Instagram

To commemorate International Chefs Day (October 20), Niyati Rao, head chef and partner at Ekaa, penned a note to show the unglamorous side of the job. The post detailed the sacrifices, passion; and unparalleled madness switching between high-pressure insanity to pure unadulterated joy of creating. "Sometimes, along the way, we get so busy chasing a goal, and we are so hard on ourselves to do even more that we forget to give ourselves an applause," she shared.

Stan signed it!

Stan Lee signed comic books. Pics courtesy/Hamza Sayed (right) Stan Lee. Pic courtesy/Wikmedia commons

When this diarist thinks of late Stan Lee, his many cameos in movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe come to mind. So, if you, like this diarist, miss watching the great man on the big screen, there's something in Bandra that offers consolation.

The Comic Book Store has on its shelves, comic book titles signed by Lee. "I source these collectibles from people across the world who have been in this industry for several years now," said Hamza Sayed, founder of the store. He adds that even folks who can't buy it, visit the store to look at these prized signed copies.

Need more access to museums

Tristra Hunt in conversation with Tasneem Zakaria Mehta

It's great when Mumbai's cultural ambassadors express their views at prestigious international forums. Most recently, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, director of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, was invited to speak at the Museums of the Future Conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, along with other museum leaders. "I spoke about the strategies the museum has employed to decolonise its collection and make it relevant to contemporary Mumbai and India; and emphasised on the need to make museums accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences," she shared.