Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

The sky is purple

The slums and hills of Kurla dwarf an aircraft as it prepares to land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Something in the air

(Left) A mapped walk around Dombivli MIDC pinpoints neighbourhoods with good air quality in green, average air quality in yellow and worse air quality in red; (right) a picture taken during the walk in Mulund West. Pics Courtesy/Vedant Mhatre

If you, like this diarist, have been commuting through the city like a masked avenger, then you will find the city-based NGO The Walking Project's latest study more interesting. Over the last couple of months, the walkability advocacy group has collaborated with the environmental services of Asar to track air quality across the Mumbai Metropolitan suburbs. "The purpose of the collaboration was to integrate air quality as a paradigm in our walkability research. The experience of air quality and walkability are linked in our cities," shared programme manager, Vedant Mhatre. Collecting data during mapped walks through Dombivli MIDC, and Mulund regions, Mhatre observed that high green cover and low traffic ensure significant reduction in dust particles. "During our walk from Mulund West station to Johnson and Johnson company premises, we encountered an AQI [Air Quality Index] in the 70s, while at the same time it ranged in the 140s in BKC," Mhatre shared. It is one thing to sense it, but the data is a key signifier, he added. Over the next five months, the group plans to collate more data on the subject over 20 odd community walks along the MMR region.

Vedant Mhatre

From South Korea to Kurla

Shital Sikarwar; (right) Blackswan will perform at the fest

After a hosting hit K-pop Bootcamp last year in May, where K-pop idols from South Korea personally mentored young aspirants in Mumbai; Shital Sikarwar, founder of Tani Events and Entertainments, is now set on bringing the entire South Korean experience to Phoenix MarketCity in Kurla on February 17. Titled the K-town Festival, famous K-pop groups like Blackswan, Great Guys and ABlue will fly to the country to perform at the one-day festival. Giving this diarist an early peek, Sikarwar said, "We will have many pre-concert zones which aim at bringing the true Korean culture to Mumbai. There'll be the famous Korean life four cuts picture zone, a cherry blossom zone, face painting, a zone that will display fan arts, and more. The highlight of the food zone will be the currently trending chicken corn dogs, among other authentic Korean delicacies."

Creating dialogue

Writer and poet Sohail Akhtar Khan; (right) Dilip Kumar in Mughal-E-Azam. Pic Courtesy/Youtube

To celebrate the National Film Writers Day on January 5, Urdu Markaz, a city-born literary and cultural organisation, held a lecture that shed light on Urdu styles of writing dialogues and scripts prevalent in films like Mughal-E-Azam, Awaara, Mother India and many such classics. "Nearly 30 people gathered for the lecture Jaduee Qalam by writer Sohail Akhtar Khan; who has worked closely with these films. He recalled interesting observations, like how to recognise Wajahat Mirza-written dialogues by his style, one of which included takrar," organisation director Zubair Azmi told this diarist.

A filmy feast

The interiors of the newly-opened space

Cannes has just landed on Mumbai's plate, and rolling out the red carpet is Cosy Box, the official food partner of the Cannes Film Festival, with its first-ever dine-in space in the city. Spread across 10,000 sq ft, the newly launched restaurant offers a diverse world cuisine menu with the major focus on Mediterranean, Italian and Asian fare. "The menu pays homage to regal roots with chef Tarkan Uysal who specialises in Italian cuisine and chef Sedat Firatoglu who is known for his Turkish cuisine," founders Ashish Begwani and Rajveer Dhody shared. "With cosy corners, a bar area with tall tables, a private dining area for larger groups, and the perfect ambience, we aim to be a fresh addition to the city's booming nightlife," Begwani told this diarist.

Foodies' palooza

Preet Sanghvi at the previous concert

Preet Sanghvi, founder of the Gourmet Tales Co, will be curating the food at the Lollapalooza concert set to be held at Mahalaxmi, January 27 onwards, for the second time. "This time, I am going to bring alive London's Borough Market in the food zone," she revealed. Adding that there will be three food zones at this year's fest, plus 15 carts and three kiosks, she said, "The idea is to create a food park at the concert that will include Mumbaikar, Indian, and international eateries, each serving a unique Lolla special."