Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Protect the smiles

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar interacts with senior citizens during a meet-and-greet session at Naigaon Police auditorium in Dadar.

The six-yard-long marathon record

Kalpana Shah draping sarees on the models

Draping the Indian saree in 226 styles in 24 hours, Altamount Road resident Kalpana Shah learnt recently that she had created a Limca World Record. The 74-year-old revealed that she had been preparing for this marathon since the lockdown, "The experience was a huge milestone for me. I had been planning this for a while, and with the lockdown ensuing in 2020, it gave me a lot of time to sit down and map out everything. Right from arranging the drapes in a particular order, and getting their photographs for references, to dividing time slots for each drape in 24 hours, the planning was hectic but thorough." Shah did not repeat a single style during the marathon, and covered each state's unique saree drape. "My only aim was to promote Indian culture on a larger platform. I have been wearing and draping sarees for the past 40 years. But we are witnessing a decline in the relevance of such traditional attire. I hope to build a bridge between our traditions and the younger generation," she added.

Kalpana Shah

Support these folks, just like Nana

Elton Steve Vessoaker (left) with other volunteers at a previous tuck shop

From the many ways people show support, cooking for others touches the heart. Different neighbourhoods across Bandra have been donating food to tuck shops to raise money for the St Andrew's All Bandra Parish Talent Contest. This weekend, head to St Andrew's Church for brinjal pickle, coconut cake and roast sandwiches to help the zones fund their event. The iconic character, Nana Eugene, played by hair and make-up artist Elton Steve Vessoaker, will be selling sorpotel and vindaloo. Vessoaker chuckled, "She's a typical East Indian, selling her special dishes again. She's quite stuck in her ways."

Nana Eugene

What's churning at the dairy?

Bamboos cover the entrance and rest of the building that houses Parsi Dairy Farm, with the renovation in full swing

Parsi Dairy Farm on Princess Street is set to don a new avatar. When this diarist dropped in yesterday, she noticed that renovations were in full swing. The staff of the 107-year-old iconic establishment however, was tight-lipped about what's brewing. The possibility of a small café springing up in the space was ruled out. We noticed the beige walls and golden mirrors inside aesthetically complementing the brand's trademark blue tiles, set in a pattern on the outer façade. Those of you looking to drop in for your fix of milk drops, sutarfeni or lagan ni boi needn't panic. They continue to sell their sweets from a smaller space next door. After rumours of the establishment folding up 2015, came a new avatar of the brand that focussed more on milk-based products than milk itself. Parsi Dairy Farm has, in fact, grown from strength to strength, expanding its business through retail and e-commerce; and building on the goodwill of generations of Mumbaikars.

Construction workers inside a partially closed space that is a part of the dairy. Pics/Sameer Markande

Music for rehab

Siddharth Basrur at a previous performance. Pic courtesy/Instagram

For vocalist, composer and playback singer Siddharth Basrur, his latest performance was a special moment. He was part of three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej's ensemble at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, as a lead singer and guitarist. The performance was part of the launch of World Rehabilitation Alliance, where he performed along with several talented artistes including Varijashree Venugopal, Sudhir Yaduvanshi, and Keith Middleton. Basrur, who also co-wrote a song dedicated to medical rehabilitation of people in need, presented it for the first time ever with Kej. "I met with a very bad motorcycle accident last year that smashed my left tibia; it took me almost five months to start walking without support. I am still going through intensive physiotherapy to strengthen my leg. That's why performing at this event was extra special for me," he shared with this diarist.