Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Satej Shinde

A reflection of the times

As COVID-19 cases surge across the country, social distancing goes for a toss inside this boat at Gorai creek.

Good moves

Lobo at a rehearsal at his studio in early March last year

Ace choreographer Ashley Lobo is keeping himself busy in the best way possible. While he's engaged in choreography on a piece related to the climate crises for a Washington-based dance company, on International Dance Day tomorrow, he's organising a dance-a-thon to raise funds for COVID-19 relief. For three hours, three dance styles will be taught non-stop on Zoom, and Lobo will helm an interactive session with the participants. Interested folk can choose from either of the five fee options available, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000. Lobo said, "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching out and lifting people up." We could all do with that right now. To register, log on to thedanceworx.com.

Baked for hope

Mansi Jasani

Mumbai's bakers want to do their bit in this hour. Take for instance, recipe developer Neysa Mendes, who through her Instagram page @goodslice began a collective movement, #BakeForIndia, to raise funds for urgent COVID-19 relief work. Mendes shared that it's like a virtual bake sale, for which bakers can reach her at neysa@goodslice.in, and proceeds of which will go to verified charities. "On Sunday, I had posted about a few tarts for sale and was able to raise R30,000 only from that. So, I thought why not encourage others bakers and amplify the cause," she said.

Neysa Mendes of Good Slice and chef Guntas Sethi Bhasin

Over 70 bakers have reached out to her since then, including Mansi Jasani (inset) of The Cheese Collective. "When I saw Mendes' initiative, I decided to help out. A lot of bakers are making cookies, cakes and other goodies; as a cheese-monger, I opted for a rigata," shared Jasani. Meanwhile, patisserie chef Guntas Sethi Bhasin shared that she'll direct all the funds raised from the sale of her popular pull-me-up cakes today and tomorrow to Hemkunt Foundation, to support their 24x7 oxygen drive. "Every day brings grimmer news, but we're unable to directly help. Feeling helpless, I realised raising funds to support organisations that are helping the affected, is one option we have." If you wish to chip in, call 9892020986.

Calling all storytellers

Hema Subramaniam, Usha Venkatraman and Shalini Bajaj Surve

Mumbai Storyteller's Society's co-founders Usha Venkatraman, Hema Subramaniam and Shalini Bajaj Surve, have something exciting in store for all prose lovers. Story Slam, coming up on May 8, is a virtual slam competition with 12 storytellers chosen at random and winners decided by the audience. "The theme this year is Nurture and unlike other slams, as long as the stories are within the theme, they need not be true or personal," Venkatraman told this diarist. "Audience registrations are open and the event is free to attend," she added.

Salute to Phalke

To commemorate the 151st birthday of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, Pune-based Swatantra Theatre along with their child actors has brought online a play showcasing the life and journey of the director-producer. What was initially performed and recorded at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium in 2019 to celebrate his 150th birthday, has now been released to be streamed on Swatantra Theatre's Youtube channel this weekend for audiences to view from all cities. "The show was very well received in Pune at the time, so we thought we should premier it online for all those who missed the show and to create awareness about Dadasaheb as a personality, his history and contributions," Dhanashree Heblikar, creative director of Swatantra Theatre, told this diarist.

Making the right noises

Rapper Shah Rule aka Rahul Shahani of Gully Boy fame just released his debut six-track EP called Hooked. Made in partnership with city-based multimedia entertainment platform Mass Appeal India, the EP is inspired by the Internet age touching upon nuances including memes and instant gratification. It also features industry heavyweights like DIVINE and Meba Ofilia. The artiste shared that the EP was created during the "contemplative time" he spent in lockdown last year. "Social media plays a huge part in our daily lives these days, especially ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, almost becoming a necessity for survival. But there are always two sides to any story," he added. Sounds about right.