Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The solo Symphony

A little egret perches itself on a branch near the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Gorai, Borivali.

Celebrating the heroes of India

Wing Commander Jaggi Nath (left) with Anant Mahadevan

For filmmaker Anant Mahadevan, Veteran's Day - January 14 - will shine a light on his new documentary, Veterans of War - The India Story. "I wanted to make a film to understand their journey," shared the filmmaker. Shot through 2021, the film includes interviews and photographs of heroes such as the nonagenarian wing commander, Jaggi Nath. But the film is not complete yet. Mahadevan said, "We plan to shoot the Veteran's March from Nariman Point to Marine Drive on January 8. It is a celebration of their lives, and has to be a part of the film."

Melodies at Horniman Circle

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Rahul Sharma

With a city-based music festival preparing to return to its physical format after two years, this diarist has marked her pocket cultural calendar for a special tribute to santoorist Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. The Indian Heritage Society (IHS) - a chapter committed to support the arts, architecture and natural resources of the city - will organise Mumbai Sanskriti over the next weekend. "We had a special relationship with Shivkumarji. He has performed for us in the past and once, he agreed to do a digital performance when we assured him that it will be sans any interaction with a live audience, and will be recorded for online streaming. The first day is in his honour, and his son and disciple Rahul Sharma will be performing on that day. On the second day, classical singer Shubha Mudgal will be delighting the attendees," shared Preeti Vanage, honorary secretary of IHS. The sensorial presentation will be held outside the Horniman Circle, where artistes will face the Town Hall, and the audience will be seated on the iconic steps. Rahul, Panditji's chosen shishya, told this diarist, "Music has a metaphysical appeal. This performance will be special for me; it will not only reach the ears of my listeners, but also touch their hearts."

Shubha Mudgal

Kabootar ja ja ja...

Pigeons of Dharavi

The ongoing two-month-long Mumbai Urban Art Festival, presented by St+art India, is witnessing a series of unusual immersive installations. Song for Ghost Traveller is one such unique performance score. Conceptualised by artiste Robin Meier Wiratunga, the piece that will be performed tomorrow onwards, will tell audiences about sublimating our surroundings. About his experience of working on the score, Wiratunga told us, "The piece comprises bird, human and city sounds. I have been working with Dharavi's pigeon-keepers, and with their help, have been able to temporarily attach light flutes to the birds. When they fly, you will hear these whistling sounds that hit different notes. And alongside, musicians positioned across rooftops in the area, will sonically interact with the randomness of flight patterns, the sound of azaan, the noise of the traffic and machinery."

Robin Meier Wiratunga. Pic Courtesy/Pranav Gohli

A bigger and better spread

Asma Khan. Pic Courtesy/Ming Tang-Evans

From Paul Rudd to Anil Kapoor, Indian-origin chef Asma Khan's Darjeeling Express boasts of a global fanbase. London-bound foodies should take note that the restaurant has found a new home at Kingly Court in London. The restaurant, led by an all-woman team, opens doors on January 23 and marks its return to its original "spiritual" home, where it first opened up around five years ago. Khan said that the place is bigger this time. We won't be surprised if diners are already queueing up for her Calcutta-style phuchka.