Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Satej Shinde

Notes in the park

A little girl does her homework at Tilak Nagar ground in Chembur West

Time for some sonic therapy

The cast of Let's talk

If you cannot talk about mental health, why not sing it out? Twenty-two-year-old Mrinalini Sekhsaria Somani's (below) production, Let's Talk at NCPA is a musical featuring an international cast and Salaam Bombay Foundation alumni that will focus on mental health.

The director shared, "It is a light, fun way to talk about serious things that don't get talked about a lot, especially in India." The musical is about mental health and follows an American therapist and her interactions with patients. "I wanted to create a song cycle format akin to the Broadway performance, Choir of Man," she said.

Remembering the brilliant Bhupen Khakhar

Barber's Shop by Bhupen Khakhar

Artist Bhupen Khakhar, who was hailed as India's first pop artist, was one of the few to have succeeded in the art industry despite no formal training. Yesterday, on his 20th death anniversary, artist Atul Dodiya, posted an old photograph of him with Khakhar. He told this diarist, "I was 16 when I first saw one of Khakhar's paintings in a magazine and was immediately drawn to it. It was very different from the artworks I had seen of other modern masters like Tyeb Mehta. He had an extremely different style of painting."

Atul Dodiya with the late artist in Brussels (1993). PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM

Khakhar, a chartered accountant by profession, was not a trained artist and he had tried a few hobby painting classes. "But he was extremely passionate about art and so he continued his painting while working a regular job. He was not a trained hand. And due to this he had some very odd, awkward and clumsy strokes, but that made his work special. He was an absolute genius." Dodiya shared. He was also an amazing writer and had written several short stories and plays in Gujarati. "He never took his painting process seriously. It was something that he did for the passionate love of it and that showed in his work. Just brilliant!" Dodiya signed off.

Together we walk

People of the Adivasi community at Aarey last year

Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. It is also referred to as Adivasi Divas in India. Each year, forest dwellers from 220 hamlets in Mumbai get together to dance, share food and make merry. It is a huge fanfare, and something that the community looks forward to, as it gives them an opportunity to showcase their culture to Mumbaikars.

This year, though, it's different. Kashtakari Shetkari Sanghatan, Maharashtra Adivasi Manch and Shramik Mukti Aandolan are coming together to conduct a ‘sangharsh yatra'. Vitthal Lad (inset), founder of these three organisations, shared with this diarist, "Taking into consideration what has been happening in Manipur and the tragic incident at Raigad's Irsalwadi, we are showing solidarity by walking near Aarey Dairy. We are also requesting that the name of Aarey Dairy Cross Road in Aarey be changed to Adivasi Chowk."

On a sweet note

When 23-year-old Shrey Devrukhkar ordered food for himself and his sister from Wendy's in Andheri, he didn't think much of it. At midnight, the meal got delivered with a handwritten note! "I was so surprised when I read the note. It was from the chef, who said that the meal was made with love, and he hoped that we enjoyed it. Such a sweet gesture," the student told the diarist.