Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

Getting into the groove

A teacher from Junoon Foundation conducts an action class with song and dance for street children on the skywalk at Borivali. 

The words of an old friend

Shiv Subrahmanyam in a moment from a film. Pic Courtesy/Facebook

His memorable acting performances have often overshadowed the incredible fact that the late Shiv Subrahmanyam was a writer of calibre. His demise in April this year might have robbed us of future possibilities, but his words will return to the theatre this year. A collection of his plays, Irani Cafe and Other Plays (Dhauli Books), will be released in December. Actor Kenneth Desai, who wrote the afterword for the collection, told us, “Ever wonder the different directions your life might have taken? Read Shiv’s plays, they are truly an adventurous exploration of the different twists and turns that life could take.” For actor Vivaan Shah, Subrahmanyam was a mentor, friend and idol. “As a writer, he had piercing wit, and social commentary, as well as a tender humanity,” Shah said. Comparing the late writer to Mumbai poet Arun Kolatkar, Shah noted that there was something fundamentally Bambaiya about Subrahmanyam’s work as a playwright and screenwriter. The title includes works like Irani Cafe, Clogged Arteries and Snapshots from an Album. The actor said it was an emotional experience to typeset the plays. “I had the honour of directing him in the last play he acted in — Comedy of Horrors. He performed a funny piece by Ambrose Bierce called Moxon’s Master about a murderous chess playing automaton. I can’t describe in words how much he and his work means to me,” Shah told us.  

Kenneth Desai and Vivaan Shah

When Kalidas comes calling 

Mumbai’s prestige as an art hub just went up a couple of notches. This year’s national Kalidas Samman 2022 for visual art will be presented to artist Vasudeo Kamath in November. The artist was thrilled for the recognition when the diarist called to congratulate him. “It is a great honour and I feel very proud about it. It is not just a recognition of my work, but of the entire art field. We artists work continuously without any expectations and I feel blessed to have this award,” he said. The award has a deeper connection to the artist’s work than people perceive. “I love Kalidas’ literature, read his works and about his contribution to art. A few years ago, I had painted a series based on his works — Meghdoota and Abhigyan Shakuntalam,” Kamath revealed.

Green-spotting at the Gateway

A sapling grows out of the crevices of the Gateway of India at Colaba.  Pics/Atul Kamble

Shades of green are always welcome in Mumbai’s concrete jungle, but if you care for urban heritage, like this diarist does, it could be a worrying sign. The sight of a green tree branching out of the uppermost section of the façade of the Gateway of India was one such moment. Concerned, we reached out to Dr Tejas Garge, director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, who assured us that the issue is under control. “We are aware of the growth, and are keeping a close eye on it,” Garge said. He also revealed that they are set to undertake extensive conservation efforts on the monument in the coming months. “We have prepared a plan for the conservation of the monument prepared at an  approximate R7 crore plan. We hope to submit it within the next fortnight. As soon as the approval comes in from the state, we will start work,” Garge confirmed.

The art of war on caste

A T-shirt by Panther’s Paw; (right) Yogesh Maitreya

In the age of publicity-hungry campaigns, it is refreshing to find something as empowering as Panther’s Paw’s new initiative. The Nagpur-based publishing house has roped in in-house illustrator Shiva Nallaperumal to illustrate anti-caste symbolism on T-shirts. “We seek to create a visual culture through T-shirts that we all could carry day to day,” Yogesh Maitreya, founder, Panther’s Paw, told this diarist. Crediting Nallaperumal with the designs, Maitreya added, “What we wear everyday is sometimes a statement in itself. The idea behind the initiative is to popularise clothing that is political and resonates with people’s quest for justice and freedom.” Interested folk can dial 9987133931 to place orders. 

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