Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

All paws on deckA friendly streetie named Vikram stands amongst passengers on a boat docked at the Gorai JettyBonjour bienvenueTherersquos a charm to doing things the oldschool way and after 130 years in the luxury world Parisrsquos famed Galeries Lafayette knows this And so in an age where social media influencers often get the lsquofirst show first rowrsquo this diarist was pleased to hear that the French department store was inviting midday and other media for the first look at its debut in Mumbai With less than a month to go to the storersquos official launch we head to Kala Ghoda Fort where the historic Turner Morrison building now houses Galeries Lafayettersquos Indian flagshipFrom left Views from the newly opened French department storeSpanning 90000 square feet across five storeys the storersquos interiors have been designed by Londonbased architectural firm Virgile Partners Launched in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited Galeries Lafayette brings the international department store concept to India with 250 global designer brands as well as offering inhouse personal styling private lounges concierge services and curated cultural programmesldquoWith Mumbai as our anchor point we are proud to introduce an experience that brings together French heritage creativity and innovation while embracing the energy and cultural richness of Indiardquo said Nicolas Houze executive chairman Galeries Lafayette Group ldquoWe are creating an iconic destination in the heart of Mumbairdquo said Kumar Mangalam Birla chairman Aditya Birla Group adding ldquoFor the first time India will welcome a luxury department store housed in landmark real estate executed with precision and infused with the elegance of Indian sensibilitiesrdquoKeeping up with Piyush MishraPiyush Mishra doesnrsquot want you to remember him as the unmistakable voice behind Aarambh or by his pivotal work in Maqbool 2003 or the Gangs of Wasseypur anthology ldquoYounger audiences have started venerating me as some sort of a saint Irsquom far from that Irsquove made my own share of mistakesrdquo Mishra had said in 2023 about his book aptly titled Tumhari Auqaat Kya Hai Piyush MishraPiyush Mishra Pic courtesyGanesh VanareHis confession is set to reach a wider audience now with the launch of the English translation by Shilpi A Singh HarperCollins India Slated for release in November the memoir will unpack stories of fame betrayal selfsabotage and the perennial quest to find meaning in life through the medium of art all of which has shaped the artiste into his contemporary selfFrom a throwback to his childhood in Gwalior to navigating the world of expectations and the intoxication of celebrity life Mishra reveals all in the tellall autobiography ldquoReaders will find vulnerability rebellion and questions we often avoid asking ourselves This book is not an answer but an invitationhellipto question to feel and perhaps to find a part of your own story within minerdquo he shared ahead of the releaseMumbairsquos children are ready to rollercoaster againInstallations made by groups of children for the 2025 edition of the festival Pics courtesyKala Ghoda Arts FestivalWith the Kala Ghoda Childrenrsquos Installation Competition scheduled for January 31 to February 8 2026 during the 26th edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival KGAF opportunities are limited for schoolchildren in the city to unleash their outofthebox thinking Each year groups of children are chosen from schools across MumbaiOnly the first 25 are eligible submitting one installation per school Brinda Miller right Honorary Festival Director of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival shared with this diarist ldquoThe children who participate are usually aged between five and 15 with younger ones making up most participants Younger children are almost always much more enthusiastic have plenty of ideas and have more time than older ones We give a measurement for installation height and width for them to follow though they can make a taller installation if they wish Most of the work is completed at their respective schools and brought readymade to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVSrdquo She added ldquoThe 2026 theme for the childrenrsquos section is lsquoRollercoasterrsquordquo