The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Atul Kamble
A shade better
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Vibrant pinwheels for sale at Juhu Chowpatty form a protective arch over the seller and his customers.
Spanish conquest
Viveick Rajagopalan (centre) with members of the project
Composer Viveick Rajagopalan is heading to Spain this summer with the Ta Dhom Project tomorrow. The music group has been invited to the Womad Music Festival organised by Peter Gabriel in Caceres, Spain this week. “It is a wonderful event that is all about discovering different ethnicities, cultures and their music,” he shared. While it is an honour, the younger members of the team — MC Dehaati, MC Artslord and MC Khoj — are most excited at this opportunity to be on a global stage on May 11, he shared. “We will be performing tracks from our albums, as well as a few unreleased ones,” he added. But it is not all work for the composer. “I hope to catch some performances myself, and I am really looking forward to the Asian Dub Foundation’s act,” he signed off.
Cartoon mania in Vashi
A cartoon that featured in the showcase
A visit to Cartoon Mahotsav 2024 in Vashi last weekend would have come as a reality check to anyone who thought cartoons were an interest reserved for younger enthusiasts. Organised by Cartoonists Combine and Sahitya Mandir, the celebration of Marathi cartoonists witnessed more than 200 adults and children flock to various booths at the venue.
A visitor at the exhibition
“The aim was to introduce visitors and budding artists to the techniques of sketching cartoons, deciphering and analysing them, and ways to ideate and turn thoughts into art,” Sanjay Mistry (inset), cartoonist, and president, Cartoonists Combine, revealed to this diarist.
The centre of attraction, Mistry shared, was an exhibition of more than 100 works that were presented without any captions. “That’s the exciting part about cartoons. Even at a celebration of Marathi cartoonists, anyone with an interest in the art form had so much to explore,” he added.
Ode to the classic
A restored 1961 Fiat Select will be exhibited at a meet this weekend
You don’t have to be an expert in everything automobile to be a part of the Bombay Fiat Club. Founded by city-based colorectal surgeon Dr Sambit Patnaik (inset), the new club is all about the stories and emotions attached to the classic Fiat cars in and around the city.
Over a call in between his hospital duties, Patnaik shared, “Fiats have been a part of core childhood memories for my generation. The club is a space for owners to meet and discuss these experiences. We have already registered 120 members, each with a unique story to tell.” Owners of classic Fiats who wish to join the club, may reach out to
@bombayfiatclub.
Striking a chord with AI
After taking the Internet by storm with his creative AI assisted experiments including turning his own voice into musical instruments and reimagining the popular tune, Zingaat in Rihanna’s voice, city-based musician Mayur Jumani (right) is now turning instructor. Through his new venture, Aux Academy, Jumani will share instructional videos to guide novices in the art of AI music. “I will introduce participants to the tools that I use. They might realise using AI isn’t as easy as it looks,” Jumani laughed, adding that while the academy is starting off as a video channel on Instagram, a new paid course will be launched by July for those looking for curated sessions.
Taking charge
Volunteers at a previous e-waste collection drive. PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM
City-based organisation The Recycling Company (TRC) is shedding light on a vital, yet often neglected part of e-waste management — batteries. Bin Your Battery, its new initiative, will witness schools and colleges collect and submit used non-reusable batteries to win the title of the best recycler. “Incorrect disposal of batteries can lead to fires and injuries at dumping grounds and collection centres,” Ashwini Jadhav, head of the social change division, TRC, noted. The team also plans to visit schools to present seminars and conduct workshops later this year. Institutions keen to register can log on to threco.com.