The city — sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Cafe Samovar. Version 2.0?
Last week, at a packed panel discussion held at Kala Ghoda, we could not get over a number of things that Deveika Bhojwani had to say about the erstwhile hotspot for creativity, Café Samovar.
Bhojwani spoke about how organically the café, started by her mother Usha Khanna, had grown into a joint for the intelligentsia, and how, it will be difficult to recreate such a space. A cutting chai no longer costs Rs 7 and even artists have changed – they are now looking for something else, she said.
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However, Bhojwani also hinted at something that should lift the tired Mumbaikar spirit — that she is working towards another such space. A few days later, Bhojwani confirmed the news, “We are still looking around and keeping our fingers crossed that we will find a space soon.
I wanted to open one during my mother’s lifetime, who passed away just a month and a half ago. Now, I am more than determined to find a space for inclusiveness and art. In Mumbai, the commercial value is so high that it goes against what Samovar stood for. The Samovarian was everybody and anybody.” We can’t wait to get a slice of it.
I’ll take the Reliance cover
Pic/Atul Kamble
Ranbir Kapoor and Nita Ambani didn’t mind the rain as they showed up for a youth sports programme at BKC.
Saif Sex and the office b*tch
A recent panel discussion on Queer writing or writing on queer issues, held at the Press Club was a mix of memories and mirth. The country’s gay movement pioneer, Mumbai’s Ashok Row Kavi, spoke about working at the now defunct magazine, Debonair.
S Abbasi, D Thakore and Ashok Row Kavi at the event. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
“It was hilarious because Debonair’s entire staff was gay. I remember we wrote something about the movie, Mein Anari tu Khiladi and it was titled Saif Sex. In fact, the movie director sent us a legal notice because we wrote that the movie should go for the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.”
Panellist Dolly Thakore said she learnt of LGBT sexual preferences when she was 15, in a girls-only school, when an attractive Psychology teacher, “was sacked for same sex preferences.” Another panellist, Suhail Abbasi, media professional, stated, “The corporate world is full of queens! I never went out of my way to declare my sexuality, but nobody dared mess with me; I was known as quite a b#tch.” A trip down memory lane unlike none other.
When Tagore recalled Tagore
Over the weekend, Dilliwallahs were treated to a dose of Tagore. The event was the unveiling of multi award-winning poet, author and filmmaker Gulzar’s Hindi translations of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poetry collections — Baaghbaan and Nindiyachor.
Gulzarsaab with Sharmila Tagore
Chief guest Sharmila Tagore shared anecdotes of how Gulzar started his literary journey and fell in love with Bengali. She regaled the audience of evenings spent celebrating the writings of Tagore, whose brother was grandfather to Sharmila’s maternal grandmother.
Monkey in Kolkata
Kolkatans can cheer as Manu Chandra opens Monkey Bar on September 6. “It’s a grown-up version,” Chandra adds, whose Fatty Bao in Mumbai completed a year last month. While he has incorporated Bengali influences, he is excited to use Kolkata’s local produce.
“Nolun gur, kasundi mustard, and my favourite Gondhuraj nemboo will find its way into cocktails and food. But I’m most excited about the jicama (Mexican yam bean). They call it do aloo here. I didn’t know it is available in India.” While his plans to expand in Mumbai are on, he promises, “if there’s one this year, you’ll be the first one to hear, it’s my promise.” We will hold to that, chef.
Losing touch, but Sunny memories remain
One of the many aspects that cricketers treasure apart from runs, wickets and catches, are friends, they make on the circuit. One such friendship was between India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistan’s Asif Masood when they played in the same Rest of the World team which clashed against Australia in 1971-72.
Asif Masood, Sunil Gavaskar
The 1971 war back home notwithstanding, Indian players, which also included BS Bedi and Farokh Engineer, enjoyed great times with Pakistanis Zaheer Abbas, Intikhab Alam and Masood, the one with the huge side burns. This diarist recently discovered that Masood (70) had settled down in England after his playing days and started a travel company and later, owned a post office in Bury, Lancashire.
Farokh Engineer (right) teases Asif Masood while Zaheer Abbas looks on in Australia 1971. Pic courtesy/Farokh Engineer's Official Souvenir Brochure
During our telecon, Masood recalled how Gavaskar and he were batting together in Sydney, but the little Indian didn’t talk to him. This got Masood worried, so he asked Bedi what could have gone wrong. Bedi explained that Gavaskar was in his zone and all he was doing was concentrating. Masood felt better. Amazingly, Masood said that he hasn’t met Gavaskar after that series in 1971-72, but they could have met during the 1975 World Cup.
Be that as it may, both these players haven’t seen each other for over 40 years. Gavaskar is a regular to the UK and hopefully, they will catch up.
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