31 May,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMD
Pic/Shadab Khan
Two friends enjoy a spectacular sunset over the city skyline, seated on a beached fishing boat at the Mahim coast
Nikhil Advani PIC/ASHISH RAJE
On Thursday, KASHISH announced the dates for the upcoming queer-themed film festival at Press Club in Fort. In attendance was Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) director, Nikhil Advani. When asked about how things have changed in Hindi cinema, especially in regards to LGBTQIA+ issues, Advani is candid about the appearance of Kantaben (Sulbha Arya) in his film, who is scandalised when she finds Aman (Shah Rukh Khan) and Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) in bed together.
Kantaben was a comedy-relief character in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). PIC/YOUTUBE@DHARMA PRODUCTIONS
"When my daughter was watching Kal Ho Naa Ho for the first time, I was excited to see her reaction to Kantaben," Advani said, "But when the scene came up, my daughter just gave me a side-eye and asked me, âWhat is this?' That scene would never happen today. I'm glad this generation is sensitive."
Tony Greig. File Pic/Atul Kamble
Tony Greig, the late South Africa-born England cricket captain not only enraged the West Indies team that toured England in 1976 with his "Grovel" comment that revolved around making them crawl to defeat. He also upset some Australians by picking his 1970 to 1976 World XI in The Sun newspaper. Greig chose not to pick any Australians in his dream team of that era despite the Australians ruling world cricket after surrendering the Ashes in 1971.
They, after all, shared the 1972 Ashes series, beat Pakistan in the 1972-73 home series, won in the West Indies in the same season followed by home and away Ashes-winning campaigns in 1975. Greig didn't even consider Greg Chappell's Australians beating the West Indies 5-1 as he wrote out this XI of Barry Richards, Geoff Boycott, Clive Lloyd, Garry Sobers (captain), Graeme Pollock, Mike Procter, Alan Knott (wk), John Snow, Andy Roberts, Bishan Singh Bedi, and BS Chandrasekhar.
His penchant for winding up the Australians particularly during his playing days notwithstanding, we miss Tony Greig as an exciting television commentator who used to exclaim âWhat a player, They are dancing in the aisles' etc.
For all those into numismatists into philately, a coffee table book full of stamps, coins and banknotes from 2014 to 2019 which has recently been put together, will be of interest.
Stamps, Coins and Banknotes Issued During the Premiership of Narendra Modi is part I of the two-part book series that chronicles the various stamps, coins and currency Notes issued by the Indian Postal and Mint Departments on key national initiatives and achievements undertaken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure. Those include Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, International Day of Yoga, Women Empowerment, and Viksit Bharat.
Sushilkumar Agrawal (in pic), the editor and publisher of the book and founder of Mintage World, said, "As a hobby, I have been collecting stamps, coins and notes since I was young. I am also a firm believer that history and culture should be preserved constantly. The idea was to reintroduce the joy and fun of coins, currency notes and stamps collection to the current generation in India and around the world."
Did you know that the country's earliest known artist couple was likely from Maharashtra? A historical art catalogue on the duo - titled A Couple of Different Strokes and based on the lives and work of Vinayak Pathare and Prema Pathare - will be launched today at the National Gallery of Modern Art, under the Ministry of Culture's aegis.
Vinayak Pathare and Prema Pathare. Pic courtesy /Shirish V Pathare Collection
Vinayak and Prema lived during the pre- and post-Independence era, specialising in portraiture and landscape, respectively. "Unlike the Bengal School, the Bombay School old masters and their tradition is not properly documented from a historian's point of view," says the author of the book, archaeologist and art historian Sandeep Dahisarkar. "When I started working on this artist couple, I realised they are the earliest known artist couple in India. The husband made commercial portraits and the wife was an artist in her own right making landscapes."
The author, Sandeep Dahisarkar
"Married in 1941, Prema first completed her art education from Sir JJ School of Art in 1940. They attempted to capture the grandeur of India's diverse vistas. This biographical narrative of the earliest known artist couple of India, who received training under SL Haldankar of the Bombay School of Art, is based on oral history, public and private collections, family records, and the artists' personal collection," adds Dahisarkar. Vinayak, a former President of the Bombay Art Society, also made the official portrait of Mahatma Phule for the government of Maharashtra, adds the author.
At Mumbai's iconic Mehboob Studios, Spotify hosted Behind The Beats, a special fan experience celebrating 25 years of Lagaan and the music that continues to define generations of listeners. The evening brought together the film's creative forces - Aamir Khan, AR Rahman, Javed Akhtar and Ashutosh Gowariker - for a candid conversation on the making of the legendary soundtrack.
What stood out most was the humour and honesty with which they revisited the creative process behind the songs. The panel shared anecdotes about late-night brainstorming sessions, disagreements over lyrics, and how instinct often shaped some of the soundtrack's most iconic moments.
Javed Akhtar revealed that Mitwa, now among the album's most streamed tracks, almost did not carry the title that eventually became its defining hook. He shared that the word "Mitwa" came in toward the very end of the writing process, unexpectedly transforming the song. A similar instinct shaped Radha Kaise Na Jale, which today remains the most-streamed song from the soundtrack. The evening felt less like a formal event and more like listening to old friends revisiting a journey.
