Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Aiming for the sky

A man joins a group of kids as they fly kites at Juhu Beach on Wednesday, a day before Makar Sankranti.

All in the script

Life has lately been quite rosy for Mumbai-based filmmaker Rishi Chandna. Last month, his upcoming film, Ghol, was selected as one of the projects to be showcased at India Film Bazaar, a marketplace for producers and the larger film distribution ecosystem across the world. Now, it has been selected for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab 2021, meaning that some of the best international screenwriters will guide Chandna through the process of scripting the film. "The lab is under the Sundance Institute; it's really the heart of the Sundance programme, and part of their feature film development process for new filmmakers. Stalwarts from the screenwriting world will be giving attendees one-on-one attention, reading their screenplays, mentoring them, and telling them what their thoughts are. Also, once you are part of the lab, you are automatically also a Sundance fellow, and have the support of the institute through various stages of the life of the film," he told this diarist. Our congratulations.

Parsis and the gift of the jab

A file photo of Adar Poonawalla and wife Natasha

The Parsi community seems mighty chuffed and with good reason too, as V-Day, (Vaccine Day) approaches. It is Bawa wah-wah, as WhatsApp is vaccine eloquent about the Parsi contribution to the Coronavirus battle. A message reads: "Big Parsi contribution towards the Covid Pandemic.' First consignment of Covishield vaccine dispatched from Serum Institute of India's facility in Pune at 05:40 hrs. 'Historic moment'. Vaccine produced by Parsi firm Serum Institute, owned by Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla. Stored in glass vials produced by the Parsi firm Schott Kaisha owned by Rishad Dadachanji. Delivered by Tata Motors trucks. Vaccine batches transported by Go Air owned by Jeh Wadia." Armaity Tirandaz, chairman of Bombay Parsi Panchayat, shared, "Parsi thy name is charity. And once again the stalwarts of our community have proven this as they hold the mantle of healing the country. Parsis have always given their best to the country that has embraced them with such warmth." Entrepreneur-publisher Maneck Davar, had a thought provoking response, "Please add Godrej for refrigeration. This should serve as inspiration to emulate and not only to take comfort from, for Parsi youth. Quite a few of them have lost their entrepreneurial spirit." Former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta put things into historical perspective, saying, "Parsis keeping their word given to King Jadi Rana that we will mix with the locals and sweeten the milk without overflowing." Cheers to the milk, more power to the ilk.

Sweet meet in Bandra

Distance, age or communication is no bar for true blue foodies. Take for instance, Jumana Potia, a senior citizen from Bhendi Bazaar, who taxied halfway across the city with a copy of this paper's preview about Bandra's newest dessert bar Monèr in her hands, only to get a taste of chef Freny Fernandes' treats. "She had got a bit lost, so when I suggested googling the location, Potia said she doesn't need the Internet! She had read about the degustation menu in mid-day and was keen to try it. She chatted about her passion for food and ‘all good things', and even wrote me a poem the next day. Inspired by this encounter, we're thinking of starting a campaign called Humans of Monèr," an overwhelmed Fernandes told this diarist. "It is touching to see how newspapers continue to forge great connections even in an increasingly digitised world." Don't say we didn't tell you.

This start-up is on a roll

A Mumbai-based tech start-up has recently launched an innovative, rollable chess computer, which they claim to be the first of its kind globally. "Players can record their games, perform analyses using our compatible app, connect with other players, and receive coaching within the app. The board is powered by AI and Machine Learning, thus offering players the unique advantage of personalised instruction - the tech enables them to identify their strengths and weaknesses and base their strategy on that. They can also connect with other players across the world," Atur Mehta, CTO of Square Off, told this diarist. He adds that while there are other automated chess boards available in the market, they do not have the added tech or rollable functionality, and are priced at roughly five times what a Square Off board will cost. The board will debut at the CES 2021 technology trade show, and will be available on sale from March 2021.