07 October,2026 08:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Atul Kamble
A man naps in the shade under a tree near Flora Fountain as Mumbai swelters in the October heat
A charkha spinning workshop
On October 2, G5A kicked off its 11th season with a dash of defiance, plenty of laughter and a whole lot to discuss and debate about. The G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture is known for bringing art, conversations and performances into the mix. Artistic Director and founder Ishan Benegal (inset) set the mood, while journalist Rajni Bakshi called for some "defiant enthusiasm".
Anuradha SenGupta and Shabana Azmi in conversation during a session earlier this month. Pics courtesy/IB-Press_photo; g5a.culture
Aditi Mittal got laughs while taking on capitalism, ageing and censorship, before a charkha-spinning session offered a quieter change of pace. Later, actress Shabana Azmi and journalist Anuradha SenGupta turned the spotlight on hope, dissent and the power of participation.
For Benegal, hope wasn't about waiting around. "It is about coming together and creating the conditions for change," he said. And that pretty much summed up the evening - thoughtful, spirited and definitely not short on hope.
The interiors of The Bombay Canteen post the maintenance break. Pics courtesy/The Bombay Canteen
Missed your favourite dish, post-work cocktail, or that familiar canteen buzz? The Bombay Canteen is back after a short break, fresh paint and the dining room buzzing again.
"It feels good to have the doors reopen," said founder Sameer Seth. With the festive season around the corner and a seventh Canteen Cocktail Book in the works, there's plenty brewing. Folks, your table is waiting.
Rajeev Khandelwal in the BCS Man costume designed by Jeet Molankar (right) Jeet Molankar in the BCS Man costume. Pics courtesy/Jeet MolankarMolankar
Not all superheroes wear capes; some wear a green and gold suit. After the release of BCStep, a digital-first business operating network, designer and cosplay artist Jeet Molankar shared the making of actor Rajeev Khandelwal's BCS Man costume. Crafted in 20 days at Iron Thread Studios in Goregaon, the suit combines lycra and scuba fabric, with an upholstery-foam muscle suit creating its superhero physique. "The idea of the Superman-looking costume came to us from the directors of BCStep. Given my background in cosplay and costumes, we engineered the muscle tight suit along with the costume to retain its shape and work cohesively," said Molankar.
IFP is back for Season 16, bringing its annual dose of creative madness to Mehboob Studios on October 24 and 25. What began as a 50-hour filmmaking challenge has now grown into a playground for filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers, photographers and performers.
PICS COURTESY/Ritam Bhatnagar; AFP
This year's jury includes Dorothy director Karthik Subbaraj, Vadhandhi creators Pushkar-Gayatri and Matka King creator Abhay Koranne. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Sanna Irshad Mattoo is also on the panel. Season 15 saw Shahid Kapoor (left) steal the spotlight. Founder Ritam Bhatnagar (inset) said "IFP began with a simple belief that talented people needed a reason, a deadline and a platform to create. Fifteen seasons later, that spark clearly isn't going anywhere."
