Yesterday, when Dhanendra Kawade packed his bags to leave Balaghat (in Madhya Pradesh) for Mumbai, his travel kit contained an unusual assortment. Water taps — half a dozen of them — alongside pipes, tubes and tools. Kawade, a familiar backstage name in Hindi theatre circles, isn’t in town to add to the ongoing slew of never-ending renovations. These plumbing supplies are props for the theatre maker and set designer’s upcoming non-verbal solo play, Nal Jal. A glass tank filled with water and miniature rubber ducks acts as a visual cue for the audiences to revisit memories from their childhoods involving water A quick glance through the title and synopsis of the play, and it would seem like Kawade is here to teach city dwellers a classic lesson in water conservation. Kawade insists otherwise. He elaborates, “Water conservation cannot be understood without first rediscovering the bond we share with water. The fact that we have commodified the resource to an extent where we are bottling it to sell it, speaks volumes about how disconnected we are. The play is a hands-on exploration of a forgotten bond. What the experience subsequently sparks in you, is secondary.” Kawade plays with water in the opening scene of the play Kawade’s novel idea is backed by his peculiar methodology that blurs the line between a theatre stage and a science experiment in the backyard. The backbone of the stage set-up that the designer conceptualised and built himself, are taps of varying heights, and vessels such as mugs, bottles, and bowls; all spread across a blue carpet made of plastic. As the play unfolds, the artiste, who plays the role of a young man scouring for water, fills them, one at a time. A unique sound, in harmony with a pre-recorded background score, fills the room every time a stream of water hits the surface of a vessel. “Each of these three-minute-long pieces of sound evoke memories of our everyday interactions with water, and the inherent music in it that we tend to overlook,” reveals Kawade. The artiste plays a tune on the flute to set the tone of a scene during a previous performance The 46-year-old admits that getting the sounds right hasn’t been a breeze, especially in the absence of a team. We learn that over the last decade, Kawade has extensively researched and learned from repeated trials and errors both during shows, and in rehearsals back home. “I watched a video of percussionist Sivamani creating music with water bottles in a live performance sometime in the late 2000s. I was intrigued, and set out to recreate it,” he recalls. As he juggles between props tomorrow, pouring water through tubes, pipes, and bottles, Kawade’s learnings will come to fruition. The music that arises from these experiments is accompanied by other embellishments such as a recurring mini flute. While the artiste admits he isn’t a trained flautist, he explains the intention, “I play a set of two notes that repeat in a progression to signify the absence of water; the sound mimics that of a hollow, parched well. On occasions where the protagonist finds water in one of the taps, I change the key of the progression to a brighter sound.” We learn that the stage is dotted by smaller contraptions that act as visual cues and complement the many isolated experiences the artiste will present. A glass tank filled with water and rubber ducks, for instance, symbolises the ponds in his hometown that Kawade grew up admiring. “These interpretations will differ between members of the audience; and that’s fine. This is precisely why I decided to take the non-verbal route with this play. The moment you declare the meaning explicitly, it is no longer personal for you or the audience,” he remarks. At the end of Kawade’s 30-minute-long experiment fuelled by five litres of water tomorrow, the stage will be open for audiences to come and explore the setup. It is this closing act that will reveal the true source of the water Kawade uses, along with a take-home message for the audiences. “I want them to engage all their senses and interact with the set to feel one with the life-sustaining resource. Only when you feel a personal connection, will your eyes open to the way we mistreat the resource today,” Kawade signs off. On: May 11; 7 pmAt: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu. Log on to: in.bookmyshow.comEntry: Rs 150 onwards
10 May,2024 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleFor Mumbai’s sweet-toothed vegetarians finding inspired eggless dessert options on menus often ends with them having to settle for options in the ice cream section, or chocolate pastries. So, when we hear that Malad’s vegetarian dessert café, Dessert Therapy, opened a branch at Fort, we make a beeline for it. We reach the venue on the first weekend of its opening and realise that this kerbside restaurant with a massive seating area is yet to be discovered by SoBo’s vegetarian dessert fans. The interiors are painted with a balanced mix of warm and cool colours. The pendant lights and a bricked wall add appeal. We find our favourite spot by the gigantic arched glass windows. Loaded churro chips As we scan the menu, the co-founder, Harsh Shah, comes by our table and shares about the café’s origins, which started as a cloud kitchen founded by him and his brother Nisarg in 2016. “As big-time dessert fans, we wanted to introduce the concept of desserts as therapy,” he reveals. While the Malad café is best-known for its cheesecakes, Shah urges us to try something new at the Fort outpost. He hands us the mango menu. “The aamras tres leches [Rs 500] is a must-try,” he insists, and so we go by his recommendation. The dessert that serves four, arrives in a bowl filled with aamras. In the centre is a vanilla cake drenched in the milky mango juice, topped with cream and mango pieces. The cake melts in our mouth, and is a refreshing burst of the seasonal fruit. Next up is loaded churro chips (Rs 600). This dish can suffice for a group of three. The chips are warm and crunchy, and come topped with four types of chocolate sauces — milk, white, dark, and chilli. We suggest skipping this, or ordering chilli chocolate sauce separately in a bowl. The dessert is topped with strawberry and cream. Nutella Ferrero cheesecake (Rs 500), and their bestseller, Lotus Biscoff cheesecake (Rs 450) are next on our plan. By now, it’s evident that their portion sizes are generous. The cheesecakes are sided with a dollop of cream. While the former is an overload of sweetness, the latter is a fine balance of creamy and crumbly. Aamras tres leches (right) Lotus biscoff cheesecake With cutesy interiors and its diverse eggless menu covering pancakes, donuts, cookies, pastries and milkshakes, it is bound to cause a flutter among impressionable foodies who swear by their social media feeds. Dessert TherapyAt Meadows House, Nagindas Master Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort.Time 1 pm to 1 amCall 9152323023 Just desserts >> Cococart & CocoCafeAt Jio World Drive, Bandra East; other outlets in Vile Parle East; Andheri West; Navi Mumbai.Log on to cococart.in >> Dessert RepublicAt Kalyan Bhuvan, Matunga East.Call 35315999 >> ChantillyAt Perry Road, Bandra West.Call 7370808080 >> Ice LabAt Gandhi Building, Girgaon Chowpatty.Call 7738133012 >> Country of OriginAt Petit Hall, Malabar Hill.Call 9820034747 >> Affogato by JavaphileAt Asha Apartments, Khar West.Call 9152000229 >> Cou CouAt Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East.Call 90828 56979
10 May,2024 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Devanshi DoshiAspiring poets and enthusiasts from Navi Mumbai are set to beeline to a new community event this weekend. The Poetica Live 2024 open mic organised by the Rotaract Club of Smart City Navi Mumbai, will give young poets from diverse linguistic backgrounds the opportunity to present their original works alongside renowned poets like Dr Karuna Khedkar, Priyasy Bokadia, Abhishek Wahee (below), Ninad Kadam, Prateek Mulay and Saee Kadam. On: May 12; 5 pm onwards At: Second floor, Airspace, Nexus Seawoods Mall, Sector 40, Nerul.Log on to: @rcsmartcity (to register)
10 May,2024 06:58 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamNine women sit across each other at the dining table, dressed in soft whites and golds, colours of a typical kasavu saree from Kerala. Their meal is spread out on delicate banana leaves. They’ve spent the last few weeks reading Abraham Verghese’s latest title, The Covenant of Water, set in south India of the 1900s. This was the 70th pick of their book club, Not Just a Book Club. “We had seen everyone raving about it. But we were a little hesitant at the beginning because of its size,” laughs Soneera Singhvi, one of the members. “After a couple of the members read it and loved it though, we decided to go ahead with it.” The book of the month The session drew the author’s attention, who, delighted to learn what his book meant to them, shared their photographs on his social media channels. To Reshma Barshikar, the host of the sadya-style meal, Verghese’s book was a reminder of her childhood. Tarun Durga, an artist and another member, Shagun Luthra’s husband, created two ink sketches for their session, inspired by the book. The women indulge in a sadya-style meal Six years ago, in 2018, these nine women were strangers to each other. When Deeksha Khanna, the founder of the club, posted on the Mommy Network, about wanting to start a small intimate reading club, each of them responded. They were connected by their locality, and their love of reading. Today, they’ve become the closest friends, and hold regular sessions at each other’s homes, picking a new title every month. “We have a very democratic process of selecting books to read. We take turns and go alphabetically, or by birthdays. We’ve done different variations of these over the years. Everyone gets a turn in each round to recommend a book,” shares Singhvi. Verghese tweeted this photo on his timeline while appreciating the club Not only do the members actively engage with the books, they also reach out to the authors for a possible Q&A session with them. “It’s really nice to have author interactions in any small way; it adds to our enthusiasm. There was a period when we went through a reading slump. We had picked books that were standard, nothing that made us go ‘wow’. So, last year we decided to pick genres. It helped us push our boundaries,” Singhvi admits. “We started doing presentations as well, inspired by another club. [The recommender] prepares a list of questions, which adds a new layer and direction to the discussions.” This is how the club has continued to keep the sessions exciting and alive all these years. In September, they plan a small reading trip to celebrate their sixth birthday as a club. New book clubs in the city >> The White Crow Book Club(@thewhitecrowbooksandcoffee) >> The Reading Realm Book Club (@thereadingrealmbookclub) >> SwapBook! (@swapbookofficial) >> The Book Lovers Club, Navi Mumbai(@thebookloversclub_navimumbai) Virtual book clubs to check out >> The Earth Book Club (virtual - @theearthbookclub)>> Susegad Book Club (virtual - @susegadbookclub)>> Rachna Ink’s Book Club (virtual - @rachnaink)>> The Indian Book Club (@indiareadwithus)
10 May,2024 06:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaWith their soulful lyrics woven into rock rhythms, Agnee has been one of the pioneers of the Indian rock scene. As the Pune-based outfit returns to the city for a weekend gig, we connect with lead vocalist Mohan Kannan and guitarist Kaustubh Dhavale AKA Koco for their plans while in Mumbai. LISTEN Mohan Kannan: I couldn’t miss listening to Chamkila. The song, Vida karo, has been everywhere on social media. I haven’t yet sat down and listened to it entirely, but that is on my list. Kaustubh Dhavale: I am currently grooving to the new EP, Mirage, by Plini. The other album I love is Reborn by Infected Mushroom. If you are in the mood for some progressive rock, I recommend Pineapple Thief’s studio album, Your Wilderness. CHILLMK: I am more of a homebody. My house is my happy place, and is open to all my friends. I tend to call them home after a gig or when they are in town.KD: I love to party. When I lived in Mumbai, WTF in Andheri was my go-to destination. I still go out when I find the time. My 23-year-old son keeps telling me I need to slow down, but I don’t think so. EATMK: I love South Indian. I cook, albeit rarely. My mum taught me to make rasam and bisi bele bath. Tanjore Tiffin Room is one of my favourites. It is either this or Punjabi fare like chole bhature on a day off. KD: In Versova, I stayed near the fishing village. We had a regular fish seller who would deliver fresh fish every day. I miss this in Pune, and plan to check things out while I am here. I love Tanjore Tiffin Room’s food, especially their Kerala parotta and mutton curry. TIMEPASSMK: My addiction is now Sudoku. Not the ordinary puzzles but the variant ones. It feels like an achievement. KD: I am a biker; I love the road. Though, I avoid doing a lot of off-roading now. ON May 11; 8 pm AT Phoenix Palladium, Lower Parel. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.com ENTRY Rs 999 onwards
09 May,2024 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarThursday Drama overloadTheatre: Witness two typical lovers struggle with a not-so-typical classic Bollywood romance in The Jubilee Theatre Company’s presentation of their popular satirical musical play, Golden Jubilee. Time 6 pm and 9 pm At Prithvi Theatre, Juhu. Log on to in.bookmyshow.com Entry Rs 500 onwards Friday Pics Courtesy/Instagram All about the bassMusic: This one’s for the bass-heads. Step into a night dedicated to new-age drum n’ bass music spun live by DJs Fragment and Ksaya (above) among other electronic bass wizards. Time 7 pm At Raasta Bombay, Rohan Plaza, 5th Road, Khar West. Log on to sortmyscene.com Entry RSVP mandatoryFree Saturday Gift a laughComedy: Catch city-based comedian Joel D’Souza, known for his dry-wit humour and anti-jokes, at the inaugural show of his first-ever solo show, Gift. Expect comic dissections and observations of the gifting culture in India from D’Souza’s perspective. Time 8.30 pm At Cat Café Studio, Harminder Singh Road, Aram Nagar Part 1, Versova. Log on to in.bookmyshow.com Entry Rs 300 Freshly baked memoriesWorkshop: Learn the ABCs of baking and join forces to bake fresh sourdough pizzas and layered mousses with your mother at this Mother’s Day special workshop.Time 2 pm At The Bread Bar, Shah Industrial Estate, Deonar, Chembur. Log on to @thebreadbar_ (for details) Get groovingDance: Lose your inhibitions and explore the world of ecstatic dance, a free-form movement that offers benefits such as stress relief and improved mind-body connections. The guided session promises a judgement-free space for participants of all ages. Time 5 pm At Integral Space, Janata Estate, Lower Parel. Log on to @theintegralspacemumbai Entry Rs 350 Sunday Cheer onScreening: Catch English Premier League title contenders and table-toppers Arsenal battle it out against Manchester United at the theatre of dreams, Old Trafford. The official screening will include a curated menu of tapas and drinks for fans. Time 7.45 pm At One Aura, Sahar Plaza Midas II, JB Nagar, Andheri East. Log on to @arsenal.mumbai Cost Rs 500 onwards (per head) Pics courtesy/Instagram Seek a sightTrail: Unleash the explorer in you at a bird walk hosted by the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Keep an eye out for birds like the rufous woodpecker (above), Vigors’ sunbird and the crested serpent eagle. Time 4 pm meeting point Entry Gate, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Call 8591382079 Entry Rs 300 A photograph from the collection Art that speaksExhibition: Get a peek into poignant scenes from the political landscape of Bangladesh from the 1980s at renowned photojournalist Shahidul Alam’s new exhibition, Signed But Not Burnt. TILL May 22 At Sakshi Art Gallery, 3rd Pasta Lane, Colaba. Free
09 May,2024 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleAs a millennial who grew up on the early versions of Dragonball Z on television who chased cousins on overseas trips for copies of Shonen Jump, the anime fandom among Gen-Zers feels good. But easy access to manga is still a challenge, especially when you are banned from buying copies anymore. For me, the Manga plus app is my go to solution. The app has a vast collection of series across genres, authors and styles, including popular ones like One Piece, and Dragonball Z. It certainly makes for easy reading on the commute. Log on to Manga Plus on Playstore
09 May,2024 09:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarLetters unravel what other forms of writing cannot. They are windows into our inner lives, revealing our fears, intimacies and vulnerabilities. Keeping with this sentiment, The Bose Legacy, a cine-theatrical experience by the Playpen Performing Arts Trust, brings to us letters of Subhas Chandra Bose from prisons of Madras and Calcutta, along with those written by his brother Sarat Chandra Bose, addressed to the latter’s son, Amiya Nath Bose. These have been sourced from Amiya’s daughter, Madhuri Bose’s compilation in her book, The Bose Brothers and the Indian Independence, and are dated between 1930 and ’55. Speaking of how correspondence turned to dialogue, Nikhil Katara, who wrote the cine-play with Himali Kothari, tells us, “Initially, we had put these together as a performed reading, but slowly, it started taking the shape of a play.” While the play was staged at several venues, during the pandemic, the team found it difficult to take it forward. They, therefore, decided to turn it into a cinematic experience rather than a theatrical one. “In 2020, we shot the performance as a cine-play, using all the tools and devices that a film uses. The film was then used as an opening show in Kolkata to commemorate. Nikhil Katara and Himali Kothari Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary”. Since then, the cine-play has travelled to several places, including a recent screening at the Nehru Centre in London. What one hears the characters utter is not fiction at all, Katara reiterates. These are all words of the Bose brothers. “Some parts of it are not even linked to the national struggle. For instance, [the Bose brothers] would write from the cell asking Amiya which college he’d like to join.” One will find small, personal stories like these. “They were concerned about the young boy growing up in [a changing] India. The historical and the personal are closely-knit in this play,” adds Katara. This Friday, the cine-play will be screened on the terrace of the G5A Warehouse, followed by a short Q&A session with members of the unit. Katara leaves us with a little note, asking us to look out for the Bose family anthem, Dhana Dhanya, sung by Santanu Ghatak, one of the actors in the film. ON May 10; 8 pm AT G5A Warehouse, Laxmi Mills Estate, Mahalaxmi West. LOG ON TO insider.in ENTRY Rs 399
09 May,2024 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaIrrespective of whether you enjoy travelling for the ‘feels’ or the Instagram reels, you’ll need a handy make-up kit that can help you to put together basic to somewhat glamorous looks on the go. And, for most make-up lovers, this can prove to be an exercise in frustration — how much is too much, how much is just enough, how do you ensure that your make-up endures the rigours of your travel and what if you forget to pack an essential item? We reached out to two experts to help simplify the process. Drishya Bhagyanath Plan and prep “I’ve put together a simple kit with the essentials, which I carry with me whenever I travel. I add or edit out from this depending on the specifics of my holiday plans,” explains stylist and image consultant, Disha Selarka. Her basic kit comprises a primer, a base product (foundation, BB or CC cream), a compact to set the base, mascara and eyeliner, a small palette that has eyeshadow, blush and a highlighter, lipstick and lip gloss. Besides these, she also packs in a perfume for the day and one for the evenings. Pack basics like a highlighter and an eyeliner Temperature check Make sure to account for the weather of the destination you are travelling to, emphasises make-up artist Drishya Bhagyanath. For sun-kissed beaches, don’t forget a setting spray that will lock your make-up in place. Carry bronzy products to accentuate your tan; check for waterproof versions of your usual products. For colder climates, choose hydrating products that will help your skin retain moisture. Multitasking heroes Instead of packing a product for each step of your make-up process, look for multi-use products to save space. For instance, a lip and cheek tint can replace your traditional lipstick and blush, while a compact foundation can eliminate the mess of a liquid foundation and concealer, and the stress of carrying loose powder, says Bhagyanath. She adds that contour and highlighter sticks are relatively fuss-free, while an eye pencil that can be used as both an eyeliner and kajal can further ease your packing woes. Use a lip and cheek tint for convenient and quick fixes The vacay checklist . Keep a mini kit in your handbag, which will be allowed in your hand luggage and check in the more comprehensive make-up kit. Having a mini kit on hand helps with touch-ups during and after your travel, and before reaching your destination. You can also use the kit to touch up throughout the trip. This kit can include a compact, blush, lipstick and perfume. Carry a sunscreen that suits your skin type . Regardless of your destination, always carry sunscreen and your basic skincare with you. . Stick to products you use every day, while travelling. This is not the time to experiment with new products or more elaborate looks. A compact can come in handy for touch-ups on the go . Have a hero product that you can quickly throw on to instantly elevate your look (and mood). This could be a kajal, eyeliner, lipstick or blush. It can also be your go-to product that you apply even when you don’t want to apply any makeup. . Use travel-sized versions of your favourite products or transfer smaller quantities into travel-sized containers. . Minimal and simpler looks are easier to perfect on the go and less likely to go wrong. They wear much better than looks with too many layers. By Disha Selarka
09 May,2024 09:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulJazz evenings Open your Thursday evening with a session that explores three musicians playing with rhythms at will. This weekday concert brings vocalist Dominique Cerejo to the fore with Rajesh Punjabi of The Bombay Jazz Club as they serenade the audience with jazz standards, while adding some of their own to the mix. With keys taken over by Rahul Wadhwani, expect an evening of fun and freedom.On Today; 10 pm At Bonobo, Kenilworth Plaza, off Linking Road, Bandra West.Call 9619930030 Let’s get real This Sunday a gig with Sunil Kumar Gurjar AKA Rahgir Live promises to touch your soul. Known for songs that give the listeners a reality check, he is back in the city with another tour. This time, he will belt out unreleased songs as well. On May 12; 7 pmAt Hotel Rangsharda, Bandra West. Log on to in.bookmyshow.com Cost Rs 499
08 May,2024 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamIndia's social movements have always been interlinked with the arts. It is no surprise then that one of the earliest legal cases of censorship was placed on a theatrical production that almost spurred civil unrest in Bengal in the late 1800s. For Amatya Goradia, writer-director of the play 1876, it was the captivating blend of history, drama and a resonance in current society that drew him to the story. The play will premiere the first show of its opening leg in Andheri today. Amatya Goradia “As a writer, I am always on the lookout for stories. A year ago, I was reading up on court cases that emerged from the urge to write a legal drama. I was curious about laws that cover the arts; it’s how I learnt about the Dramatic Performances Act (DPA) of 1876,” 32-year-old Goradia explains. An alumnus of Mithibai College, he grew up watching rehearsals and reading sessions of Gujarati theatre from his father, theatremaker Jayant Goradia. His first break was at the Thespo Festival in 2013 with another historical play, EQ, based on the life and times of Albert Einstein. The history of the 1876 act, he shares, is a microcosm of the state of Bengal during the late 19th century. The trigger to it all was Dinabandhu Mitra’s work, Nil Darpan. “It was a simple play that laid bare the oppression of the Indigo Commission on the farmers of Bengal. It was direct, and scathing on the government,” he reveals. Naturally, the play formed the core of his upcoming production. Goradia instructs actors While Nil Darpan was in production in 1861, it caught the attention of the British colonists only after it was reportedly translated into English by illustrious Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, and published by Reverend James Long. Staged during the Indigo Revolt, it created a stir that resulted in Long’s imprisonment, and eventually, to founding of the first commercial theatre company in India, National Theatre in 1872. “In fact, the first commercial production by the National Theatre was Nil Darpan — almost a repartee to the British Empire,” says the director. “It is even more relevant when you remember that over the years, many theatre makers such as Vijay Tendulkar, and even lokshahirs such as Namdeo Dhasal have faced cases and imprisonments. Any theatre or performance that provokes the audience to react or act, political or apolitical, against power is often charged by law,” he points out. Dinabandhu Mitra. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons Finding the story was the beginning. “It was tough work to source details, since little was available in terms of data or background. I explored the nature of the case, and its resonance with current society rather than history through the production,” he shares, adding, “The history featured in this play emerges through the stagecraft — costumes, characters and the diction. Since it’s set in Bengal, we worked on our diction, so we could include Bengali in the dialogues,” he reveals. The play debuts today. Goradia is confident of a good run, “We are hoping to return to Prithvi in June this year, before taking it to other venues. The idea is to keep performing as much as we can, and wherever we can.” On Today, 9 pm; Tomorrow; 6 pm and 9 pmAt Veda Kunba Theatre, Four Bungalows, Andheri West.Log on to in.bookmyshow.comCost Rs 250 onwards
08 May,2024 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarADVERTISEMENT
