Dadar may not be the only suburb to boast of some lip-smacking Tisrya Bhujane or Surmai Thali anymore. The neighbourhood’s famed Malvani outpost, Chaitanya, will expand to Thane this month. A view of the Dadar eatery The new outlet in Wagle Estate will also house a tandoor, with its homely and signature fare. “People love to eat; we love to feed,” shares founder Surekha Walke. AT Chaitanya Assal Malvani Bhojangruh, Wagle Estate, Thane. CALL 9769909030
13 March,2026 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarTimeless beauty Sanjana Sanghi on Zeenat Aman Dil Bechara beauty Sanjana Sanghi puts Zeenat Aman in the spotlight this week, and for all the right reasons. “She is truly an enduring icon, and not just for her striking beauty. Zeenat Aman ji redefined what beauty and confidence mean for a modern woman, and she did it back in the 1970s, when the industry was largely defined by traditional portrayals of women. As a media student in college, we’ve literally written papers on how she changed the female gaze in Indian cinema. Sanjana Sanghi That unapologetic individuality and a bold cosmopolitan energy that audiences had rarely seen before — her breakthrough performance in Hare Rama Hare Krishna became an instant cultural phenomenon! What really makes her timeless is that her beauty, personality, and confidence are inseparable, and I think that is such an inspiration for the modern Indian woman.” Laughter is the best medicine Russell Peters is heading back to Mumbai on March 22 after an interminable intermission — and honestly, we’re all due for the dose. His Relax World Tour kicks off its seven-city India run in Delhi this Sunday. Russell Peters Chatting with me during his last visit, the comedy giant (no fat shaming intended!) was firm on not “toning it down.” He’s been at this since 1989 and refuses to “turn into a civilian” by self-filtering and sacrificing his superpower. To Russell, losing that edge is like Superman giving up his cape to be human: “You realise pretty quickly that it sucks,” he says. For Mumbai audiences, this isn’t just another comedy show. It’s a chance to witness a master at work — wielding wit as effortlessly as ever and reminding us why humour, unfiltered and unapologetic, remains a superpower we all need. Tiny table, big legacy Thursday brought terrific tidings for two Mumbai eateries, with the announcement of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (51-100) for 2026. Papa’s in Bandra replaces chef Prateek Sadhu’s Naar at No. 66, while Gauri Devidayal and Jay Yousuf ’s The Table comes in at No. 73. Sameer Seth, Hussain Shahzad and Yash Bhanage Now while The Table remains one of our fast favourites, it is Papa’s poignant story that truly deserves attention. Named after the late chef Floyd Cardoz — affectionately addressed as Papa ji — this tiny 12-seater is a hidden gem, helmed by chef Hussain Shahzad. Founders Sameer Seth and Yash Bhanage continue Cardoz’s legacy here, with Sameer noting he often feels Floyd’s guiding hand at work. “He’ll be sitting with a single malt somewhere, cheering us on for this,” says Sameer, understandably elated at the new honour. “Moments like this underscore that our work stands for something. The validation and recognition are incredible for the whole team, and we are truly grateful.” Having earned a top accolade from Time magazine in 2025, Papa’s continues to rack up recognition, cementing its place as one of Mumbai’s culinary treasures. Fully booked through April already, this tiny treasure proves that Cardoz’s legacy — and Mumbai’s appetite for it — are very much alive. Papa’s can preach Since opening its doors in February 2024, this small suburban space has been a magnet for big names. Pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are among those who have dined here, in addition to Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, and Indo-Canadian singer-rapper AP Dhillon. Seventy splendid overs One could scarcely have scripted a more felicitous coincidence — celebrating seventy splendid overs of Shashi Tharoor while the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final provided the background commentary. And so it was on Sunday night that legal eagle Rohit Kochhar and wife, Sonali, hosted a party to bring in the birthday of our favourite former export to the United Nations, at their sprawling Chhatarpur mansion. Shashi Tharoor The capital’s most conspicuous citizens stepped out for cocktails and dinner with Tharoor: ambassadors from at least three EU countries including Lithuanian diplomat Diana Mickevičienė; MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and a handful of fellow politicians; Kathak queen Shovana Narayan; economist Prem Shankar Jha; OG influencer Bina Ramani; and journo Barkha Dutt. Not surprisingly, fellow lovers of language attended too — William Dalrymple and Chetan Bhagat amongst them. Champagne was poured, the cake — a perfect Moët magnum replica — was cut, and a giant screen carried the cricket live. And while India’s World Cup triumph was a handsome birthday bonus, the night’s real headline was Tharoor’s mother being there to see him into his seventies. A blessing indeed.
13 March,2026 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonali Velinker KamatAcross centuries and faiths, the words of Sufi saints and the mystical poets have travelled through music, poetry, and oral storytelling — and now they form the centrepiece of an evening that blends ghazals, bhakti poetry and Sufi kalam, all into one single performance. Performed by singer, Runaa Rizvii Shivamani, this programme titled The Kabiran Project, will explore the spiritual and humanist ideas that connect diverse devotional traditions. For Rizvii, the project is deeply personal. Raised in a household steeped in music, she traces her artistic roots to a lineage of ghazal singers. “I hail from a family of ghazal singers. My father was Ustad Rajkumar, and my mother, Srimati Indrani. My father was often referred to as “the Mehdi Hassan of India.” Runaa Rizvii Shivamani (centre, in orange) along with the band, Fankaar. Pics courtesy/Runaa Rizvii Shivamani “Because I’ve been raised in a very secular atmosphere in my house, I felt the need to come up with something where I can express all the aspects without a bias and where we rise as human beings rather than being categorised into a sect or religion,” Rizvii reiterates. The evening will draw on a wide range of voices from India’s spiritual and literary traditions. Alongside Kabir’s verses, the programme will reflect on the writings of saints and poets such as Ravidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Baba Bulleh Shah, and Amir Khusrau. On stage, the performance unfolds as a blend of storytelling, shayari, and music that explores Kabir’s philosophy of self-realisation, compassion and love. Rather than attempting to recount the saint’s life chronologically, the focus will remain on the enduring relevance of his writings. “It’s not possible to describe a person’s entire life in two minutes,” Rizvii reflects. “But what they have written — that, and the essence of their life is what we can apply in our lives, to become better human beings.” Kabir Das. Pic courtesy/Wikimedia Commons Alongside the devotional and Sufi repertoire, the evening will also feature well-known ghazals, including all-time crowd favourites such as Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo and Ranjish Hi Sahi. Rizvii also plans to present a cherished ghazal written by poet Bashir Badr — Ek Kasak Dil Ki Dil Mein Chubhi Reh Gai, Zindagi Mein Tumhari Kami Reh Gai — as well as classics by Mirza Ghalib, including Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai. The result will be an evening where poetry, devotion, and music intersect, while returning repeatedly to Kabir’s enduring message of humanity beyond divisions. ON March 28; 7 pm onwards AT Kkala, Aram Nagar, opposite Dariya Mahal, JP Road, Versova, Andheri West.LOG ON TO @kkalaofficial ENTRY Rs 599
13 March,2026 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareThere is a quiet smile often hidden away when this writer watches old grandmothers try to make conversation with their Gen Alpha relatives at home. It often feels like two civilisations trying to make conversation, bridging phrases with familiar words of ‘Tanglish’ (Tamil and English), and desperate hand signs. It is the memory of hearing these phrases that makes Kalyani Ganapathy’s Ingey Angey: Here and There (AdiDev Publishers) fun reading. This writer might be older than the target demographic, but the book nevertheless lands with its whimsy. Ganapathy turns to quirky rhymes, a la Dr Seuss, to get across simple words and easy phrases. And so, we have elaneer (coconut water), mayil (peacock), and even the tongue-twisting vazhaipazham (banana) find their way into illustrated rhymes in a quick-to-read 20-page book. The pairing of the words with their English transliterations is a smart device since Tamil is a lyrical language, and lends itself to the rhymes. “This is a book for anyone curious about learning a few words of a new language. Every page is unexpected and joyous. And they are filled with fun and adventure,” shares Ganapathy. The illustrator delivers on it, too. The visuals are bright, whimsical, and immediately arresting. Add this to silly rhymes, and you have something to keep your five-year-old hooked to, without having to check for battery. Kalyani Ganapathy AVAILABLE All leading bookstores and e-storesCOST Rs 499
13 March,2026 09:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarAmsterdam by Gregory Alan Isakov South Africa-born Isakov’s folk-country track feels like a warm conversation with an old friend on a cold night in the titular European city. A far cry from the sizzling Maximum City, but one can daydream. Sapphire by Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran This vibrant, perfect-for-the-summer track is Western pop-infused with desi elements, including some lilting notes from instruments like the sitar, among others. Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn/Cher Cher While we find ourselves veering towards Cher’s 1995 rendition, it’s Cohn’s deeply personal lyrics of his life that will tug at the heart strings. Music legends Elvis and Al Green make a presence too. A blues masterpiece. War Pigs by Black Sabbath Black Sabbath. Pics Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons, Artistes’ Instagram, Youtube We don’t really need to say more, but this 1970s anthem was the definitive anti-war call. This might be Gen Alpha, but Sabbath fans have been there, and done that. Mostly Chimes Adrianne Lenker Adrianne Lenker. Pic courtesy/Spotify True to its title, this one’s an instrumental tune for your slow days. It reminds us of a windy, rainy afternoon where the sky is gloomy, with a slight nip in the air.
13 March,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentFor decades, Gujarati theatre has flourished in Mumbai — comic, philosophical and closely tied to the rhythms of everyday life. While its roots remain strongest in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, the city serves as an important stage for its evolution. That legacy comes into focus this week as the Vasant – Gujarati Theatre Festival returns to the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) with a four-day programme of plays, poetry, comedy and workshops that highlight the many forms Gujarati storytelling can take. Aditi Desai and Bruce Guthrie “We are delighted to welcome Gujarati-speaking audiences back for Vasant,” says Bruce Guthrie, head of theatre and films at the NCPA. “Gujarati theatre plays a central role in Mumbai’s cultural life, and this year’s programme reflects both its depth and its range.” Director Aditi Desai adds that festivals like this help bring regional theatre to wider audiences. “Our play Akoopar, based on the novel, Akoopar by Dhruv Bhatt, explores the Maldhari community and their relationship with the lions of Gir Forest National Park. At a time when coexistence with nature is increasingly urgent, their way of life feels especially relevant. This is our 97th performance, and the play is ultimately about the search for truth — Satya.” Till March 15At NCPA, Nariman Point. Log on to ncpamumbai.comCost Rs 360 onwards (members); Rs 400 onwards (non-members) The guide’s top Picks Shakespeare Mharo Jamai A performance of Shakespere Mharo Jamai A Rajasthani folk play where Banjara storytellers begin to notice uncanny parallels between Shakespearean drama and their own oral traditions, this one has satire, humour and live folk music.ON March 12; 7 pmAT Experimental Theatre Akoopar by Aditi Desai Set in the landscape of the Gir Forest National Park, this adaptation explores the life and philosophy of the Maldhari community and their delicate coexistence with wildlife.ON March 14; 7 pmAT Experimental Theatre Lagna – The Musical The festival closes with a lively musical that reimagines traditional Gujarati wedding songs while playfully examining family expectations, rituals and humour. ON March 15; 8 pmAT Tata Theatre Choggo An experimental poetry-led performance by Saumya Joshi with poets Anil Chavda and Bhavesh Bhatt, that blends spoken word, rhythm and theatrical expression to explore contemporary Gujarati verse.ON March 15; 5.30 pmAT Tata Theatre That’s So Viraj Stand-up comedy joins the line-up as Viraj Ghelani mines everyday Gujarati family life for humour, exaggeration and moments of instant recognition.ON March 13; 7.30 pm AT Tata Theatre Socrates Revisiting the trial of the Greek philosopher Socrates, Manoj Shah’s play draws parallels with Indian traditions of debate and reflects on the value of free thought.ON March 15; 3.30 pmAT Experimental Theatre
12 March,2026 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareThursdayDance to freedom Improvisational games brought alive through dance, Errors Onleee might be the inspiration you need to get up and move this weekend.Time 8.15 pm onwardsAt Veda Black Box, Versova. Log on to jainilmehta.orgEntry Rs 500 FridayMagic of sounds Pic courtesy/@jyotimayi.music Sit back, unwind, and listen to artiste Jyoti Mayi (right) blend Sanskrit mantras, experimental electronics in her immersive album, Acoustic Levitation.Time 7.30 pmAt Harkat Studios, Versova. Log on to altshows.comEntry Rs 350 SaturdayPoetry for everyone Pic courtesy/Brain Bristle Foundation Words can be magical, and transport you from the city’s chaos to a fantastical world. Ask Devangana Mishra (above), as she guides you into a lyrical session.Time 7 pmAt Fictionary Bookstore and Cafe, Bandra West. Log on to urbanaut.appEntry Rs 499 onwards Sketch your feelings Pic courtesy/@the.inkpot Heal with art, as illustrator Sneha Dasgupta teaches you to draw your emotions onto your canvas in this guided creative session. Time 11 am to 1 pmAt Bombay Sweet Shop, Oshiwara. Log on to @bombaysweetshopEntry Rs 800 (per person) SundayFestive feast Pic courtesy/kadak You cannot go wrong with this Iftar Dawat, that delivers on fare from Seasonal Fruit Chaat to spiced kebabs. Time 7 pm onwardsAt Kadak, ICONIQA Hotel, Andheri East.Call 8655691535 Cost A la carte (individual dish pricing); Rs 499 onwards (dessert buffet)
12 March,2026 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Trisha GhoshKolkata-based urban sociologist and writer Rahul Singh’s debut novel, Unfolding (HarperCollins India), is an example of sophisticated character study. It traces the lives of two gay protagonists Ralph and Ojas, who set out to explore an open relationship. It also observes the life of their domestic help, Zubina. While Ralph, a chef at a major Kolkata hotel, struggles with the non-monogamous set-up and holds on to the memories of his mother, Zubina considers love and its various manifestations. Singh began writing the book in 2020, amidst reading novels featuring queer characters; he wanted to read one where the character’s narrative arc was not confined to their coming-out. “I wanted to see that if there are two men who are already together, how are they making it? And I saw Ralph and Ojas in this sort of a relationship which is appealing to one and not to the other.” This nudged him to tap into these novel dynamics that can be witnessed more visibly today, especially among the queer communities. Illustration courtesy/Veer Misra, Harpercollins India Two prominent voices emerge in the book, Ralph’s and Zubina’s, though others’ lives unfold around them too. Zubina provides an outsider’s perspective into this relationship. Singh recollects drawing her character after he imagined Ralph and Ojas. “I thought if these are two men, there has to be someone who is continuously working as a help,” he tells us. Zubina holds conservative values, is God-fearing, and believes in propriety. It is not rare to find voices like hers in literature, but it is uncommon to read her perspective in novels about queer lives. As Ralph’s help, she’s privy to his world. At the same time, in imagining her domestic life, Singh makes us privy to her world and her negotiation with love at home. Rahul Singh “Zubina was developed because of my training as an ethnographer,” Singh, who is currently pursuing a PhD in sociology, shares. “I’ve been visiting neighbourhoods, so I observed the different ways of life around me. But I wasn’t observing it with the intent of writing about Zubina.” He learnt about habitats and the various kinds of indispositions that people live with. “These went into me imagining a Zubina,” he adds, grateful that his editors helped bring out the finer nuances of the Muslim woman. The novel at its core is about intimacies and its precariousness. The title is both arresting and unassuming. In his first draft, Singh recalls writing a scene where a character unfolds a bedsheet. “That image stayed with me; that’s what I saw this novel as,” he says. At the time, he was also reading Marcel Proust, whose profound meditation on memory and love stirred something in him. The title speaks to the many lives the novel deals with. “In a way, it universalised their divergent language of uncertainty and desire where there was still hope,” he concludes. Available: Leading bookstores and e-storesCost: Rs 599 Author Reccos >> Garth Greenwell’s Small Rain>> Sylvia Townsend Warner’s Summer Will Show>> Brandon Taylor’s The late Americans>> Violet Trefusis’s Broderie Anglaise>> Vasudhendra’s Mohanaswamy
12 March,2026 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaBeauty and its secrets Shivratri procession at the Purab Darwaza. Pics Courtesy/Artists, strangers House Gallery In the age of new colonialism, Akshay Singh Maksudpur and Mahesh Soundatte’s Veerane Pe Kya Guzari reminds us of the familiar slip-ups hidden behind the beauty pf that age. Maksudpur, a cinematographer, collaborates with Soundatte, a portraitist and painter from Ichalkaranji, to create an album on the city of Patna, drawing from the famed Patna Kalam Company paintings.ON Tomorrow; 5.30 pm to 9.30 pmTILL April 9; 11 am to 7pmAT Strangers House Gallery, Old Wodehouse Road, Colaba. Ancestral threads To Find the Hidden Self, 1, Kaveri Raina. Pics Courtesy/Artist; Experimenter Gallery Kaveri Raina finally makes her India debut with an exhibition that delves into memory, history and personal journey. The new series of works, of fire-harpoons, draws inspiration from the 14th Century Kashmiri poet, Lal Ded, becoming an inspiration for Raina’s own exploration of her obscured and complex ancestry.Till April 18; 10.30 am to 6.30 pmAT Experimenter, first floor, Sunny House, Merewether Road, Colaba. Encounter the unknown Installation view, Goutam Ghosh. Pic Courtesy/artist; Project 88 Tactile, immediate, and arresting, Goutam Ghosh’s Bite the Bullet, interrogates our visual perspective, and historical memory through sculpted creations. The work stands at an intersection of the artist’s long examination of ideas. Till May 2; 11 am to 7 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)AT Project 88, BMP Building, Colaba. The price of progress Navjot Altaf, Gudhal/White Hibiscus, Hibiscus Arnottianus; Waste Archives as Landscape, 2024-25 What does innovation mean? What is the true cost of progress? Straddling the distinct worlds of Bastar and Mumbai, Navjot Altaf’s latest examination questions the existential tensions between the ideas of progress and ecology through the visual memory of things left behind. Waste Archives as Landscape follows the remnant evidences of innovation and progress in an increasingly consumerist society. Waste Archives as Landscape, 2024-25. Pics courtesy/the artist; Volte Gallery Till June 10; 10.15 am to 6 pmAT Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, second floor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort. ENTRY Museum tickets apply
12 March,2026 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarWalking on sunshine Glowing in a vibrant yellow ensemble on Wednesday, Malaika Arora stepped into Sweeney, Khar, to launch her new lifestyle accessories line, Maejoy — and yes, the restaurant happens to be hers too. Two birds, one very stylish stone Skin glowing, Wit showing The internet will tell you Malishka Mendonsa is an Indian radio personality. Having known her for nearly three decades — we went to college together — I can assure you the operative word in that description is the last one: personality. ‘Mumbai ki Rani’ Malishka is less a job title than a full-blown presence. Her wit is quick, her laugh quicker, and her switch to ‘on’ appears to have been permanently installed sometime in the early 2000s. Malishka Mendonsa Take, for instance, her social media tell-all from a spa session on Tuesday. Alongside the picture we’ve reproduced here, Malishka writes, “Me trying to get my payment app to open through face recognition while getting a facial… Access denied. Skin aglow.” Peak personality. And then — because she can’t resist — she tops it off with a message to me when I ask for the image: “Babe, when you finally decide to write about me, you’re going to use this picture where no one can see my face?” Some people have good timing. Malishka, naturally, has the last word. Desi Triumph One of my early lessons in journalism — and easily the one I remember the best — came from the brilliant Bachi Karkaria. Her point: people care far more about the dead dog on their doorstep than a war on the other side of the world. It’s been ages, so forgive the paraphrase, but the lesson sticks. Vikas Khanna Underscoring that sentiment this week is chef Vikas Khanna. In a yet-to-be-released podcast with Vir Sanghvi, Vikas recounts his journey to stardom, peppered with tales of racism and despair, all with one message: “Let’s turn this pain into purpose.” Mission accomplished, clearly, because these days the Michelin-starred chef is fielding calls from Jeff Bezos, who wants to know how one scores a reservation at NYC’s Bungalow — Vikas’s East Village eatery. But back to our main mudda. In August 2024, Bungalow was awarded a prestigious three-star rating by The New York Times. Apparently, it marked the first time in nearly 25 years that an Indian restaurant has received such a high honour from the publication. Understandably excited, Vikas rushed to share the news with his mother in India. “Mumma ne sidha bola ki Punjab Kesari mein toh aaya nahi,” the chef recalls. Perhaps this piece, published closer to home, will finally deliver the news to her doorstep. Brand Stand Celebrity brand ambassadors don’t always put their money where their mouths are, but that can’t be said of Sachin Tendulkar. Literally walking the talk in Ten x You sneakers, Sachin showed up to support son Arjun during a practice session at Bandra’s MIG Cricket Club last month. No planned press conference, no staged photo op — just Sachin being Sachin, and yes, actually wearing his own brand. Sachin Tendulkar. PIC/SHADAB KHAN This kind of commitment is commendable, especially since it isn’t the norm. We find local ambassadors for Louis Vuitton or Gucci wearing their brand one day and Dior or Hermès the next — as evidenced by ample airport looks. Perhaps there’s an aspect of good sportsmanship to it, because another cricketing icon showed the same sort of commitment during a photoshoot with yours truly some years ago. Yuvraj Singh is the man in question, whom I had kitted out as a Keanu Reeves-inspired Matrix hero. Fashion designer Narendra Kumar Ahmed was tasked with getting the ensemble on point (which he did with aplomb), and that left us to match Neo’s signature Matrix micro-sunglasses. Chuffed to have found the perfect pair, we were met with pandemonium on set when Yuvi refused to wear anything but Oakley because he was associated with the brand at the time. No amount of cajoling worked and eventually we went with what he wished. Because in a world of flexible brand loyalties, that kind of consistency is its own quiet heroism. History in silk Vijay Deverakonda Baroda royal Radhikaraje Gaekwad is a custodian of culture and a connoisseur of the arts. She wears legacy with a lightness and grace that makes her relatable, but don’t mistake that ease for ignorance — this maharani knows her history. Which is precisely why she had an unexpected observation when actor Vijay Deverakonda popped up on her Instagram feed, dressed in a regal Falguni and Shane Peacock ensemble for his recent sangeet ceremony. Radhikaraje Gaekwad While the internet fawned over Vijay as the season’s best-dressed groom, Radhikaraje clocked something else entirely: the cape. To her trained eye, the look carried echoes of royal wardrobes from decades past — the powder-blue silk cape recalling the very cloak Maharaja Sayajirao wore in 1919, when the British Empire awarded him one of its highest honours. For everyone else, this was just another stylish celebrity moment. For the Maharani of Baroda, it was proof that fashion has a long memory. And to us, a reminder that a royal eye sees what the crowd cannot.
12 March,2026 09:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonali Velinker KamatThe final episode, a special two-and-half-hour episode of M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), which was watched by 77 per cent of TV viewers in the USA, made it the highest percentage to watch a single TV show at that time, underlining its immense popularity. For viewers like this writer, and we are sure there were many like us, who watched the show much later, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, after satellite television had arrived in India, it came as a breath of fresh air. The 14-Emmy-Award-winning show directed by Robert Altman, introduced humour and drama through an empathetic lens, against the backdrop of the Korean War (1950-53), thanks to its brilliant ensemble cast, and screenwriter Larry Gelbart and his team. (Left to right) Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, and Harry Morgan The team of surgeons, nursing and support staff at a fictional camp in South Korea captured our imagination, with leads, Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce (played by Alan Alda) and Captain John ‘Trapper’ McIntyre (Wayne Rogers). Trapper later made way for Captain BJ Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell). Their other key characters included Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan (Loretta Swit), the ranking nurse; Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) who was replaced in the later seasons by Major Charles Emerson Winchester (David Ogden Stiers). The commander was Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), followed by Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) in the later seasons. Other characters like Corporal ‘Radar’ O’Reilly (Gary Burghoff) and Corporal Max Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) were equally memorable. It’s title song, Suicide is Painless, composed by Johnny Mandel, became a cult track, and went on to top the UK charts at one point. To find reasons to smile amidst the helplessness of war was its overarching theme that remained at its core till the last episode. Old-timers will never tire of watching reruns. We suspect the show’s vintage appeal might pique the interest of first-time viewers, including later Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha generations. Sit back and enjoy its crisp and seamless writing that balanced hilarity with poignant storytelling in the time of war. Log on to: YouTube
11 March,2026 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Fiona FernandezADVERTISEMENT
