The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Ashish Raje
The colourful sunblock
An umbrella held by a parent (not in frame) safeguards them from the sun as they watch an inter-school football match at a Bandra venue
The gig moves to the park
A previous performance at the Cooperage Bandstand Garden. Pic courtesy/NCPA
Christmas is coming early to the city this weekend. Vocalist Samantha Noella (right) will perform at the Cooperage Bandstand Garden with her band, Samantha and the Crooked Tailbones for the weekend session of NCPA at the Park. Having performed across the city for over a decade, the singer revealed that open spaces can be surprisingly interactive.
“Performing in the park is always fun. People are not confinedd to their seats; they can stand up, join in, and dance along. I like to walk around the Bandstand; interact with the crowd. It is fun to watch people let go of their inhibitions,” shared the singer. The playlist though is one for the nostalgia hunters. “We are looking to go down memory lane with music from Madonna, Earth, Wind, And Fire, some Simon and Garfunkel to set the tone before Christmas,” shared Noella. The performance will be followed by a relatable set by stand-up comic, Sapan Varma, who will dive into the challenges of adulthood, and channel everyday frustrations into laugh-out-loud moments, to wrap up the evening.
Because Mala knows best
Malaika Arora. Pic courtesy/Bloomsbury India
After the Malaika Arora biography, Dancing Through Life with Elegance, wellness just got a glossy, no-nonsense upgrade, as the fitness-crazy celebrity proves that discipline can, in fact, look glamorous. She is ready with her debut, It’s Easy to Be Healthy: Malaika’s Guide to Living a Good Life (Bloomsbury), which will arrive in bookstores in English and Hindi versions, this December. After three decades of reinventing, and inspiring, Arora distills her lived experience into a guide that promises clarity, balance, and a refreshing absence of gimmicks. Think of it as wellness, rooted in practicality and shaped by routine. As Arora herself puts it, “I have been part of the entertainment business for close to three decades, and there have been many twists and turns on the road to success. But I still feel unstoppable, like I am just getting started. That is because fitness has always been a cornerstone of my life. After years of trial-and-error, I have found a way of living that works for me and it allows me to thrive. And that’s exactly why I decided to write this book — to share my learnings. No filters, no pretences, just everything that has shaped my wellness journey.”
Inside-edge stories
RK Malhotra features on the book cover. Pic courtesy/Jaico Publishing House
Mumbai author Reenita Malhotra’s (right) new book Ace of Blades (Jaico Publishing House), will offer readers a peek inside the life of RK Malhotra, the face behind the popular Topaz and Supermax blades that became a household name in the ’80s.
Sourced from 14 hours of conversations, the December release will scratch beneath the surface with untold tales of business battles and close shaves with some familiar global rivals.
Spotlight on the handpan
(Left to right) Kartik Sharma, Atul Wankhede, and Pujan Bhadeka
Mumbai’s growing handpan community is coming together this week for an open jam session to showcase the city’s evolving percussive culture. Organisers say the meet-up aims to strengthen Mumbai’s independent music circles, inviting players, enthusiasts, and the simply curious to join in and bring their own instruments.
The Mumbai handpan community. Pics courtesy/Pujan Bhadeka
Pujan Bhadeka, one of the organisers, told the diarist, “I doubt a lot of people in the city know what this instrument is; it is pretty niche, and is used only for meditation or sound frequencies healing workshops. It is so much more than that.” It is quirky, and this meet is to get the ball rolling to make people aware about this niche instrument.” This gathering in Mumbai is being held before the Vivan Handpan Festival of 2026, India’s only dedicated handpan festival, scheduled from January 30 to February 1.
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