Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

A tribute in verse

The passing of the respected ecologist and academic Madhav Gadgil earlier this year was a reminder of the few names who fight for the increasingly shrinking natural resources of the country. “The late Maruti Chitampalli (right) was among those names. He was not just a naturalist, but also a writer; quite a brilliant one at that,” shared Revati Jogekar, co-founder, Yellow Door Studios.

A moment from Swapnil Phadke’s reading. Pic Courtesy/YellowDoor Studio

For birders in Mumbai, Chitampalli might be a familiar name owing to his contribution to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. To commemorate the Padma Shri Award-winner’s contributions, the studio hosted a reading of his poetic works, Aranya Akshar Hotana, and recalled his contributions to conservation efforts on Sunday, January 25.

“It was incidental that we ran into Swapnil Phadke, a nature conservationist, and someone who had closely worked with Chitampalli in his early years. During the conversation, we realised that few people remembered him, and even those that did talked of his conservation efforts, but not his writing. So, we decided on hosting the session. We had a narration of his stories and works, followed by readings from his verses by Phadke,” shared co-founder Sanveed Jogekar.

Poetic break from the city

Priya Malik at a performance

The calm reservoir of Panshet will play the venue for the 4M Festival that will open doors on February 14. Hosted by Tape A Tale, the two-day event will combine storytelling, music, and community experiences amidst nature to offer a new experience away from the rush of the city.

Co-founder Kopal Khanna shared, “The festival will transform Panshet into a living, breathing cultural playground. Set against a lakeside backdrop, and open skies, the festival brings together mountains, music, mic, and magic that unfold from day to night.”

Kabir Cafe jams on stage. Pic Courtesy/@priyasometimes;@kabircafealive

Headlined by names such as Priya Malik, Amandeep Singh, Vanika Sangtani, Kabir Cafe, Yahya Bootwala, Divyam and Khwab, among others, the events cater to a diverse range of creative performances. “Panshet won’t just be the location. It is also an unplugged, intimate setting designed for conversations, stargazing, and shared moments away from the rush of the city,” Khanna told this diarist.

Belly good news

The wall of the new space also sports a map of the state of Nagaland 

After a brief break to increase their space, go-to Naga food spot, Naga Belly, reopened on January 23. The restaurant has now shifted to a larger address in the same building in Andheri.

(From left) An arrangement on the wall; Watirenla Longkumer, Zhuvikali Assumi 

“We were a small set-up, and wanted a comparatively larger area. The space crunch, at times, used to make people stand in queues outside, leading us to disappoint them at times. We also plan on expanding the menu to more indigenous ingredients,” revealed founders Watirenla Longkumer and Zhuvikali Assumi.

The Constitution in the limelight

A moment from the performance in Solapur

What goes into the making of a document that reshaped an entire Subcontinental culture? For Darshan Mahajan, this curiosity led to the creation of the play, Rashtragranth. Backed by the artist support initiative, The ShubhLab, the production toured Maharashtra in 2024, and finally opened at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi on the eve of Republic Day.

Darshan Mahajan. Pic Courtesy/Artistic Humans

Mahajan, founder, Artistic Humans, shared, “Our objective has been to work with marginalised, and struggling groups of India using arts as a medium of expression. The play was envisioned as a project that empowers the younger generation of college students, through the story of the Indian Constitution, and how their rights came into being.”

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