The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Atul Kamble
Clean sweep
As the city reeled under a heatwave, it was work as usual for sanitation workers cleaning the walkway outside Juhu beach.
Tagore musings in Mumbai
A scene from Noukadubi. PIC COURTESY/RABINDRAKATHA TAGORE FILM FESTIVAL
The Rabindrakatha Tagore Film Festival, celebrating the legacy of the Nobel laureate, opened on Friday with a curated line-up of films, discussions and sessions exploring cinematic adaptations of his works. In an interesting development, this diarist has learnt that the event has witnessed growing interest from non-Bengali audiences. The three-day festival showcases classic and contemporary interpretations, reflecting the continued relevance of Tagore’s storytelling.
The opening screening featured Noukadubi by Rituparno Ghosh, while the programme also includes a documentary on Tagore by Satyajit Ray. Beyond screenings, interested folk can attend a panel discussion on how Tagore’s works have been adapted over time, featuring Joy Sengupta, Bhawana Somaaya, and Meenakshi Shedde among others.
Joy Sengupta; Bhawana Somaaya
“Early registrations indicate participation from across communities, suggesting the festival’s appeal is expanding beyond its traditional base,” said honorary creative head Anusree Bonnerjee. With free entry, the festival aims to bring Tagore’s timeless stories to a more diverse audience. Check @shahana.tagore_centre for the itinerary.
Solar energy is the way
The new solar bench in Bandra. PIC COURTESY/MAYANK POONEKAR
Going the eco-friendly way is cool, and we are happy to report the installation of new solar-powered benches at Bandra Fort Garden and Joggers Park. Equipped with free Wi-Fi and charging ports, the benches highlight the practical use of renewable energy in public spaces. Mayank Poonekar, who heads the Darshanik Works team that designed and built the benches, assured us that an acrylic panel over the solar panels means visitors can rest assured on the benches. “By promoting clean energy and reducing electricity consumption, we envision a greener city. We hope to set up more benches across Mumbai soon,” Poonekar assured us. We’ll continue to track how these small, significant steps help create a sustainable Mumbai.
Waiting for Javed saab’s nod
Yadnesh Raikar and Javed Akhtar. PIC COURTESY/YADNESH RAIKAR
AAP jaise bade kalakaron ko milkar acha lagta hai,” you’d expect these words being said to iconic screenwriter, lyricist, poet Javed Akhtar, not coming from him. The kalakaar in question was 26-year-old violinist Yadnesh Raikar, who sat down with the veteran lyricist earlier this week. “I wasn’t expecting that to be the first thing he’d say to me on our first meeting. We were working on a spoken word piece for a private performance, featuring Javed saab’s words, and my violin score. He made me comfortable that I nearly imagined I was jamming with a friend,” revealed Raikar. So, what does brainstorming with an icon fee like? “Nervous, to be honest,” Raikar admitted.
Seated across Akhtar at his residence, the violinist put together melodies on the go as the lyricist read his lines in Urdu. “After some experimentation, he looked up and nodded his head in approval. We had our melody. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to collaborate with him,” the violinist recalled.
Flutter-by classrooms
Common Tiger. FILE PIC; (right) Red Pierrot butterfly. PICS COURTESY/DR V SHUBALAXMI; The campus butterfly garden at Don Bosco School in Nerul
Butterflies will soon flutter by schools across Mumbai, thanks to Dr V Shubhalaxmi. The entomologist is working on a new guide book titled Beyond Butterflies that will take learning out of the classroom, and into butterfly gardens. “Growing up, I remember learning about wildlife through examples that felt imaginary. Children learn by seeing and experiencing. The new book will feature activities that can be undertaken at school gardens,” she told us.
Dr V Shubhalaxmi
To that end, her foundation iNatureWatch has already built campus butterfly gardens in nearly 10 schools in Navi Mumbai over the last seven months. “We hope to build more butterfly havens across the city soon,” she confirmed. Those keen to get their hands on the book can keep an eye on @inaturewatch next month.
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