<h2>You&rsquo;ve got a friend in me&nbsp;</h2>
A young boy poses with a man in a costume at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-boat-breakdown-boat-carrying-38-people-breaks-down-near-gateway-of-india-in-mumbai-cops-rush-to-rescue-23648222" rel="nofollow">Gateway of India</a>.
<h2>At the Raja&rsquo;s court</h2>
<img title="Visitors in conversation at the Cymroza Art Gallery. Pics/Fiona Fernandez" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-b_1794612781_s.jpg" alt="Visitors in conversation at the Cymroza Art Gallery. Pics/Fiona Fernandez" />Visitors in conversation at the Cymroza Art Gallery. Pics/Fiona Fernandez
Breach Candy&rsquo;s midweek traffic didn&rsquo;t deter the city&rsquo;s luminaries from the art and cultural communities to make it in time for the opening day of the oleographs exhibition, Raja Ravi Varma: An Artist for the Ages organised by the Museum Society of Mumbai at Cymroza Art Gallery on Thursday. Proceedings kicked off with a crisp, insightful introduction by Dr Pheroza Godrej. Forty-five frames offered aficionados and lay folk a rare glimpse of the great master&rsquo;s works that masterfully blended Indian mythology, culture, and artistic creativity.&nbsp;
<img title="Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma currently on display at the Cymroza Art Gallery" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-c_1794612940_s.jpg" alt="Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma currently on display at the Cymroza Art Gallery" />Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma currently on display at the Cymroza Art Gallery
The oleographs on display were printed at the Ravi Varma Press in Karla, Lonavla. She shared anecdotes on Raja Ravi Varma&rsquo;s body of work, and his process during the curation of these oleographs that brought him worldwide acclaim, as much as making its presence felt through objects from daily life including prints spotted on wall calendars, biscuit tins, and matchboxes. His realistic portrayals of Indian gods, goddesses, mythical figures, kings and muses, kept the audience riveted in conversations over mutton samosas, chutney sandwiches and chai. Going by the studied interest and documentation that was discussed, and the coloured dot labels that were stuck on these precious prints, we are happy to report that his legacy is in safe hands.&nbsp;
Long live this Raja!
<img title="Dr Pheroza Godrej; (right) Raja Ravi Varma" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-e_1794612976_s.jpg" alt="Dr Pheroza Godrej; (right) Raja Ravi Varma" width="1280" height="720" />Dr Pheroza Godrej; (right) Raja Ravi Varma
<h2>Vamos, Brazil</h2>
<img title="Capoeira performers exchange high kicks. Pics Courtesy/Capoeira India" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-f_1794613019_s.jpg" alt="Capoeira performers exchange high kicks. Pics Courtesy/Capoeira India" width="1280" height="720" />Capoeira performers exchange high kicks. Pics Courtesy/Capoeira India
Ever heard the phrase taking the samba to the Brazilians? Well, the Khar-based Centre for Capoeira India did just that when they were invited to be part of the Brazil National Day celebrations in Mumbai on November 4. At the behest of Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai, Jose Mauro Couto, and his wife, Daniela, the team put on a show of capoeira and samba flair.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We were being hosted by the Consulate. Since capoeira was their national sport, it was only right for us to pay tribute,&rdquo; shared co-founder Aparna Massah. Led by professor and trainer Reza Baba Massah, the group set out two performances. &ldquo;Capoeira is actually a game. So, the first set was simply a game where people joined in playfully throwing kicks, while moving in a dance form. It is a throwback to how it evolves as a game on the streets of Brazil, where the children learn self-defence while having fun. For the second part, we presented a showcase on the evolution of the dance form from its historic origin to the journey. It was quite moving,&rdquo; she shared.&nbsp;
<h2>A fortress of creativity&nbsp;</h2>
<img title="The Pratapgad Fort model crafted by Ganesh Krupa, a resident from Pandurang Wadi, Goregaon; (right) Children participate in the fort-making competition. Pics courtesy/Swargandh Kalamanch" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-g_1794613090_s.jpg" alt="The Pratapgad Fort model crafted by Ganesh Krupa, a resident from Pandurang Wadi, Goregaon; (right) Children participate in the fort-making competition. Pics courtesy/Swargandh Kalamanch" />The Pratapgad Fort model crafted by Ganesh Krupa, a resident from Pandurang Wadi, Goregaon; (right) Children participate in the fort-making competition. Pics courtesy/Swargandh Kalamanch
Forget building sandcastles, these little ones had Maharashtra forts on their minds! Children from 22 housing societies and three schools participated in a fort-making competition organised by the NGO, Swargandh Kalamanch in Goregaon. Pratapgad, Sinhagad and Vijaydurg were among the many forts which were recreated using <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-rahul-narwekars-proposal-to-shift-best-bus-routes-from-gateway-of-india-draws-flak-23631088" rel="nofollow">eco-friendly materials </a>such as stones and mud. &ldquo;We wanted children to experience history, not just read about it,&rdquo; said Samata Mahajan, chief secretary of the NGO.
<img title="Samata Mahajan" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-h_1794613114_s.jpg" alt="Samata Mahajan" width="1280" height="720" />Samata Mahajan
<h2>The butterfly effect&nbsp;</h2>
<img title="Ramu Ramanathan. File pic" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-fourteen-nov-i_1794613153_s.jpg" alt="Ramu Ramanathan. File pic" width="1280" height="720" />Ramu Ramanathan. File pic
An ecologist with a memoir to dictate, and a daughter who talks to butterflies set the scene for Ramu Ramanathan&rsquo;s new play, The Man Who Loved to Talk to a Butterfly. Blending humour with loss, the play explores our relationship with nature. &ldquo;This play is my latest work and the first reading I am doing in public. It is quite contextual as it revolves around the history of the Western Ghats and what we inherit from the earth,&rdquo; Ramanathan told us. Check out&nbsp; @studiotamaasha for details about the reading next week.&nbsp;

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Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

You’ve got a friend in me

At the Raja’s court

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