Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Walking away from safetyA maskless fitness buff and a woman who uses her saree as a shield reveal the casual attitude towards safety in the time of rising COVID19 casesVirrsquos ticket to HollywoodVir Das is a multifaceted person He might be best known for his prowess as a standup comedian But he is also an accomplished singer with his own band Alien Chutney and an actor who has essayed roles in movies including Delhi Belly Das has even made a foray into the US before with his role in the web series Whiskey Cavalier But now hersquos gone a step ahead Hersquos landed a role in The Bubble a mainstream Hollywood film Itrsquos Judd Apatowrsquos next directorial venture after bigbudget comedies including The 40YearOld Virgin and Knocked Up The Bubble stars other big names including David Duchovny and Karen Gillan ldquoI have been shooting for this for a bit now Everyone on this cast is immensely funnyrdquo Das shared about the film thatrsquos about a bunch of actors and actresses stuck in a pandemic bubble while trying to complete a film commissioned by a studio franchiseTradition honouredTwo muchloved eateries that have stood the test of time in this everchanging city have put Mumbai on Asiarsquos food map Ahead of the ninth edition of Asiarsquos 50 Best Restaurants The Worldrsquos 50 Best Restaurants platform curated Essence of Asia a collection of eateries that reflect the continentrsquos culinary diversity Kalbadevirsquos Shree Thaker Bhojanalay and Swati Snacks in pic at Nariman Point and Tardeo mdash both known for their traditional desi fare mdash have made it to the list among six Indian restaurants Karan Shah director Swati Snacks told this diarist that it was an exciting surprise ldquoWersquove been serving Mumbai for over 50 years our advertising has been solely through word of mouth since we believe in focusing on quality So far wersquove been proven rightrdquoThe show goes on at Liberty CinemaThe iconic Liberty Cinema turned 72 this week An Art Deco structure named in honour of Independence it dedicated itself to Hindi films since its inception ldquoThe cinema is the last of South Mumbairsquos picture palaces that also include Regal Eros and Metro It has remained in mint condition despite the financial pressures faced by singlescreen cinemas that have seen many others getting compromised Even after owner Habib Hooseinrsquos death two years ago the family has continued to uphold its legacyrdquo shared Atul Kumar a trustee of the Art Deco Mumbai TrustPlaying a big artThis onersquos for serious art collectors Rare modern Indian works by the likes of MF Husain KH Ara Krishen Khanna and Anjolie Ela Menon in pic which the present owners had acquired directly from the artists and kept in their possession will go under the hammer for the first time Tushar Sethi CEO of auction house AstaGuru thatrsquos organising it said ldquoThis catalogue has been crafted for seasoned buyers looking to add unique works to their collectionsrdquo Make your bids on March 30 and 31 if your pockets are deep enoughTime for a green screenHow this diarist wishes he could watch a movie on a big screen at an iconic venue like The Royal Opera House in Girgaum That sadly will have to remain a dream for a while But in the meantime the venuersquos online thrust continues to get a fillip with a film festival itrsquos organising under its Sustainability Now series of programmes The threeday event starting April 2 is themed on wildlife and the environment The lineup includes Treasures of Grasslands A Journey into the Realm of Wolves by Mihir Godbole and Makarand Dambhare who journey through the grasslands of Maharashtra documenting the Indian wolf an elusive predator That beast might be hard to catch but you can catch this fest on The Royal Opera Housersquos YouTube channel