The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Find a gym, dude!
A young commuter ignores all safety measures to perform pull-ups on the doorway of a local train at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
A new hero in the books
(From left) Pushpa and Raghu Palat
In 2019, the Guide section in this newspaper had highlighted authors Raghu and Pushpa Palat’s historic title, The Case that Shook the Empire. While the duo is still soaking in the success of its film adaptation, Kesari Chapter 2 (2025), they show no signs of slowing down. Set for a release later this month, God’s Own Empire will spotlight Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the warrior-king of Travancore who foiled the Dutch East India Company’s attempt to conquer India at the Battle of Colachel in 1741.
An artistic depiction of Marthanda Varma; (left) weapons at the Kowdiar Palace. PICS COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; RAGHU PALAT
“We happened to visit the Kowdiar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, where the weapons used by Marthanda Varma in that battle were on display. Following painstaking research, which also led us to the British Library in London to pore over texts pertaining to the king, we realised his true contributions,” the duo told us. Varma stood out for restructuring the administration in his kingdom and working closely alongside its commonfolk to become a ‘people’s king’. “It earned him a few enemies, forcing him to live as a fugitive. It’s a surprise that a story as gripping as his is not taught to us in schools,” they added. Ask them about a possible film adaptation, and the Palats are game. “In fact, I think his life makes for a perfect cinematic retelling,” Raghu remarks. Any takers?
Let’s break the digital bubble
A moment from the pilot event in Andheri
The number you’re trying to reach is currently serving time in a smartphone prison. That’s the catch at biomedical scientist Jyotika Singh’s new venture appOFF, where participants are voluntarily locking away their smartphones to curb screen time and build real relationships. “We’re always on our phones, yet so disconnected from those around us. Urban loneliness is a pressing issue, especially in individuals who move to a new city,” Singh remarked.
The phone locker. PICS COURTESY/APP OFF ON INSTAGRAM
At a pilot run in Andheri last week, 15 participants gave up their phones to talk, laugh and play the old-fashioned way. “We reflected upon what we had lost because of extended screen times. It was a revelation of sorts,” she added. As ironic as it may sound, Singh will soon launch an app to help neighbourhoods come closer together through real-life interactions. To know more about an upcoming event on July 26, head to @appoff.connect.
Full moon equals empowerment
Participants and Aqui Thami (centre) at a previous meeting organised by Sister Library. PIC COURTESY/SISTERS LIBRARY
Tomorrow’s full moon will translate to women power in one corner of Bandra. “At Sister Library, we always meet on the full moon. It is a moment for the Mahila Mandali to get together, and steal some time for themselves. This time we will organise a midnight walk around Bandra,” shared Aqui Thami, founder. Meanwhile, the library is also raising funds for the Walking with Savitri Mai Fellowship that will help the education of over 100 girls from low-income groups. Those interested can head to @sister.library on Instagram.
Love is in fashion
Rahul Mishra works on a piece from the collection. PIC COURTESY/RAHUL MISHRA
Indian designer Rahul Mishra took the ancient techniques of aari, zardozi and fareesha embroidery to the city of love at the Paris Couture Week 2025 earlier this week. Reimagining the techniques in contemporary style, Mishra’s collection embodied seven stages of love. In association with a popular jewellery brand, the feature also marked Mishra’s collaboration with iconic British milliner Stephen Jones. “It is a privilege to work with someone whose legacy and imagination have shaped the very language of couture headwear,” Mishra told us from Paris.
What the hack?
Chandni Ahuja in performance. PIC COURTESY/KIBONOPARTY ON INSTAGRAM
City-based DJ Chandni Ahuja aka KIBO is recovering from a classic case of identity theft on Instagram this week. “I received a message from a verified account named Meta when I was boarding a flight last week. I accidentally clicked on a link in the message before my flight took off. The next thing I knew, I was locked out of my own account and I started receiving messages from an Indonesian number on WhatsApp, demanding a ransom amount. After multiple complaints to the social media giant, I had to eventually give up when my account was disabled. I’m left with no recovery options. It beats me how all of this happened despite my two-factor authentication being enabled,” Ahuja remarked. Visibly distraught, the DJ told this diarist that the event comes as a lesson to not rely on a single social platform as an artiste. “I’m mourning the loss of my network, but I’ll be back stronger,” she assured us. The artiste now operates from the handle @kibo.wxv on Instagram.
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