Heights of Anticipation
Ahead of Navratri celebrations, workers assemble the roof of a pandal at Chikuwadi Ground in Borivli West.
Lavani vibes in New Delhi
Geetanjali Kulkarni. PIC COURTESY/META AWARDS
It is a Mumbai coup in New Delhi once again, as theatremaker Bhushan Korgaonkar and co. will be travelling to Delhi this October to open the second edition of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) music festival with a performance of Lavani Ke Rang. “We were ourselves quite thrilled to be invited. With TM Krishna helming the curation, it is a very interesting mix,” shared Korgaonkar. While the performances remain the same, Anita Date will take on the role of host from Geetanjali Kulkarni, the theatremaker informed this diarist. But that is not all. With the hip-hop group, Wild Wild Women adding another Mumbai presence to the opening, Korgaonkar was hoping for something interesting. “To be honest, they are all wild wild women. Some [lavani performers] are traditional, while the others are contemporary,” he concluded.
Queer and here to stay
The 1998-established gay support group Gay Bombay will kick off the 2025 Gay Bombay Awards with a hat tip to a familiar Mumbai pioneer. Suhail Abassi (right), co-founder and chairperson of the Humsafar Trust is the first in line among awardees that will be announced leading up to the awards ceremony on September 21 in Versova. “It’s always an honour to be acknowledged by institutions that are rooted in the cause. When I started my journey, you could count support groups on the fingers of one hand. We’ve come a long way. All I can say is, the more, the merrier!” Abbasi told this diarist.
That’s how Aamir rolls
A skater in action at the new skatepark in Panchgani. PICS COURTESY/@BOMBAY_SB, AFP
Interest for skateboarding might reach new heights very soon. After designing the Grand Central Park skatepark in Thane last year, Mumbai-based skateboarding community Bombay SB will inaugurate a new arena in Panchgani. Slated for an October 1 launch, the park has already caused quite the buzz, we learnt. Actor Aamir Khan (right), who owns a holiday home nearby is all in on it, founder Altamash Sayyad (above) revealed to this diarist.
“The idea piqued his interest and our inauguration also happens to coincide with his visit to Panchgani. He has expressed an interest to be there,” Sayyad added. As for the choice of the unusual spot after their last project closer to home, he shared, “The hill station is home to many schools. We’ve built the new park near Dr BR Ambedkar Park where footfall is already high. Hopefully, we can spark a love for the sport in the visitors. Local youth has already started skateboarding in the space. The future looks exciting,” the founder shared with us.
From a new pint of view
A moment from the Bengaluru event. PIC COURTESY/PINT OF VIEW
Bar talk in the city upped its level as the Mumbai chapter of Pint of View made its debut on September 14 in Bandra. Inspired by the Lectures on Tap series, the session had Dr Rohit Manchanda unravel the mysteries of neuroscience amidst cocktails. “It started when Harsh Snehanshu and Shruti Shah [of Cubbon Reads] in Bengaluru. The idea is to have serious conversations in a casual scenario. The Mumbai chapter will be helmed by Abhishek Shetty and I. We hope to host two sessions every month,” shared co-curator, Mumbai chapter, Diya Sengupta (left).
Spotted… Mario on campus
(Clockwise from above) A panel featuring St Xavier’s College; a closer view; professor Anita Rane Kothare of the college points out a detail in one of the panels
Every day, countless collegians walk past the reception-cum-waiting area that leads to the much-photographed basketball court and hallways of St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) at Dhobi Talao. In their daily rush to beat the bell, few would possibly note the iconic artist’s works that adorn these walls. Recently, when this diarist spent a few moments in the same space, Mario gave us company. No, we aren’t referring to a friend who came by. Celebrated artist late Mario de Miranda’s delightfully charming illustrations, depicting sections of the college building as well as core service areas of the Jesuits, resonate across four massive panels. As we marvelled at these works, we also pored over interesting facts about the historic college. A fine way to salute both college and an artist who celebrated vintage Bombay on his canvas. A little over a kilometre away, the Cathedral and John Connon Middle School also showcase his illustrations.
