Ticket to danger
Commuters throw repeated warnings to wind as they casually cross the railway tracks at Goregaon railway station
Signature move, Lara
Brian Lara signs the bat (right) for Prathamesh Avachare. PICS COURTESY/PRATHAMESH AVACHARE
West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara wooed city-based fan Prathamesh Avachare with an effortless flick of the wrist last Tuesday. At an awards function in Lower Parel, Lara was all smiles as he signed a miniature bat presented to him by the superfan. “I was surprised by how humble Lara was. He was extremely patient with me as I helped him spell my name on the bat, letter by letter. He sealed it with a stylish signature,” Avachare revealed to us. The content creator was among the handful of creative artistes who were invited to the event that also saw Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Sunil Gavaskar in attendance. “I’ll never forget the few moments I shared with Lara. Back in the day, he defined the ‘aggression’ that we keep talking about in new-age cricket. On behalf of all my fellow ’90s kids, I thanked him for all the memories. Being an absolute gentleman, he thanked me back for the support” Avachare told this diarist.
Musical maestros
Marion Tassau and Gauthier Herrman in performance. PIC COURTESY/ARTIE’S
Mumbaikars have one last chance to catch decorated international aristes live at the Artie’s Festival India. In its concluding day today, the event features an international ensemble that includes soprano Marion Tassou, pianist Nicolas Bourdoncle, cellist Gauthier Herrmann, and violinist Mathilde Borsarello-Herrmann. Video creator Marc Dossetto, who will craft the visual experience, is set to blend immersive 3D scenography with music to conclude the festival, we learnt. Those interested can log on to ncpamumbai.com.
Akshay is lacing up for change
Akshay Kumar with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
Actor Akshay Kumar was very much in his Khiladi avatar as he sat down to interview Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a public event in Vile Parle on Tuesday. Among quirky questions, of which the tongue-in-cheek riddle about oranges has already gone viral, Kumar suggested Mumbai Police personnel must be given redesigned sport shoes for better efficiency, adding that running in the standard heeled boots can be an ordeal. We learnt that the CM was already thinking on his feet, and replied, “It’s a great suggestion. No one has ever brought this up before. You are the action hero, and if you help us with the design, we will gladly consider the change.”
Veeru bites the dust on Chapel Road
(From left) Ranjiet Dahiya poses with his mural. PIC/KIRTI SURvE PARADE; the wall now sports an advertisement for a skincare brand. PIC COURTESY/SHORMISTHA MUKHERJEE
Residents of Bandra’s Chapel Road are missing a familiar presence this week. The larger-than-life mural featuring actor Dharmendra has bid the city farewell. The 20ft x 25ft mural painted in 2021 has given way to an advertisement of a popular American skincare brand’s new moisturising cream. Unlike the wrathful Veeru from Sholay (1975), artist Ranjiet Dahiya, the artist behind the mural, is taking the loss in his stride. “It is unfortunate, but the wall never belonged to me in the first place. I simply had permission to paint on it. I’m looking forward to painting a new wall in Bandra soon,” he told us, adding that it might be actor Manoj Kumar who receives a tribute this time. Fans of the popular mural — which had become a landmark of sorts over the years — aren’t too happy, we learnt. “They could’ve brought Ranjiet on board to paint a Bollywood star with their product placed alongside,” suggested Bandra resident Shormistha Mukherjee.
The young and the gifted
Coppersmith Barbet (right) Karan Solanki (centre) receives the award. PICS COURTESY/KARAN SOLANKI
I picked up my camera right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and my first photo was that of a Coppersmith Barbet, the official bird of Mumbai. It has been a journey since,” said photographer Karan Solanki. The 22-year-old recently won the award for the Best Urban Wildlife Photography at the National Wildlife Week at the Mumbai Zoo in Byculla. Inspired by his father, who runs Aasha, an animal welfare NGO that rescues animals, Solanki began his journey in wildlife photography by clicking photos of birds and animals in the forest. “The adrenaline rush still gives me a thrill. This win surprised me, but it has certainly fuelled a passion for more,” Solanki shared with this diarist.
