Trawler among the trials
A lone fishing boat moves through a group of sailors participating in the Asian Games trials conducted by the Army Yachting Node off Chowpatty
Howzat for a musical debut?
Marcus Couto. FILE PIC/ATUL KAMBLE; Cedric Tixeira in the video. PIC courtesy/Coutopresents
Can we rock and roll please? — that’s no longer third-umpire speak for veteran umpire Marcus Couto. A new dance-y track titled Kha Kha Kha, conceptualised by Couto, made its way online on Sunday. “The song is a word of caution for my fellow East Indians. We love our food, but we can go overboard. The song reminds you to practise moderation, and stay fit,” he told this diarist. Readers might recognise Couto as the umpire who consulted top statisticians to bring official attention to Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli’s 664-run partnership to light in 1988. “I always wanted to put a spotlight on East Indian culture, but work held me back [Couto retired in 2018]. Now is the right time,” he added. The track, featuring Cedric Tixeira of Paskin fame can be streamed on YouTube.
Art’s call to action
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY/PRITI THALE
As Mumbaikars find themselves increasingly concerned about the rising Air Quality Index (AQI), artist Priti Thale, from Alibaug, has created a digital artwork that poignantly showcases the cost of development in big cities. She explained the message she wants to convey, “The fallen animals portray the price of cutting a single tree: Numerous species are left homeless, as are tribal communities. In Mumbai, green cover is shrinking. Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Forest are critical green locations under threat; likewise, with the removal of mangroves for the Coastal Road.”
Jam in the greens
Omkar Vidwans (left) and Tanmay Mane perform a multi-disciplinary act in Aarey. PIC COURTESY/TANMAY MANE
It was a full day of music, craft, and learning in the Aarey Forest on November 30, at the all-day arts festival, Saraswati Jam. Highlights included juggling and fire art tricks by Thane-based artiste, Omkar Vidwans, a beatboxing performance, and an origami session. Co-ordinator Pradnyesh Kotwal offered context, “It was a chance for children from low-income families to experience art in multiple forms. We invite unique artistes, who showcase their talents and share their knowledge.”
The joy of reading
Children pore over illustrated books. PIC COURTESY/KAHANI TREE
A two-hour visit to the Kahani Tree bookstore in Prabhadevi lit up the lives of underserved children from the Parcham Collective as they joined library educator Jyoti Narayan for an engaging reading session. Narayan opened with Lapata Sundari by Priya Kuriyan, a story that sparked laughter, questions, and a flurry of quirky facts about the buffalo. Sangeeta Bhansali, co-founder of Kahani Tree, said, “We’ve been working with children from Parcham’s community library for a while, and our aim is simply to let young readers read. The session with Lapata Sundari — about a music-loving buffalo that goes missing — was great fun. As a gesture of appreciation, the children were encouraged to take home picture books from a curated collection.”
Balaporia is thinking big
Veteran musician Gary Lawyer at the new space. PICs COURTESY/Sheldon D’silva
Mumbai’s perpetual space crunch has got nothing on multi-instrumentalist Zubin Balaporia’s (below) plans. The musician recently opened the doors to his new swanky studio and performance space in Mahalaxmi. A stone’s throw away from his 2005-established Bandwagon Recording Studios, the new eponymous space has already hosted the likes of Mark Hartsuch, Gary Lawyer and Gino Banks since its opening.
“The city needed more spaces where musicians could connect, jam, and play their music for themselves. I have done fairly well in my career, and this is my way of giving back to the community,” Balaporia told this diarist. The new space includes a 1200-sq ft recording studio, and a performance space installed with music gear. “The design allows us to clear the space in less than an hour, and turn it into an art gallery or an exhibition space if needed,” he revealed to us. To learn more, log on to @bandwagonstudiosandspaces.
