Mumbai Diary: Saturday scene

Pyarelal's platinum score
Veteran yet evergreen Bollywood composer Pyarelal Sharma (of the legendary Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo) who turned 75 recently, preferred a low-key homely bash with family, relatives and close friends.

Pyarelal Sharma

After cutting his birthday cake with wife Sunila by his side, the maestro musician, clad in his mandatory white ethnic outfit, played the ‘L-P'-composed birthday anthem ‘Baar Baar Din Yeh Aaye' (Farz) on the piano, as the enthralled guests sang in chorus.

Even his delighted pet parrot kept squeaking. Despite the onslaught of re-mixes, the unassuming, silver-haired Pyare-jee assured that "sureelay gaano ka daur waapas aayega." Interestingly, his passion includes composing pure Western classical symphonies and World Fusion music scores.

All ears for Nandita
At a recent Mumbai Local sessions held by Junoon, where Nandita Das was the speaker, co-founders Sanjna Kapoor (bottom left, seated) and Sameer Iyengar were part of the audience.

She spoke of her experiences during the making of Firaaq, her debut film as a writer-director. She also looked at the journey of creating a work of art that has a strong social conscience, as well as the multiplicity of perspectives, stories and challenges it puts forth.

A food paradise, someday
On this diarist's recent trip to restaurateur Riyaaz Amlani's new bar in the city, we heard some news that restarted the Delhi vs Mumbai debate. We learnt that Amlani, who is also the president of National Restaurant Association of India, has been told by the Delhi government to gather force and develop new food districts in the Capital.

Riyaaz Amlani at Salt Water Cafe, Bandra. Pic/Sameer Markande

While areas such as Hauz Khas Village are known for their restaurants, the current government is keen to develop more food localities in the city. On this note, we were saddened at the state of the hospitality industry in the city, monstrous taxes, no regulations or locations for street stalls, lack of space and liquor license issues. We wonder when Mumbai will become a foodie paradise, sans the glitches.

Hey, have you seen him?
Call it shamin' them. This diarist went to the Noble Chemists (medicals) branch in Prabhadevi at Jayant Apartment, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, near Century Bazaar to buy some medicine and chanced upon a picture of a ‘shoplifter'. The outlet has actually put up a poster of a man who filched some expensive toiletries from the store a couple of days ago.

The poster inside the store offering a reward for information

Apparently, the loss was noticed when the store took an inventory at the end of the day. Then, they took a look at the CCTV camera footage where they nailed the shoplifter. Now, they have put up his pictures in the shop and promised a reward if anybody finds him. When asked what this ‘reward' was, a staffer smiled and said, "first you find him, then we will tell you."