Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

The new photo-op
It's the kind of publicity that we aren't sure what to make of, or to what extent one is going to have to bear with. What began years ago by an English news TV channel as an fascinating window into the life and times of our brave jawans, where a popular face played visitor, has now been reduced to an all-too predictable and carefully staged show for celebs, big, small and the nobodys too.

Particularly after the recent unrest at the border, we noticed how PRs went into overdrive to push for mentions of visits by their respective celeb clients to India's armed forces stations. Most of these visits were near the national border. Noble gesture or sheer desperation to stay in the limelight, we're giving it a double thumbs-down.

This truck was stopped at the border
Books and arts do not know boundaries but publishers and organizers do. The book, This Truck Has Got To Be Special by Tara Books features stunning, kitschy and delightfully engaging truck art from Pakistan, and was scheduled to launch today in one of Kala Ghoda's favourite addresses.

The invite that was sent out for the event

Artist Sameer Kulavoor was to discuss the style of art and the palette as well. But last afternoon, we got an update from the venue announcing that the event was cancelled in light of the recent tension between the two countries.

Sameer Kulavoor

When we called up to find out more, we were told that the decision was taken by the publishers preemptively. We hope this doesn't set an unpleasant trend.

Padma, not hot enough!
With a book written by Padma Lakshmi titled Spices & Herbs, you'd forgive us for maxing out our expectations. Turns out the newest title from Ms Lakshmi with Judith Sutton and Kalyustyan's spice shop, is just another glossary of spices and herbs. The introduction by the smoking hot celeb chef began on an engaging note.

Padma Lakshmi at the Emmys last month. Pic/AFP

But as we flipped through the pages, it ended up coming across as just another guidebook on spices with an eye on the firang culinary wiz, keen to master the world of spices. Some of it is borderline exotic. This offing from Ms Lakshmi might not particularly intrigue the hardcore desi chef, we think, but if the West is her market, this one will surely find space on the kitchen bookshelf.

Remember the wonder years?

Pic/Nimesh Dave

Judges Marc Robinson, Jennifer Maycafe and Deepti Gujral share notes at a model hunt held at a Bandra five-star last evening.

The East Indian way
Sunday saw the East Indian community of St Anthony's Church, Malad celebrate the harvest festival known as ‘Agera' in Marathi in a traditional way.

Father Agnelo. Pic/Rohan Koli

A horse-cart procession was held with the band in attendance before morning mass at Malad's Infant Jesus Chapel after the freshly-cut paddy from the field was blessed by Parish Priest Fr Agnelo Fernandes and school principal Fr Henry Pereira. The community celebrates the feast on the first Sunday of October for centuries. In crazy-busy Mumbai, we love this kind of slow-mo.

Salute to the Mumbai Jazz chapter
This diarist rued the chance to have missed a heady and soulful jazz session in Bandra over the weekend.

Eden Shyodi performs at the gig

The gurus of the genre - from Louis Banks and son, Gino, to Sheldon D'Silva, Anurag Naidu, Louiz Banks, Karl Peter, Samantha Edwards, Dhruv Ghanekar, Caralisa Monteiro, Eden Kesang Alexander and many others, "it was a night to remember", in the words of Emma (Emmanuele Decker) key to ensuring the event was a success.