Mumbai Diary: Friday frolics

Breaking free after 7 years
A few serious filmmakers go to any lengths for their craft. One of them is the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, who is also founder of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

A still from Breaking Free

Rangayan took seven long years to make Breaking Free, a documentary depicting the struggles of the community, the rise of the LGBT movement and the effect of Section 377.

The film will be screened today at Godrej India Culture Lab, Vikhroli (E) at 5 pm. This will be followed by a discussion to highlight the need for LGBT inclusion, both at home and the workplace. We say don't miss this one.

A new bro code
As a fan of popular sitcom character Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) and his funny bro codes, this diarist was pretty piqued to spot several signboards while on a recent trip to Himachal Pradesh.

Sign boards

Dotted along the highways, the lettering on these boards would begin with the text ‘BRO' followed by directions, distances and as cautionary notes. Impressed, we actually thought that the northern state had found a cooler way to caution the public.

Typical sign boards in Himachal Pradesh

Until we figured that BRO stands for Border Roads Organisation, a body responsible for the maintenance of roads along India's border with its neighbours. Nonetheless, these boards we had a smile on our face during our drives through the rugged, mountainous terrain.

Not selling garages!
Nine is fine for the Association of Masonic Ladies Mumbai Centre, which will host a garage sale for the ninth successive year. The ladies, whose garage sale is a big event on Mumbai's charity calendar, dsitribute donations collected from sales of products go towards different charities.

(Far right) Heena Udeshi readies for the Masonic garage sale. Pic/Tushar Satam

The event will be held tomorrow, at Jamnadas Vissanji Hall Damul Nivas (near Mahalaxmi temple) from 10 am to 6 pm. This time, Heena Udeshi, founder president of the centre, says, there is a rocking chair and even a mini bar for taking! "Our well wishers have donated crockery, cutlery, clothes but surprisingly, there's also a mini-bar," she laughs.

Meanwhile, these women can also take credit for introducing the concept of a ‘garage sale' to Mumbai. After nine years, it still draws huge crowds. Contrast this with the first year when while discussing about the idea, one of the ladies was asked, "Garage sale? Does that mean a sale of garages?" If you do spot queues near the Mahalaxmi venue, or someone walking away, mini bar in tow, singing, "Hic hic hurray," you know where they've been.

ABBA in the 'burbs
Suburban fans of popular Swedish Pop group, ABBA are in for a treat.

The Platinum group at an earlier performance

After enthralling SoBo crowds with classics, Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia, the UK-based Platinum - The Live ABBA Tribute Show, presented by Raell Padamsee's Numero Uno, will make its debut in Mumbai's suburbs, at Kurla's Phoenix Marketcity (tonight, 8 pm onwards).

Bearing a striking resemblance to the original four-member hit group, they will let old-time fans relive their wonder years.