Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Diving into the weekend

Ignoring the heavy rains, carefree children somersault into the sea for some fun at Badhwar Park, Colaba.

GG presents a planet of the drapes

(Clockwise) Models in couture saree-gowns; Cardi B at the Paris show; Gaurav Gupta with showstopper Janhvi Kapoor

It's fair to say that Gaurav Gupta (GG) is having a good year. Rapper Cardi B made it just in time to watch his show, Hiranyagarbha, as part of Paris Couture Week (PCW) on July 6, wearing a jewelled-toned green sculpted ensemble accessorised with a dramatic taffeta cape and looking like a Goth heroine.
Back at home, the couturier presented an expanded version of the PCW collection as part of the ongoing FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week on July 26 in New Delhi. In keeping with the title of Hiranyagarbha (a concept in Hinduism that symbolises the primordial state of the universe, and is often referred to as the ‘golden womb') - its staging was glossed and stretched like a gathering of cosmic elements such as earth, water, fire, air and space and provided an almost mythic premise of uncanny creatures who walk among us.

But really, GG's ethereal creature was a warrior-waif in sweetheart neckline blouses and superhero capes. Models wore high heels (at the risk of tripping on the shiny runway), and corset gowns, cloud-like cocktail lehengas and pre-draped hybrid saree-gowns in bursts of green, neon yellow and electric blue, and resembled renaissance Indian princesses. The magic of GG - and we don't use the word lightly - lies in the way he imagines and eventually realises flamboyance and glamour in his designs. Especially the feline, figure-hugging draped saree-gowns with their generous cutouts creating a visual illusion of curves and rope-like braided swirls baring cultured elegance - all of which made it a very Instagram-era piece of clothing. But it's also classic GG who is equally at ease with the avant-garde as with today's jet set.

Say konnichiwa and banzai!

A class photo after a Japanese speech contest

Kintsugi, the Japanese technique of mending broken pottery pieces together using lacquer and powdered gold, has continuously lent a gentle philosophical approach to life. Fujiwara Japanese Consultant, a language training and educational institute, will celebrate Japanese culture and ideas like Kintsugi at their annual Banzai Japan at Malabari Hall, Tardeo, at an event tonight. The show will include a Kintsugi art meditation session by yoga expert Trusha Goda, which will have influences of the art form, yoga and meditative practices to help participants mend their emotional states. In addition to dance and song performances, a piano recital, and a tea ceremony, one of the main events will be a Tokyo fashion show organised by their students. Founder Rumy Joshi, who was born and raised in Japan, shared, "The fashion show by designer Namrata Shinde and art director Sneha D'Souza will showcase traditional motifs from Japanese folklore, and Kawai elements through hand-painted designs. Students will wear traditional kimonos, umbrellas called wagasa, and Tokyo street-style fashion." The institute, which provides training in Japanese business management and translation services, hosts Banzai Japan every year for students to showcase what they have learnt about the culture, and for attendees to experience all things Japan. Drop them an email at info@fujiwarajapaneseconsultant.com to register your seat, and go say hi to their adorable Doraemon mascot.

Rumy Joshi

Notes from Nagaland

Rajagopalan (left) felicitated by Abu Mehta, advisor to the chief minister of Nagaland

Composer Viveick Rajagopalan is taking the rhythms and tradition of Konnakol to Nagaland. The Ta Dhom Project founder launched his first workshop in the North East with a four-day event earlier this week. "Ta Dhom Nagaland was first mooted in 2019. We hope to teach artistes and engage with them through konnakol, the art of vocal percussion. It will give their art an edge," the composer told this diarist. With rappers, beat boxers and music producers, the group will extend the skill of konnakol to the community, and also work on a track with them. Always a student, Rajagopalan added, "The vocal chantings and voices are quite unique to the region. We are definitely going to be using some of the vocal elements going forward," he said.

Puddle love

Who could imagine that a pothole, stumbling upon which could only make one frown and curse, would bring a smile on this diarist's face? Ever since the monsoon hit the city, and every time it has poured since then, a pothole near Grant Road Station (West) fills up to make a heart-shaped puddle. Amidst the downpour, passersby, like this diarist, stop for a few seconds, take a picture, or smile and go about their work. If you don't believe Bambai ki baarish is romantic, here's proof.