Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Parasol-Gliding

A woman tries her best to stay dry against the pouring rain, as she rides pillion through Malad West.

A Dubai-style treat this Eid

"In Kerala, for the last 30-40 years, it's been a tradition for at least one person in every family to work in the Gulf. This cross-cultural exchange has also had an influence on Kerala's taste buds," explained Sara Jacob Nair, founding partner of Nair on Fire, which specialises in home-style Kerala food.

"As people returned from the Gulf, they started bringing spices. In fact, in Kasaragod, you'll spot many shawarma centres," she added. To pay homage, she's created Dubai chicken, a preparation that marries Middle Eastern spices with traditional Malayali flavours as part of a limited Eid menu.

The creative route

For all those passionate about the craft of writing and wishing to hone their skills in the same, The India Film Project might be worth looking forward to. This content festival is inviting participants from across the country to submit an original script or short story on a given theme that will be announced on September 4. Participants will have seven days to complete their work. "Our festival is unique in that it's time-bound; creating something like this is an ability everyone has. Some of the best stories we've come across in previous editions are from people who aren't professional writers; these have gone on to become projects like short films," founder Ritam Bhatnagar told us. Winners will also be personally mentored by a jury member. You can register at indiafilmproject.co.

Get your hands dirty

Yog for dirty featuring the Academy of Kalote Mokashi; Owner of a contemporary art gallery in Milan, Francesca Guerrizo's evolving relationship with India as explored in Goes To India Once. Pics/Instagram

As a new bi-annual Indian publication, dirty explores a singular theme with each new edition. The publishers explain that it focuses on various facets of Indian youth culture, using visuals and text with an air of irreverence. The theme for the maiden issue is movement and memory, viewed from divergent lenses including a cheekily-named section called Goes to India Once, and a yoga photo essay featuring the Academy of Kalote Mokashi from Maharashtra.

The 288-page publication is currently available for purchase at The Method, a gallery in Bandra. Sahil Arora, founder and curator of Method, shared, "In today's digital age, it's fresh to see an effort to present beautifully developed and curated experimental content with such meticulous production. To us, dirty is more than a magazine; it's a presentation of today in a medium of yesterday." To learn more, head to @thedirtymagazine on Instagram.

Ghostly trail

When dark clouds gather and rains pour down relentlessly, you may feel like a cigarette. Roll back to the days of the Phantom Cigarette. These sweet, mock mint candy ciggies have nearly disappeared from stores. When we called the number on the pack to ask why they were so hard to find, the operator suggested we try online. It was slim pickings there as well, so we recommend lighting up or, more correctly, biting up when you find the elusive Phantom of your past.

Bunning for a delicious cause

(From left) Karan Bane and Seefah Ketchaiyo

In the second month of Bun & Only's initiative Bun & Chefs - where they get culinary experts to curate limited-edition burgers every month to support Mission Oxygen Foundation - they have on board chefs Seefah Ketchaiyo and Karan Bane. The duo is creating a Japanese-inspired panko crusted and edamame hummus burger for the initiative, and will also feature Bun & Only's black bean and guacamole burger on Asian Burger By Seefah's menu. "The idea is fun. Both teams will learn something new," shared Bane, while Ketchaiyo added, "It's not only recipes, but also the ideas that we share which will help us in promoting each other. And if it's for a good cause, then why not?"