03 May,2022 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Atul Kamble
A young man holds his pet close as the canine endearingly looks into his eyes in Matunga on Monday.
A new summer haunt has opened up for the city's bibliophiles. A month since Crossword Bookstore's Kemps Corner branch reopened, we've learnt that the chain has opened an outlet at Phoenix Palladium, Lower Parel. Like its SoBo counterpart, this branch also boasts of a well-stocked kid's reading and shopping zone, furnished with vibrant décor, playful seating and colourful walls designed by Ajay from Ajay Shah Design Studio. CEO Aakash Gupta shared about one of the many highlights of this store, "You can head to any place to get the latest reads and bestsellers, but we're going beyond that to offer a lot more at this store. We have even curated reading lists for our city's young and curious minds; from toddlers to teens - there's something for everyone." Gupta also revealed that plans for workshops, book readings and more throughout May will be announced soon.
An upcoming city walk by documentary filmmaker Akanksha Gupta caught our eye for its take on the intriguing itinerary water follows before reaching our homes and taps. Tracing the Footsteps of Water through Time and Space is a walk that will chalk out water histories from colonial era to today's times. Gupta elaborated, "Starting from Hanging Gardens in Malabar Hill and meandering through the bylanes of Dhobi Talao, the walk unearths stories of drought, migration, water politics and water mafia. While we might not be able to see water physically travel through the city, it's possible to track its journey through the movement of chaviwallas, the disorderly pipes, sounds and patches of water all along the city. Names of places, plaques and statues might be the lone traces of older water systems, but their stories feed into the water realities of today, and can be seen in plain sight during the walk." Interested folk can head to @akanksha2647 on Instagram
to register.
The genius of Satyajit Ray is not limited to cinema; the legend's writings have for decades coloured the childhoods and adulthoods of countless fans. And yet, so much more remains to be read and relished. For all such fans, the Penguin Ray Library, every year, releases a new volume on his birth anniversary. Yesterday, on his 101st, they put together a new collection, titled Satyajit Ray Miscellany: On Life, Cinema, People & Much More (Penguin India). "With more than 70 essays, manuscripts and photographs, this book is going to be an invaluable collection of writings for Ray enthusiasts," shared associate publisher Premanka Goswami about the title.
City-based director Megha Ramaswamy's film, Lalanna's Song, bagged a special mention at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 2022. She shared, "The win is unexpected, but special, as the jury is special. A mention at IFFLA marks a crucial point in any Indian director's journey. The platform shines a light on South Asian cinema and changes the game when it comes to recognising good work. Lalanna's Song takes you on an audacious feminine experience, and this is our first win at the first showcase."
What would it be like to anticipate a Batman saga unfold on audio? Would it be more thrilling to piece together cryptic clues left behind by The Riddler? How would we imagine Batman's moral code through his intonations? Batman Ek Chakravyuh, a Hindi audio adaptation of the global series titled Batman Unburied that releases today will be a novel gift for comic fans. The psychological thriller looks to wield new frontiers in audio storytelling with unexpected twists. While actor Amit Sadh plays Batman, Sharib Hashmi plays The Riddler and Shweta Tripathi plays Barbara Gordon, among others. Hashmi told this diarist, "I had a wonderful time recording for The Riddler. The series presented me with this great opportunity of being a small part of the DC Universe. I have heard the voices of other artistes, and once that amalgamation of vocal textures is lent to the characters and plot, the effect is mesmerising. I want to continue doing this kind of work and exploring my craft as an actor in this sensorial genre." He added that the sound and choreography design will make for a captivating experience when a listener closes their eyes and listens to the narrative.
