Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Pic/Sameer Markande

His flight of fancy

A man sitting on Versova beach gazes at a passing aircraft.

AI on the future

The artwork by Hazarika

With the viral trend of AI-influenced art going around, it was bound to trigger the inspiration of an artist. Santanu Hazarika's latest creation and NFT for Apre Art House's Future Proche is Birth.ai - the picture of a child being brought into the world by machines. "It is the depiction of a comic book cover, dated 31 March 2099, my birthday," Hazarika explained. The cover will be the first issue of a comic book, Birth.ai, to be auctioned 100 years later, he revealed. "Comic book covers might be a fantasy, but they are derivative of reality. The theme revolves around the near future, and how the concept of living, and understanding technology will be affected," Hazarika told this diarist.

Mumbai on song

Shubha Mudgal performs outside the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Pics/Ashish Raje

Last weekend, the iconic steps of the Town Hall had a different set of occupants, a departure from wedding shoots and Dil Chahta Hai-type Insta reels gigs. Instead, thanks to the Mumbai Sanskriti Festival organised by Indian Heritage Society, it was filled with classical music fans who infused a new energy and character to the landmark neighbourhood. Back in a physical avatar after two years, the itinerary was an inspired one; Rahul Sharma performed a special tribute for his father Pandit Shivkumar Sharma on day one, while Shubha Mudgal with Aneesh Pradhan took the stage on day two. Mudgal, who brought the house down with Sankranti-themed renditions, obliged the crowd by extending her performance as stalwarts including Anita Garware, chairperson emeritus, Indian Heritage Society, applauded her from the front row. The crisp winter air was enough to egg Mumbai's musically-inclined to show off their pashminas, Nehru jackets and blazers. All in all, the city showed up in their best to celebrate the best.

Also read: Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Moving with time

An ecstatic dance session in Goa

In yet another instance of Bandra opening its doors to the hip and healthy, the global conscious clubbing movement - which promotes experiences for sober clubbers or those looking for a healthy, mindful lifestyle - is coming to Pali Hill. After a chapter in Goa, Ecstatic World, an inclusive platform that pioneered conscious clubbing in Amsterdam, will open its first space in Mumbai with a session on January 18. Ecstatic Dance Mumbai will, founder Kannakee Bhuyan told us, create a safe, no-judgement zone where one can come and connect with themselves through movement, without intoxicants, talking, phones or footwear. "People are used to dancing or clubbing with intoxicants. Conscious clubbing and ecstatic dance take bravery. It's not instructive, it's inviting," shared Bhuyan. The opening session, the first of many monthly editions, will be anchored by city-based theatre practitioner Kallirroi Tziafeta, and include international DJ and music producer Victorien as well as sound bath by Immersive Sound Experience. "Kallirroi will guide the group into ecstatic dance. The movement is free flow - you come as you are and you move as you feel," revealed Bhuyan, adding they have another space coming up atop a Juhu terrace. Look out for the details on @ecstaticdancemumbai.

Juhu's new jam

Recently, this paper reported how the F&B scene in Juhu is buzzing. We now hear that the suburb is offering a culinary trail through the Silk Route with a new restaurant. The 8,000-sq ft eatery, owned by Anup Karnik, offers a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines with a hint of Indian and Pan-Asian fare. "On this route, the East was introduced to the West and vice versa. So, we are using ingredients such as whole spices from the East, and wines and cheese from the West," shared executive chef Kaustubh Wete.

Good riddance, thermocol

It's nice when weekend favourite hotspots in the city are maintained through community efforts. Early this month, nearly 100 volunteers gathered at Mahim Beach to pick up waste like plastic items and thermocol on its shore. The clean-up was conducted by 5RCycle Foundation, Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment, Fight Pollution, Not Plastics, Plastoconomy Foundation and Supreme Petrochem Limited. Founder of 5RCycle, Dr Smita Birkar, told this diarist, "Thermocol breaks easily into small pieces, which are difficult to collect once they enter the environment and sea, causing pollution and harm to birds and marine life when ingested." They have launched initiatives specifically for thermocol collection and pick-ups across Mumbai.