Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Bipin Kokate

Having a Gudi time

Masked-up Mumbaikars at Girgaum ace the selfie game in traditional attire to usher in Gudi Padwa.

Anxiety, unplugged

While we cannot ignore that the pandemic has caused anxiety among a great number of people, it is also important to understand it as a legitimate disorder, and how we can navigate it, too. In Age of Anxiety (Simon and Schuster India) that releases this Friday, writer Amrita Tripathi (in pic) and clinical psychologist Kamna Chhibber will bust myths and misconceptions related to anxiety, in contrast to pop psychology banter. About the contents of the title, Tripathi shared, "This book centres on stories of lived experiences, via essays and interviews with those who are dealing with anxiety, coping strategies and insights by Chhibber, as well as via other expert interviews."

Safdar, on sound

Playwright Safdar Hashmi. Pic Courtesy/Janam

This past April 12, playwright Safdar Hashmi would have turned 67. To mark his birthday, a new audio series, The Halla Bol Podcast, was announced. Based on his friend and actor Sudhanva Deshpande's book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi, the Hindi podcast will go live on April 22. Deshpande told this diarist that the idea was sparked off by Ashish Paliwal, its producer.

Sudhanva Deshpande

"Paliwal wanted me to read the book and record it, as it's also a memoir. To give it a different texture, we've added recordings of interviews that I had done. A lot of revolutionary songs by Delhi-based choir Parcham also feature in it," he shared. Among others who are a part of the podcast are actors Amruta Subhash and Ratna Pathak Shah. "There are also archival clippings of Safdar, Habib Tanvir and others. It's a joy to see how so many people became a part of this," he said, adding that the podcast will be accessible on audio stream-ing platforms. We'll be waiting.

To Anil, with love

Anil Dharker; Shashi Tharoor; Shobhaa De

"Anil [Dharker], with his zest for living and intense engagement in so many fields - literature, cinema, sports, music, human rights and current affairs - would not have wanted a sonorous condolence meeting. He would have preferred a gathering of friends and interlocutors, who could all meet, share stories and memories, and raise a final toast to the man who meant so much to so many," a spokesperson from the Literature Live! Committee, recalled about the former founder and director of the festival who passed away last month. And while a physical gathering isn't possible, his friends and well-wishers will raise a toast to him this Saturday evening at an online event organised by the committee. The evening will include tributes by Gerson da Cunha, Harish Bhat, Jai Hiremath, Khushroo Suntook, Shashi Tharoor, Shobhaa De and Teesta Setalvad, and readings by Naseeruddin Shah, Dolly Thakore and Nandita Das. "‘Celebrating Anil' will be an evening of tributes and readings of his works by some of his closest associates to remember an astonishingly accomplished, just and humane man," the spokesperson told this diarist. To join this virtual tribute, head to @litlive on Facebook or their YouTube channel.

A lil' bit of Maria in SoBo

Months after their cute little Spanish restaurant took Bandra by storm, La Loca Maria chef Manuel Olveira and his wife and co-owner Mickee Tuljapurkar, started thinking of opening a larger space. Of course, 2020 had other plans. After nearly a year of starting deliveries and take-aways, they have now opened a delivery kitchen at Gamdevi. "We get a lot of orders from south Mumbai. I know people are comfortable with their food travelling a long way, but we felt that 40-45 minutes is a long time for our fare to sit in the back of a delivery vehicle. It doesn't retain the same quality," explained Tuljapurkar. The duo then put the plan for a bigger restaurant on hold, to cater to SoBo. "The new space is also helping us take care of our prep for the Bandra kitchen and experimenting in expanding the menu," she added.