Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Ashish Raje

Ace of bass

A student and member of the Anjuman-I-Islam School band rests on his drum during the prize distribution ceremony of Under-14 Giles Shield tournament at the Wankhede Stadium.

A royal debut

Kizhakke Palat Krishna Menon and Family by Raja Ravi Varma,1870, oil on canvas. Pic Courtesy/DAG

Tomorrow, after 153 years, a royal will make his debut all over again. Raja Ravi Varma's first commissioned family portrait of the Krishna Menon family will be on public display for the first time in more than a century at the DAG in The Taj Mahal Palace. "The historical importance of the painting cannot be stressed. It marked the transition of Ravi Varma as a professional artist who would accept paid commissions, which was a major moment in the life of an aristocrat," shared Ashish Anand (in pic), CEO of DAG. Sharing that Varma had set up his first printing press in the city, Anand said, "That is why we decided that the first unveiling of the painting should be at the Mumbai Gallery Weekend."

Also Read: Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Bend it like Knight

Jamie Knight, celebrated freestyle footballer, enthralls school children at Podar ORT International School with his balancing act. Pics/Ashish Raje

Watching professional football freestyler Jamie Knight's exhibition of his balance and skill at the Podar ORT International School at Worli yesterday blew this diarist away. In association with Podar Education Network, Knight will visit several schools in the city under the banner. The former swimmer from the United Kingdom said watching Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho sparked his obsession with freestyle. "I started playing when I was 15 years old. I came second in the UK at the age of 19, and that is what gave me the motivation to step up my practice." Sharing his advice with the schoolchildren, Knight said that it is resilience and not just talent that is required to excel. "Practice for at least four to five hours a day. But first, find something that you enjoy, and then practice to get better at it."

Turning tables

Noma. Pics Courtesy/Getty Images

From celeriac shawarma to reindeer brain custard with bee pollen, chef Rene Redzepi's (inset) Copenhagen restaurant Noma redefined the boundaries of culinary creativity and fine-dining. The global food community was in for a shock when Noma announced that it is closing its restaurant chapter by 2024-end. Recalling her stint at the restaurant in 2019, Mumbai-based chef Niyati R Rao, who runs Ekaa, shared that their consistency was inspiring.

Prateek Sadhu and Niyati R Rao

"A lot of what I learnt at Noma has inspired my work, especially respecting local produce, consistency and openness." Chef Prateek Sadhu, who interned there, said that Noma changed the way we perceive food: "It left a big footprint in the culinary world, and imagine how many chefs passed through its doors to create more." Noma will transform into a giant food lab in 2025. Still want to check it off the bucket list? The hope of pop-ups remain.

Bringing back the energy

The Far Out Left festival returned to the city after three years. The two-day boutique electronica festival will conclude today. "We have the event planned as a block party, with the entire alleyway booked," revealed Bhishma Sagar (inset), its founder. Sharing the logistical challenges involved, Sagar said that the core idea remains unchanged. "We are bringing a combination of new artistes and musicians we have been tracking on the circuit. We are known for picking musicians for their repertoire, not name," he said.

A garden of reading

The Library4all unit at the garden (left) Dr Ismat Gabula

Bibliophiles have a new hangout at the Dr Wamanrao Mahadik Udyan at Ganesh Gully in Parel East. Along with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Inner Wheel Rotary Club, the Gabula Foundation has set up their latest Library4all unit there. "The idea is to share books. There are people and children out there wanting to read, but lack the wherewithal to access these books," shared Dr Ismat Gabula, its founder. The project has already seen 11 units installed in gardens across the city over the last year, she added, "The books are free to read for everyone visiting the garden. I hope we can put up 100 more in the next year."