January is the ideal month to kick off working on that ticking brain, to tease it and challenge it into staying sharp. With this month-long focus on brainteasers, we reached out to enthusiasts for their favourite puzzles for all of us to try. Unsurprisingly, the word search emerged as a popular favourite. Here are a few other recommendations to get your brain tease-ready. Readers’ Picks Rhea Vellalam, student, St Xavier’s CollegeSudoku is fun to play; it’s like you know the next move immediately. Solving crosswords in the newspaper was also fun because it refreshed my mind. All the words are upside down or backwards, in an unexpected way. And you get to learn new words and facts that are mind boggling but that’s what the concept is. I haven’t solved too many puzzles since we went digital though. Vijendra Singh, hospitality professional, KurlaI love crosswords. It’s my way of staying calm and meditative. In this era of AI, the traditional way of finding things out keeps me focused. I know it will eventually help me to keep my thinking mind active. Dawn Mendonca, IT professional, Dallas, TexasI used to play Brainvita a lot as a kid; it kept my mind sharp. But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say Sudoku. I did a lot of Sudoku in newspapers back home in Mumbai; however, I seem to have lost touch with the puzzle after moving abroad. The guide’s top picks Brain teasers like Brainvita and crossword keep the mind active All in one: Log onto the website, or download the app and be treated with a host of new challenges every day. Word games like Wordle, Connections, Spelling bee, or number games like the iconic Sudoku, all at your fingertips. Log on to: nytimes.com/crosswords Test your brain power: This website can keep you occupied all day, or for days at a stretch. It contains everything from puzzles and trivia to ciphers and riddles.Log on to: braingle.com Can you crack this? Each level is tougher than the next on this app and it may tempt you into using all your hints.Log on to: Brain Out on all apps stores
08 January,2025 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Evita RocheWhy did the physiotherapist don a cowboy hat and start slinging guns? If you’re at improv artiste Nasir Engineer’s social mixer events, this could be one of his quirky prompts that gets the conversations going. If it’s your lucky day, it could be something that actually unfolds right before your eyes. In this case, it did. “When the physiotherapist arrived at our event, she was shy and reserved, likely aware that most of the participants were much younger than her. She opened up gradually through the session, but when she went for the props and broke into a gun-slinging act, it caught us all off guard,” Engineer laughs. Participants line up for an improv game at the social mixer Conceptualised to bring people together across extroversion, introversion, ambiversion, and all other versions in between, the artiste explains that the aim of his workshops and events are, well, to have no aim at all. “These are not events where you come looking for a companion or a soulmate,” he warns us. That being said, if Cupid decides to crash the party, Engineer won’t stand in the way. “I only nudge the group to help spark a conversation and keep things interesting. How it pans out from there is completely up to them,” he adds. A usual session will witness Engineer pull out a fun game out of his hat to break the ice. “At a previous event, I handed out cards with different questions, and paired people up randomly. Their challenge was to explain the plot of a film based on the title that formed when their answers were combined. When you brainstorm with a stranger, it automatically pushes you to let your guard down,” Engineer explains. Momo’s Garage is one such film that, unfortunately, will never see the light of day. Nasir Engineer Much like the physiotherapist gone rogue, the artiste has undergone a metamorphosis of his own. “I was once a shy and reserved person for a large part of my life. I understand what it feels like to be left out. That’s why I make it a point to welcome participants and strike up a conversation to understand how to place them in a room filled with diverse voices and ensure they feel as included as everyone else,” he concludes. Now that’s one kind of social Engineer-ing we can truly get behind. ON January 11; 19, and 26AT Doolally Taproom, Khar West; Anaahat, JVPD Scheme, Andheri West. LOG ON TO flutr.co.inENTRY Rs 1,000 onwards
08 January,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleEver wondered if the Haas avocados from Peru, Mexico or New Zealand are really worth the significantly heftier price tag as compared to their humbler South Indian counterparts? Or, if a rustic caviar was better suited to your dinner party than, say, a buttered or a pressed alternative? What if you could not only obtain accurate answers to these ephemeral questions but also stock your pantry with the top-shelf versions of every essential (and indulgence) under the same roof? And, what if you could savour produce that has a better-travelled passport than you, in ingredient-forward preparations, rustled up in a live kitchen even before you paid for your purchases? That’s exactly what Food Square — a gourmet food destination that’s replaced erstwhile Food Hall on Linking Road — purports to do. A plate of avacado and halloumi fries As co-founder Lalit Jhawar explains, “With Food Square, we wanted to offer a gourmet food retail experience like none other — one that is centred on discovery and experience, allowing customers to not only return for their favourites but also explore the highest quality produce and make these a part of their routine diets. To make these ingredients more accessible and interesting, we came up with the concept of The Barn, a café that specialises in dishes prepared from produce sourced for and sold at Food Square, in a seasonal, ever-evolving format.” The sushi cake is flavoured with spicy mayo and togarashi Simply put, the menu is frequently updated as per the season’s best offerings, and even the source of staples such as tomatoes, asparagus and avocados, is shifted to ensure optimal freshness. As a hat-tip to local gourmet confectioners, the dining area is flanked by enticing displays from Sivako and Genda Phool. We stopped by on a lazy Saturday to put these claims to the test, and offer you our recommendations. The hits The cafe’s interiors have a minimalistic vibe The menu is well-edited, with a judicious mix of popular favourites and innovative twists. A stellar example of the latter was Jhawar’s recommended avocado and halloumi fries (R650). Coated with a peri peri and cajun spice-infused panko crumb that was mild enough to let the subtle flavours and buttery textures of the avocado and the halloumi shine through, this dish was a satisfying if slightly guilty indulgence. The Truffle tortellini (Rs 675) was our next pick — the pasta was freshly made; the arugula lacked the bitter aftertaste that (as we learned) accompanies its lowlier variants, and the burnt butter sauce was delicate enough to have us lapping up the last spoonful. The truffle tortellini is served in a rich burnt butter sauce The chef also rustled up a mock-meat burger (Rs 675), which came garnished with caramelised onion, crisp lettuce, tomato and gherkins, sandwiched between fluffy house-baked Hokkaido bread. Although slightly suspicious about mock-meat (we’ve tried and been disappointed by a fair few), The Barn nailed the flavour and texture, serving up a burger we’d come back for again. Our only grouse was the thickness of the buns — not being a fan of excessively bread-y preparations; we knocked off one half for a perfectly satiating dish. The menu also offers a handful of desi ‘ghar-ka-khana’-style preparations, including a piquant poha tari (Rs 250), rajma chawal (Rs 350) and Delhi-style chana masala and kulcha (R350). While the poha-tari was much too spicy for us to appreciate, the chana masala proved to be one of the highlights of our meal. Lalit Jhawar The misses Curiosity kills the cat as well as your appetite, as we found when we tentatively enquired after the crispy sushi cake (Rs 575). The avocado version that arrived soon after was flavoured with spicy mayo, ponzu and togarashi, but even that valiant trio couldn’t distract us from the fact that we were chowing down on a thick fried slab of sticky rice. Our verdict All in all, The Barn scores big on several fronts — the portions are generous, the food is undoubtedly fresh, and the menu has something for everyone. The prices are affordable. The café also has an excellent selection of coffee, a tell-tale sign that the founders understand all too well the competitive and snooty market they’re catering to. At: Lower Ground Floor Plot, Food Square, Linking Road, Santacruz West.Time: 7 am to 10 pm (all days)Call: 9833355200
08 January,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulIt is important to be vocal for one’s fundamental right, through whichever way it suits you,” Karnika Bai, a transgender artist from Aravani Art Project, a trans and cis woman-led public art collective, tells us over a call ahead of their first solo exhibition in the city, On the cusp of the eighth day, for the Mumbai Gallery Weekend at Gallery XXL in Colaba. Completing nine years of putting out art that seeks to reclaim public spaces and challenge systemic discrimination against the LGBTQiA+ community, the Bengaluru-based collective has been a driving force behind the queer art scene in major metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. The exhibition will present canvases, photographs, narratives and multimedia art that not only represent the collective resilience of the community but also reflect the artists’ personal journey as individuals navigating their queer identities in a homomisic society. “This is my eighth year of working with the collective. Before this, my life was confined to being on the streets during the day and doing sex work at night. Through artistic endeavours I have been able to explore and understand my own gender identity. Art has worked as therapy for me,” Bai explains. Clap - Part II, an artwork by Prarthana, Jyothi and Hamsa Sriram depict the transgender community Inspired from the legend of Lord Aravan in the Mahabharata, where the deity sacrificed himself on the eighth day of the war to ensure the victory of the Pandavas, the exhibition’s name, as well as the collective’s identity is rooted in the idea of empowerment.Also Read: Taste test: Here's why you can visit this cafe in Santacruz Karnika Bai paints a wall With its recent debut at the 60th Venice Biennale for a mural painting project at Arsenale, Aravani Art Project has been instrumental in providing pathways that bring the dreams and desires of the LGBTQiA+ community to the forefront. “The exhibition presents how gender identity, gender expression and sexuality are perceived and how it exists on streets, in homes, art institutions and bodies. It is a remarkable project and we are honoured to collaborate with them to curate their first solo show in the city,” shares Sarah Malik, the curator of the gallery. The two-month-long exhibition will also feature a panel discussion on January 11 and a painting workshop on January 12 that will be organised by the collective. On January 9; 5 pm to 9 pm (preview) till March 9 (10 am to 8 pm) At Gallery XXL, First Floor, Arsiwala Mansion, Wodehouse Road, Colaba. Log on to @xxl.gallery
08 January,2025 12:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaWhile they are traditionally not classified by botanists as berries, fans of strawberry do not care. From being a favourite of European royalty in the early 15th century to a Wimbledon tradition in the 20th Century, the little red fruit has come a long way. From tarts to desserts and even chaat, the berry has found its way into the city’s kitchen in diverse forms. We dive into offerings across the city to curate the pick of the bunch. Coffee tarts Strawberry mocha Get some diversity in your morning mocha with this strawberry mocha that has creamy strawberry and espresso.AT Basque by Brevé, Pearl Haven, Chapel Road, Bandra West.Call 9082587137Cost Rs 350 Also Read: From children to adults: Use these nine apps to aid your mental health in 2025 Going gaothan The gin-based cocktail, Pali Speaking of cocktails, Pali — named after Bandra’s popular Pali Village — brings together the creaminess of the strawberry yogurt with the sharp Campari and sweet pineapple syrup. Perfect for a playful and interesting evening.AT Sixteen33, 16th Cross Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West. Call 9758999555 Cost Rs 650 Italian surprises Strawberry cheesecake gelato Another win for the traditionalists is this creamy cheesecake gelato that comes infused with the tartness of fresh strawberries. A real threat to New Year resolutions all over.AT Café Frozen Fun, Shyam Kunj, Pali Naka, Bandra West.Call 9082525976Cost Rs 220 Meaty goodness Chicken meatballs in smoky strawberry chipotle While it may be a humble berry, the strawberry can add some layers to your lunch. Head over to SoBo for a tasting of these chicken meatballs smothered in smoky strawberry chipotle sauce, or give in to the experimental strawberry choco tacos.AT Poco Loco Tapas and Bar, Kemps Corner, Grant Road West; Khar West.Call 9321598326 (Grant Road)Cost Rs 590 (chicken meatballs); Rs 550 (strawberry tacos) Tart in salad Carnival kale salad If you are checking on your calories to keep up with your resolutions, head over to Santacruz for a salad that brings the tart of strawberries and pomelo with the refreshing greens of kale and avocado in a visual delight.AT Carnival By Tresind, 7th floor, Krishna Curve Building, Santacruz West.Call 9152100123Cost Rs 695 onwards Sweet as a Danish Strawberry danish For the traditionalists, this food hub in Colaba is the place to be. Among its many offerings is a delicious strawberry Danish with elderflower cream, strawberry jam and topped off with strawberries for a vibrant finish.AT Mag St Bread Co, 4, Mandlik Road, Colaba. Call 7208544366Cost Rs 350 A berry fizz Berry sparkle If you are on the lookout for something to keep the New Year buzz going, try the Berry sparkle — a mix of strawberry gin, elderflower, and sparkling wine. The frosted berry fizz is another gin-based cocktail that comes with a twist of basil and lime to give it added freshness.AT Via Bombay, Jewel of Chembur, 1st Road, near Natraj Cinema, Chembur.Call 02267099988Also Read: Vijay Tendulkar birth anniversary: Here are unique ways to celebrate the Marathi legend's legacy Tomato strawberry chutney Ingredients>> 5 tomatoes>> 5 fresh strawberries>> 1 tsp black pepper corn>> 1 whole bay leaf>> 2 onions>> 50 ml oil>> 10 ml red wine vinegar>> Salt (to taste) MethodCoarsely chop the tomatoes and strawberries and keep aside in separate bowls. Pour some oil in a pan on medium heat. Sauté bay leaf, khada masala, black pepper corn, and sliced onions. When the onions are golden brown, add the tomatoes. Wait till the tomatoes are half cooked before adding the chopped strawberries. Mash the berries and tomatoes in a pulpy mix as they simmer. Add some red wine vinegar, and salt as per taste. Serve as a condiment. Recipe courtesy: Chef Sarfaraz Ahmed A diverse and visual delight I grew up in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh where the arrival of the strawberries marked the beginning of winter. What fascinates me about it is that it is among the rare fruits that tastes as good as it looks. It can bring a dash of vibrancy and colour, with its Valentine red, to any dish. Though it is often used as a dessert, I love to experiment with it in savoury dishes. Sarfaraz Ahmed, corporate chef, Tresind Mumbai
07 January,2025 11:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarNothing quite washes off the mid-week blues like good music. Drummer Arjun Chakraborty will lead the quartet of Arka Chakraborty, Shashanka Das (guitars) and Tea (vocals) for an evening of fusion and jazz at this Colaba haunt. Part of the Colaba Jazzin at The Neuma Edit, the session will build on the quartet’s skills to improvise on iconic jazz standards while showcasing some new rhythms. “It will be an exciting opportunity to showcase our skills. The key is to explore new rhythms,” shares Arjun. With seats filling up quickly, readers would do well to call ahead. ON January 8; 8 pmAT Neuma, Garden Challet, near Regal Cinema, Colaba. CALL 9819318476 (for reservations)
07 January,2025 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamYesterday marked the 97th birth anniversary of Vijay Tendulkar, one of the most influential playwrights in Indian theatre. His iconic plays have been staged worldwide and continue to be performed today by several local groups in the city. Tendulkar also wrote screenplays for films such as the late Shyam Benegal’s Manthan (1976) and Govind Nihalani’s Aakrosh (1980), among others. As a Marathi playwright, he paved the way for modern drama in the country, working with language, giving voice to outliers, who challenged societal norms, and introducing themes that were new to the Indian stages in the 1960s and 70s. For those looking to get started on their journey into discovering the playwright’s work, we’ve curated a list of recommendations: ReadFive Plays by Vijay Tendulkar This is a collection of five classics by the playwright, translated from Marathi into English. It includes three of his most widely read commentaries on the position of women in India: Sakharam Binder, Silence! The Court is in Session, and Kamala. In addition to these, it contains The Vultures, a play where members of a family transform into metaphorical vultures for a share in the family wealth, and Encounter in Umbugland, a political satire about power and manipulation.Available: Leading bookstores and e-stores Listen Audiogyan Podcast with Kedar Nimkar and Ramu Ramanathan Ramu Ramanathan A conversation with Ramu Ramanathan, playwright, director, and author of Mumbai Murmurings, opens many nuances to the legend’s life and writings. The host Kedar Nimkar and Ramanathan delve into Tendulkar’s use of language. The latter calls him “the playwright of the half sentence” and cites some examples from his oeuvre, sharing what Tendulkar attempted to do with his fragmentary dialogues. The speakers also delve into the playwright’s influences and reflect on India in the 1960s and 70s, the two decades during whichTendulkar wrote his greatest work.Log on to Spotify, Youtube Watch Khamosh, Adalat Jaari Hai (2017) Nandita Das in Khamosh! Adalat Jaari Hai. Pic Courtesy/Facebook Adapted from Tendulkar’s iconic play Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (Silence! The Court is in Session) written in 1963, this cineplay features Hindi cinema’s finest theatre and film actors such as Nandita Das, Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Shukla, Yusuf Hussain. What begins as a theatrical trial soon turns into a drama where the court is insistent on silencing the voice of the powerless and questions her integrity and character. The original piece has seen several adaptations, including one by BBC, a 1968 Hindi film by Satyadev Dubey featuring Amrish Puri and Amol Palekar, and a 2016 Marathi natak featuring Renuka Shahane. It is believed that the play was inspired by Swiss author Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s novel, Traps.Log on to Zee5
07 January,2025 09:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaFor kids Safe and sound: You don’t have to be a wordsmith to express your feelings. This music therapy-based app allows you to journal in the language of music using a calming user-friendly experience that allows you to simply tap to add or remove elements.Log on to: Cove on app stores Moshi moshi, wellness: This BAFTA Children’s Award-winning app comes with audio stories, puzzles and bedtime stories, all focussed on the concept of healthy digital play. With easy-to-follow meditation and grounding techniques to dissolve stress, our favourite is the no-advertisements policy that protects children from distractions.Log on to: Moshi on app stores The Finch interface (left) Moshi A friend in me: Teach your children self-care through an app that brings their mental wellbeing to life as an adorable pet, Finch. With daily tasks and affirmations, this is the cutest way to build a good habit.Log on to: Finch on app stores For the 9-to-5-ers Mood matters: “How are you?”— The home screen of this app asks you throughout your hectic workday. This daily journalling and mood tracking app encourages you to log your mood and feelings into a micro-diary to help identify broader trends. With day, month and year-wise tracking, those elusive stressors stand no chance.Log on to: Daylio Journal on app stores In a jiffy: Why not slip in a quick mental reset between meetings? With micro-meditation routines guided by experts and sprinkled with humour, this app is perfect for first-timers wanting to dip their toes before diving into mindfulness. Log on to: 10% Happier on app stores Sounds like a dream: If sleep doesn’t come easy even after a long day’s work, this app might be the answer. Using soundscapes featuring calm music, voice narrations and sounds from nature, this team of audio engineers, musicians and psychoacoustic researchers have packed a good night’s sleep in an app. If you’re a stickler for reviews, especially by famous folk, this one comes recommended by JK Rowling.Log on to: Pzizz on app stores For senior citizens Play it out: According to Harvard Medical School, activities like games, puzzles, and writing may help delay the onset of dementia in older adults. This app (above) offers over 50 engaging, easy-to-learn games across categories like memory, attention, and language to keep your brain active and sharp.Log on to: Brainwell on app stores Dear diary: This medication reminder doubles as a mood tracker to help you understand how your medication is affecting your overall mood. With a health diary that lets you jot down your feelings, this app can provide valuable insights that contribute to a better diagnosis at your next doctor’s visit.Log on to: MyTherapy on app stores Be positive: Designed to help older individuals overcome negativity, this app features activities conceptualised by doctors and researchers. A community page also lets users share their tips to combat loneliness, a challenge faced by nearly a quarter of the senior population in the world, according to the WHO.Log on to: Happify on app stores
07 January,2025 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleMuses Over Mumbai (Bloomsbury), reads like a love letter, a love song to the original version of Mumbai. Authors find stories in what they love, experience, and relate to. What are this city’s qualities that inspire you to write about it in the guise of fiction?Murzban Shroff: WHEN I started writing the book, I wrote out an admission. It flowed spontaneously and went like this: “Call it Bombay or call it Mumbai, my city remains the story capital of the world. There are no limits to the inspiration it delivers, no end to its generosity.” I could afford to feel this, and say after two decades of writing about the city, understanding what it represents to its people, what it delivers, and what makes it tick. The special thing about Mumbai is: it will test you to the hilt, it will thwart you, frustrate you, confuse you, overwhelm you, but it never fails to deliver a sense of realisation, a modicum of personal and spiritual growth. To live in Mumbai is to be conscious of a larger design of life and illumination at work. It is this illumination that finds its way into my stories that unravels through the personal conflicts of its characters, and becomes the epiphany on which one thrives. It is fiction born out of reality, to reveal a deeper reality of the self and of your environment. The book highlights the plight of dhobi ghats that are being eyed by real estate sharks in a fast-changing metropolis From Breathless in Bombay to Muses over Mumbai, we’ve witnessed a metamorphosis, beyond a name change. It’s visible in its streetscapes, its socio-cultural fabric and its changing neighbourhoods. As an author, how did you navigate these shifting plates to ensure its soul is somewhat intact? MS: Let’s first understand the changes. The maalishwallas have almost disappeared; the horse-drawn Victorias have been banned; kaali-peelis are facing competition from private cab companies; BEST has reduced its fleet to two-thirds its original size; the dhobi ghats are being eyed by builders; our racecourse is being considered for redevelopment; Marine Drive promenade has been truncated; our middle-class neighbourhoods are fast morphing into gated communities. So how do I — who feel so strongly about Mumbai’s traditions of inclusiveness — navigate these? By reminding myself that the soul of the city is different from the agendas of its caretakers. By soul I mean its diversity, its bonhomie, its empathy, its humanity. And this is what shines through in each of the stories in this book. I take a character, a thought, an issue, a conflict, and journey with it. In the bargain, I explore certain key aspects of the city. Man in relation to his environment. Man in pursuit of his identity, his goals. What is important then is not what this city puts you through, but what it makes of you — a more aware, more sentient human being. Amidst this change, do you find subtle or obvious changes in the people who you meet every day?MS: Post the COVID 19 pandemic, I see a mercantile opportunism in some people; a kind of defiant insurance against what they went through. This becomes more pronounced because Mumbai is, after all, a mercantile city. The cost of living is often borne in human terms. Yet, it is mercantile without being aggressive or violent; it has a largely ‘live, let live, and let earn’ attitude. Amongst the moneyed and upper crust, there’s a marked hedonism, an anxiety to make the most of the time left. But on the whole, there is also a greater awareness of one’s priorities; things that matter, things that count. I am hoping that this awareness sustains and that it leads to more stories of self-actualisation. Murzban F Shroff Your stories are raw with the open wounds and hard knocks. Yet, your characters, including the protagonists, display resilience and offer hope. Are these stories your way of celebrating the famous ‘spirit’ of Mumbai?MS: You are right about my characters. Take Shraddha, the mochi’s wife: her dilemma is to preserve her dreams for her daughters, and she will do anything to make that happen. Or Sushila, the orphaned ragpicker girl who wants to extricate herself from the squalor of the streets, and become an Uber driver. Or Sikander, who wants to save his stray dogs from extermination and makes that his mission. Or Inspector Bedekar, who must redeem himself in his own eyes, before he can return home to his children. Or even Hyder Ali, a dying drug addict who must perform one good deed before he dies. It’s not so much the spirit of the city I dwell on, as the city itself, which — through its complexities and challenges — raises the spirit and elevates human consciousness. Why such a long gap to write the sequel of Breathless in Bombay?MS: Breathless… released in 2008. From 2009 to 2012, I faced intense litigation against the book, which slowed me down; it occupied all my creative energies. A lot of my time went in drafting legal petitions, interacting with lawyers, and attending court hearings. It was 2012 by the time the cases were resolved and the courts had ruled in my favour. In 2015, I published my Bandra novel, Waiting for Jonathan Koshy. This was a light, jocular novel that kept me going through the dark days of my litigation. The book was later published in the US and in China. In 2019, I came up with an experimental series, Fasttrack Fiction, a collection of shorts for the cell phone reader. But this digital series couldn’t find an audience in India and the rights were returned to me. Then, in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, I published Third Eye Rising, my India collection of stories dealing with issues such as caste, dowry, displacement, child apathy, female exploitation, and migrant identities. Muses Over Mumbai kicked in post the pandemic, although two of the stories were written earlier. Shroff’s characters take up issues like the environment and the hacking of trees in the city Without revealing much, can you recall the most challenging stories?MS: Surprisingly, some of the shorter stories like Neighbors (where I explore the slow death of a gaothan), or Mental About Mumbai (where an environmental activist takes up cudgels against the hacking of trees) or The History Lesson (where we feel the moral dilemma of a builder who is asked to sell out his city) called for intense re-writing. Short as they are, these stories are vital to the collection. They are strong ‘point of view’ stories, intended to reflect the Mumbaikar’s state of mind. They show us where the city is headed, what is lost and what can be further lost. The longer ones like Hafta, Accidental Karma, and The Earth Shall Be Enjoyed by Heroes were relatively easier because I was working in scenes; I conceived them as mini novels. For the longer stories, I had to do ground-level research. For Scent of a Meal, I had to learn how newly-arrived migrants adjusted to the city. For The Earth Shall Be Enjoyed by Heroes, I had to learn about police procedurals during a rape investigation. This quest for information and accuracy makes the writing that much more pleasurable. AVAILABLE Leading bookstores and e-stores Crafting fiction The issue, the questions or concerns are always real — those are your points of identification with your reader. Your characters could be drawn from memory or from imagination, but they need to be well-thought-out and relatable. The storyline is where you indulge your imagination and push the boundaries of fiction. Here, you use devices like conflict and chaos — to arrive at answers you are seeking; answers that must manifest, first to the writer, then to the reader. Fiction is the pursuit of truth — with knowledge as your body and imagination as your wings.
06 January,2025 11:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Fiona FernandezWhile the digital age has created multiple avenues for us to simplify our daily lives, it has also created an enduring dependency on modern gizmos that seems to have trickled down to children as well, affecting their real-life experiences. It becomes essential in that sense to bring out our kids to the real playground. Rachna’s Fun Club in collaboration with Avid Learning and Playydate is organising the eighth edition of the Little Clubbers Festival at the Royal Opera House, which seeks to create a fun and educative environment for kids and their families. Rachna Narwekar Conceptualised for children between the ages of 2 to 12 years, the activities at the festival are segregated into separate sections that foster experiential learning in kids. “We started the festival in 2016, with the objective of providing experiential learning under one roof to children, something which pulls them away from the glare of devices and pushes them to participate in interactive activities that facilitate social and emotional development” Rachna Narwekar, organiser of the festival, tells us. Children engage in craft-based activities at a previous edition The activities are designed in a way that it creates an open and inclusive space. “We have packed in a lot of activities under one roof so that children with learning difficulties also find it easy to engage at the festival. There are games that will teach participants how to balance objects and solve problems; in addition, we’ve planned activities intended to calm them as well,” she reveals. The festival will feature a performance by dancers of Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts as well. The event also intends to encourage young entrepreneurs by providing them a platform to showcase their talent, “There is a lemonade stall by an 11-year-old girl and a jewellery stall by a 16-year-old girl at the festival. We believe it is important to give children the space to be confident and independent about their craft. It is a very holistic environment for children as well as their families,” Narwekar concludes. ON January 11; 11 am to 7 pmAT The Royal Opera House, Charni Road East, Girgaon.LOG ON TO @rachnasfunclub on Instagram ENTRY Rs 200 (for adults; free for children)
06 January,2025 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaSpotting an elephant stepping out into human settlement isn’t an everyday sight. “I was told the chances of spotting one during our eight-day stay were next to none,” recalls 21-year-old filmmaker Devshree Khedekar, who visited Trunk Call Wildlife Foundation’s conservation efforts in rural Kolhapur led by elephant whisperer Anand Shinde, to film her new documentary late last year. The crew anticipated a quiet stay in the usually serene village. And then, it happened. Khedekar works on a shot An elephant swinging its trunk in a pitch-dark field lit only by the torchlights of villagers, with Shinde negotiating with the locals to step back, is one of the most striking visuals from the 18-minute documentary titled Vigraha. The fact that this daring endeavour was made as part of Khedekar’s annual college project at the VG Vaze Kelkar College in Mulund, makes it even more commendable. Anand Shinde on-field. Pics Courtesy/Trunk Call Wildlife Foundation There are some things you can’t learn by simply reading academic research papers in your cosy homes in the city, Khedekar says. “The day after the sighting, we traced the elephant’s footsteps. We learnt that the heavy stomps had loosened the soil, giving earthworms the ideal terrain to thrive. It made us question if elephants are really the troublemakers we take them to be,” she reveals. Shinde seems to agree. “Just one piece of elephant dung contains 17 to 7,000 species of microorganisms that act as excellent manure,” he tells us, adding, “Unless posed a threat to, an elephant is a man’s best friend.” Devshree Khedekar The gripping tale is sprinkled with conversations with local residents and activists who present a well-rounded picture of wildlife-human conflicts. A local farmer’s candid admission, just days after the conflict, gives the documentary a fitting conclusion: “From sowing to harvesting, we are constantly at loggerheads with pests of all kinds. An elephant is possibly the only one who means us no harm.” LOG ON TO Vigraha on YouTube
06 January,2025 09:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleADVERTISEMENT
