The city — sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
When pizza-loving Chandra bit the Aussies
It’s time for a bit of nostalgia at a time when the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led limited overs squad is all set to tour Australia.
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BS Chandrasekhar
On this day in 1978, the Indian team led by Bishan Singh Bedi, landed on the threshold of India’s first-ever Test win in Australia. It was achieved at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The hosts ended Day Four there with 123 for eight, in pursuit of a formidable target of 387 thanks to a mighty effort by BS Chandrasekhar, who claimed six of the eight wickets to fall on that Monday.
Bedi took the remaining two — that of Jeff Thomson and Wayne Clark — the following morning to help India win by 222 runs. Of course, we mustn’t forget maestro Sunil Gavaskar, who was the star of India’s second innings with 118.
Chandra earned Aus $500 and a Benson & Hedges medallion for his 12 wickets in the Test. There was more. According to the celebrated Australian writer Ray Robinson, “pizza-loving Chandra” was presented with two large pies by the MCG policemen, who promised him a pizza for every five-wicket haul. Chandra deserved all the rewards and kudos. He must have felt on top of the world. After all, 10 years prior to that triumph, he limped off the same ground with an ankle injury in 1967 and played his next Test only in 1971.
A Hardcore Goan festival
If you thought that music festival season was over, and you had no excuse to hop over to Goa again, we have good news for you.
Miss K8
There is a new music festival in town, but this one is for those who love their electronic music in its purest, most “hardcore” avatar. Hardcore: Invasion will feature electronic music staples such as trance, techno and psy trance, often considered the pillars of this genre. “Hardcore is all about the insane adrenaline rush. It will be massive, and you will get to experience this music like never before,” says Moon13 Entertainment Proprietor Sylvester David. Line-up includes world’s top hardcore names like Angerfist, Miss K8 (known as the goddess of hardcore) and Radical Redemption.
What’s in a list?
Whether it’s friendly banter or a borderline catfight, no exchange on Twitter goes unnoticed. Recently, author Nilanjana Roy came out with a reading list for the year.
Chiki Sarkar
The titles included Kohinoor by William Dalrymple and Arvind Adiga’s Selection Day. Interestingly, out of ten books, four belonged to Chiki Sarkar’s Juggernaut publishing house. A thrilled Sarkar wrote, “Wow @nilanjanaroy picks more @juggernautbooks than any other publishers” bks of 2016. You have the best taste!” to which Roy diplomatically ducked the compliment with “@Chikisarkar Penguin Random House had a big chunk of the list too (incl imprints) but yes. Happy new year!
Time to counter
Almost like the defence launched by friends of an iconic editor charged with rape in a Goa hotel, friends of Peter Mukerjea, former media honcho now charged with conspiring to murder his step daughter, have started a chain mail. It’s written by a family friend, most probably to Rahul, Peter’s son from his first marriage.
And it talks only about Indrani, Indrani and Indrani, the main accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. It explains in detail why she had a devious mind and tried to kill her children (mainly to inherit the entire Mukerjea property) and how Peter, the poor lover boy, got entangled in this mess. It even encourages Rahul to meet up with the lawyers of Peter and brief them on how to handle the case. After all, what are friends for.
Ballet to Bollywood
Mumbai-based choreographer, Gaysil Naubert, who has worked with the likes of Hrithik Roshan, is caught in a candid moment backstage during the Winter Neighbourhood Festiva in Bandra. Titled, Gaysil’s Magical Journey, Naubert’s performance blended disparate forms of dance. Pic/Shadab Khan
Art barter
In this love connect between two cities with the best art scenes in the country, Mumbai’s gallerists, art institutions and artists are gearing up for the India Art Fair in Delhi.
Parmesh Shahani
The Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Lakereen, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Volte Art Projects and Galerie ISA are among those participating in this prominent art fair, known to woo the cream of the crop. In our handpicked highlights, Art Musings will present small works by one of the most expensive Indian artists, SH Raza, in the Focus section. With these acrylic on paper works, all made in the last four months by the 93-year-old artist, says gallerist Sangeeta Raghavan, “We hope to excite young buyers who have had Raza on their wishlists but haven’t be able to buy one.” We are also excited about Vikhroli’s Godrej India Culture Lab’s pop-up. “This is the first time that we are taking the lab to another city. We are excited about this pollination between cities, and looking forward to this mash-up with the magic of the Fair,” says the lab’s head, Parmesh Shahani. As one of the academic collaborators of the Fair, the Lab has planned events, such as panel discussions on alternative community spaces and graphic novels, and the closing night party, which will host the works of Basic Love of Things (BLOT). We are not missing this one for sure.