The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Roller coaster: A roller skater rehearses his moves on the Carter Road promenade, Bandra. Pic/Shadab Khan
Darjeeling railway gets stamped
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This diarist’s earliest memories of snow-capped mountain peaks are that of the Kangchenjunga, as seen from the Darjeeling-Ghoom toy train that operates in West Bengal. So, we were pleased to learn from our in-house railway archivist that the UNESCO has launched a stamp to honour the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The development is a proud moment for chroniclers of India’s rich railway legacy. According to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the 88.48-km gauge track is one of the three mountain railways opened between 1881 and 1908 in India, and to this day, it bears an old-world charm that attracts tourists from across the world. With this happy news, we can’t wait to hop aboard again.
A home for fests
A previous edition of Thespo that will be one of the fests listed on the site
It’s been a trying time for the cultural events industry. In a boost for them, Festivals from India (FFI) is set to be the first online platform (festivalsfromindia.com) designed to showcase India’s cultural festivals. The initiative is made possible by the British Council as part of its Festivals for the Future programme, and developed by ArtBramha. Johnathan Kennedy, director Arts India, British Council, said, “India’s innovation in arts and culture festivals are the country’s DNA. The enterprise of festivals drives the creative economy, shapes inclusive communities and reflects the innovation of the festivals scene. We hope the FFI platform will be a game-changer in strengthening the arts festivals sector, and bring new audiences to visit and appreciate the rich diversity, inclusion and astonishing creativity of India’s festivals.” Rashmi Dhanwani, partner, ArtBramha, added that FFI aims to create a safe platform for festivals, and for audiences to reconnect with as well as discover new ones. “We plan to launch by the year-end. Gender equality, inclusivity and skills develop-ment will be key focuses for us,” she revealed.
Braving the tumultuous pandemic, Lower Parel-based Qualia has made it to the 50 Best Discovery List of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2021, which maintains a prestigious record of some of the most outstanding eateries across the globe. Chef and founder Rahul Akerkar told this diarist that the achievement is doubly special because of how difficult the past year has been. “To stay motivated and hopeful that this too shall pass, and not compromise your ideals and the way you work, is fantastic. As a creator and chef, you do something in a particular direction as it means something to you, and to be recognised for that is very reassuring. It’s a great pat on the back,” he added. Our congratulations to the team.
Mahal of memories
Moti Mahal in Bandra. Pic/Facebook
Despite having held its fort in a rapidly changing neighbourhood for decades, Bandra’s old favourite haunt, Moti Mahal, is allegedly pav-ing way to a multi-storeyed build-ing. As the news made the rounds on social media, patrons went on a nostalgia trip, reminiscing first dates, fun birthday parties, romantic proposals and the good ol’ days. Foodie and author Kunal Vijayakar recalled making a trip from SoBo to Bandra — those were pre-Sea Link days — with his friends to grab a plate of Moti Mahal’s butter chicken. “They had the best butter chicken and kebabs. It was a landmark that people would refer to give directions,” he shared. The last time he visited was 10 years ago with actor Boman Irani and his wife. He said, “We were in Bandra and thought that we must visit it for old time’s sake and to have some butter chicken and a drink.”
Kunal Vijayakar
MF Husain, unrestrained
MF Husain, Untitled, oil on canvas, 1972. Pic courtesy/Astaguru
Artist MF Husain’s iconic anti-war painting from 1972 will make its auction debut at AstaGuru’s upcoming Modern Indian Art Auction. “This is an extremely significant work from Husain’s oeuvre. Spanning eight feet, this composition is an iconic anti-war painting, showcasing his emotive response to the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which resulted in the India-Pakistan conflict. It gives us a unique perspective into the artist’s political intellect as well as his artistic mastery,” shared Sneha Gautam, vice president-client relations at AstaGuru. Other artworks that will go under the hammer include landmark pieces by artists SH Raza, Krishen Khanna, Bhupen Khakhar, Anjolie Ela Menon and Jamini Roy, among others.
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