Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

X’mas comes early to Bandra

The display at Damian, Bandra. Pic/Shadab Khan

Last year, the Damian showroom in Bandra took a call to not engage in its annual tradition of setting up intricate Christmas-themed displays, due to the pandemic. Featuring larger-than-life recreations of scenes from Christmas and the Nativity, the window displays have been an integral part of Bandra’s December celebrations. And we’re glad to report that this year, it is back. Frederick Pereira, owner, Damian co, who designs the displays, shared that they have been following this ritual for over three decades. “Every year, the design concept is different. This time, the central figure is Santa Claus, taking a breather to feed his reindeers some apples. Then there’s the crib, a Christmas tree made from red gift boxes, and a grandmother and child with a fresh batch of cookies and candies, among other elements,” he explained, adding that he starts ideating on the project at least three months in advance.

Naoroji book wins top prize

A statue of Dadabhai Naoroji in Fort

Author Dinyar Phiroze Patel bagged the prestigious Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation Book Prize 2021 for his biography Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism. The professor of history shared, “I’m delighted to receive this award and I think that it is great that NIF has shone some light on a Bombay/Mumbai native, someone who connected colonial Bombay with the world and made it the hub of early nationalist politics.” The prize will be presented to the author at a special event on December 4. This literary award that celebrates quality non-fiction literature carries a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh and a citation. The selection was made by a jury panel comprising scientist Niraja Gopal Jayal, entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani and historian Srinath, among others.

Dinyar Phiroze Patel. Pic/Facebook

The real G.O.A.T. in the frame?

It was go(a)tcha moment for Colaba resident Pervez Cooper on a Tuesday morning. Cooper was out to cyclostyle copies of some documents when he spotted this goat on the roof of a car, outside a residential building called Mohini Mansion, opposite Strand cinema. Cooper told this diarist, “This made my morning. Even as I was taking a picture with my phone, the goat stood on its hind legs as if posing for me. It was not just a Kodak moment, but a National Geographic moment for me,” he laughed.

City joins the club

With its mascot Frank, the cool teddy, ToyRoom Club, a popular nightclub with global outposts, is coming to Mumbai. Opening in the premises of Grand Hyatt, Santacruz East, it is being brought to the city by Ashish and Shikha Begwani, Akshay Anand, Prasan Chawla and Rajveer Dhody, and opens doors later this month. “The ToyRoom experience includes an elegant, high-energy bar and nightclub. At the core of the music is hip-hop. The overall vibe appeals to a lot of youngsters,” revealed Ashish.

Odisha’s ode to pattachitra

(left) Universe Moharana; (right) A pattachitra painting

Odisha remains one of those Indian states with a rich tradition in heritage art. Universe Moharana, a traditional pattachitra artist from Raghurajpur, popularly known as the art and crafts hamlet of the state, is representing his village’s body of work at Art Village Karjat’s Juhu studio this Saturday. The fundraiser exhibition aims to help artists of the village that is affected by cyclones periodically. “Creators in those parts have to fight against natural disasters to hold on to their art. The pandemic made things worse,” said creative head Ambika Jayakumar. Moharana will also host a workshop on pattachitra a day before the exhibition. Call 9820313000 if you’d like to pitch in.

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