The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Eyes in the sky
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A kite sits atop a light post, in front of a wall mural at Bandra
Fringe calling
In 2020, Pickle Factory, a hub for the practice, discourse and presentation of dance and movement-based work, was contacted by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe society to imagine what a showcase of performances from India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa would look like at the fest. Founder-director Vikram Iyengar shared that although the Fringe is open to all, many countries can’t access it without financial and infrastructural support. To help Indian performers reach the Fringe stage, albeit virtually, Pickle Factory has collaborated with them for Voices from the South. They’re inviting performing artists to create original work that will be premiered on a digital platform at the festival in 2023. “The idea is to bring in representationand performances from countries that don’t usually make it live to the Fringe. We also want to share the process of artistes and the context,” Iyengar added. Interested folk can head to picklefactory.in/voices-from-the-south to apply.
At home with decor
We might have found solace in her jokes, but stand-up comedian Mallika Dua finds comfort in doing up her home. The creator recently revealed that home décor has always been her passion. And to curate all her hacks, tips and new finds, Dua has started a new Instagram page. The comedian, who admitted that she likes to play home with every space she gets, reminded us that our homes are, or rather should be, a safe and comfortable space. “We can all agree that every space can be made beautiful and peaceful. @decordidii is a page where I plan to post my experiments with home décor, little wins and losses with interiors, and lots of recommendations for anyone who loves a good home, but not the process,” she added.
Chocolates with a desi heart
From wafers to chocolates, growing up Indian means our experience of these snacks and sweets is flavoured with a desi tadka. And for a new project, chef Prateek Bakhtiani of Ether Atelier is looking to tap into these nostalgic memories of chocolates — be it a rewarding Cadbury Fruit n Nut or the iconic Gems that always won over its flashy, foreign counterparts. “Almond House is an iconic dessert brand in Hyderabad that’s worked hard to create Indian craft chocolates. Instead of being just another chocolate brand, they wanted to represent what chocolate is to Indians. And I’m helping them create chocolate for the Indian experience,” he told us. One can DM him (@chefbakh-tiani) to share their Indian chocolate experience. His favourite? “The liquid-ey chocolate end of a Cornetto.”
Letters of solidarity
After Franco Mulakkal — the former bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Catholic Church who was accused of raping a nun from Kerala — was acquitted by a trial court recently, feminist networks across the country have started a campaign titled #withthenuns to gather support for the complainant, Sister X. They’re encouraging people to pen a letter of solidarity to her or the other nuns standing by her. City-based activist Chayanika Shah shared, “We’re asking people to send photos of the letters via a common email. The mentality of believing that women who are compla-ining are lying is at the core of how the court looked at this case.” Those who wish to stand by the nun can post their letter online, and email its image to solidarity2 sisters@gmail.com.
Farewell, Narayan Debnath
Narayan Debnath. Pic courtesy/Wikimedia Commons; Samit Basu and Abhijeet Kini
Growing up in Kolkata in the 1990s, this diarist remembers many an afternoon spent poring over Narayan Debnath’s comics, especially Nonte Fonte and Batul the Great. Debnath, the grandfather of Bengali comic books, died earlier this week after prolonged illness, aged 96. His work represented the golden era of comic books, said city-based illustrator Abhijeet Kini, adding, “They were reminiscent of the Henry or Casper series of comics. They were humorous and expressive.” Author Samit Basu, on his part, shared, “They [Debnath’s works] showed me and everyone in my generation that comics could do anything that books or films could, and sometimes even better. I bought the complete Batul collection again last year; it’s as readable now as it was then.” The legendary artist’s career spanned over five decades. It’s safe to say that his demise marks the end of a generation, one that embodied simpler times.
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