For all the organic, free-range, straight-from-the-farm, and other buzzwords that sell like hot cakes in this city, we wonder how many of us even know what they mean. Not many, says child educator Dhwani Vora. “We’re all confined by four walls — offices, homes, schools. Let alone children, even parents have forgotten what touching soil or planting a seed feels like,” she says. At a private farm in Yeoor tomorrow, Mumbaikars will get a refresher with their children. “Children these days have smartphone games that allow them to run a farm, you know?” Vora shares. The camp’s first activity should be a 180-degree pivot, if that’s true. The farm is home to nearly 10 cows who prepare for milking as the clock strikes 3 pm. Sure enough, the children will get a front row seat at the cowshed. “Since the cows are used to a routine, it would be unfair to let the children get hands-on, but watching it up close is just as fun,” Vora explains. A child waters a plant during a previous summer camp Some previous visitors have had mixed initial reactions to such an exercise, Vora admits. “Most Gen Alpha kids have never touched an animal that is not a house pet before. They’re a tad hesitant at first, but it doesn’t take long before they develop a bond with them,” she reveals. Stepping out from the shed, children will plant saplings in the farming area. Tomatoes, coriander and other herbs are in season, we learn. From ploughing the soil, to sowing seeds and watering them, the farm’s helpers will give children the full experience. Things can get messy, the organiser warns. ‘Bring an apron or a change of clothes’ the invitation mentions at the outset. But there’s a certain fear, the kind you only see in young parents’ eyes when their child gets its hands dirty, we remind the organiser. She knows it too well. “Yesterday, I received a call from a parent who inquired in all sincerity if the farm was air-conditioned, given the soaring temperatures outside. Another asked if the farm would have any animals that could be ‘dangerous’ for their child,” she laughs. Dhwani Vora One of the reasons the farm isn’t air conditioned, we’d like to believe, is the traditional wood fired brick and mud stove that sits in the open kitchen. Participants will get hands-on once again, this time to roll perfect bhakris or rotis. They have some familiar diners to impress. “The rotis will be taken back to the shed, where participants will hand-feed the cattle. The goal is to inculcate the value of giving back to nature and living as one,” Vora reveals. For the organiser who grew up trekking with her parents in the Western Ghats, Mumbai’s children are only her second target group. “Parents hardly find time to talk to their children these days. When you lay down on wild grass with your child and smell the moist soil around you, it grounds you and makes it easier to open up,” she shares, adding that it’s the perfect time to have a meaningful conversation with your child. Organic, free-range, and straight from the farm. ON May 3; 3 pm to 5.30 pmAT Yeoor Hills, Thane. (full address revealed on registration)CALL 9867325660 (to register)ENTRY Rs 2,000 (for one child and one accompanying adult)
02 May,2025 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleToday marks the 104th birth anniversary of the auteur Satyajit Ray. While most remember his classics like Charulata and the Apu trilogy, not many might be aware of his work outside cinema. Ray revived Sandesh, a Bengali children’s periodical, which was started by his grandfather Upendrakishore Ray. To this, he contributed short stories, essays, and poems. Fourteen of his stories have been compiled in Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny (Puffin Books), a new translation from the Bengali to English by Gopa Majumdar and Indrani Majumdar. Ray’s stories comprise strange happenings that take place in isolated old cottages and dak bungalows in small towns and cities, especially around Calcutta (today’s Kolkata). An illustration of a lifelike doll from the story Fritz Eerie events separate daytime from nighttime. The protagonist wakes up one morning; all else in the world is unchanged, except them. Many of Ray’s narratives in this collection are written as stories within stories. A character narrates a tale to another or reveals the contents of a lost diary to readers. Almost always protagonists leave the city, and in that sense, are plucked out of their ordinary routines. Some stories such as Anath Babu’s Terror and Fritz have spectral visits — a possibility of a ghost-like presence during the night. While the sceptical reader questions whether what the protagonists saw really happened, Ray’s characters are always certain of themselves. Other stories such as Ratan Babu and that Man and Indigo, though different in nature, have a similar effect of terror on the readers because of the ominous atmosphere Ray successfully creates with his writing. In one, a stranger’s alikeness leads him to a sinister end; in the other, a character’s decision to stay in an old British cottage leads him to undergo a temporary but bizarre transformation. Satyajit Ray during the recording of Pather Panchali. PIC COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Ray doesn’t miss a chance to point at small details of the traces left by the British. Since the stories take place in bungalows, readers are made aware of the Victorian influence on certain classes. Often the furniture and china in the cottages belong to the colonial era. Once we’re introduced to a British character from 1868, another time we read the diary of a British gentleman, Mr Brown. In another case, a character boasts getting published by magazines in Britain to sound like an expert in all matters supernatural. Meanwhile, Ranjan Babu’s friends mock his fascination for the British in First-Class Compartment and decide to play a prank on him. Indigo has sharp references to the ruins of indigo plantations in Bengal and Bihar from the colonial period and the exploitation of the peasants at the time. It’s well known that Ray used art while creating his films. He sketched sequential comic-style scrapbooks that mirrored his narratives. It’s a wise decision then that many of Ray’s illustrations feature in this book too, helping accentuate the mood of the characters. For instance, In I Am a Ghost, the postmaster Laxman Tripathy’s expression is telling of his panic-stricken state as a shadow-like figure of Bheem Naskar’s ghost slips from the tree and catches him by his throat. Readers get a true taste of the creative genius of a master storyteller from a haunting and excellent collection. A keepsake for fans of Ray’s literary and creative imagination. Cost: Rs 299Available: Leading stores and e-stores
02 May,2025 09:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaQuidditch chic It doesn’t matter which Quidditch team you support, you deserve a Quidditch t-shirt. The Souled Store has an exclusive collection of Harry Potter-themed outfits.AT The Souled Store, Kamal Building, 248, Linking Road, Bandra West (available across locations in Mumbai) Log on to: thesouledstore.comCost: Rs 499 onwards A goblet of coffee Waking up to coffee in a Gryffindor cup can be a great start for a magical day. Epic Stuff has a large collection of Harry Potter mugs.Log on to: epicstuff.com Cost: Rs 249 onwards Hogwarts’ dreams You can dream of going to Hogwarts on these Harry Potter-themed bed sheets by Silver Linen. Log on to: silverlinen.in Cost: Rs 1,699 onwards Swish and flick “Now It’s time to get you a wand,” says Hagrid in part one of the Harry Potter series. Unlike the wizarding world, here you get to choose your wand. Find the best wand on the Harry Potter Shop.Log on to: harrypottershop.co.ukCost: Rs 4,600 onwards A wand collection from Hogwarts’ four houses. Pic courtesy/thepeppystore.in Stationery superpowers Harry Potter code book. Pic Courtesy/thepeppystore.in The Peppy Store has a collection of Harry Potter-themed code diaries that will leave you spellbound with its design and details.Log on to: thepeppystore.inCost: Rs 1,899 A stationery gift hamper. Pic Courtesy/scribblesinc.in A Harry Potter-themed gift hamper with all the stationery is a perfect gift for Harry Potter fans. Scribbles Inc’s Potter-themed gift hamper has all your stationery needs, and a Patronus charm sprinkled on it.Log on to: scribblesinc.in Cost: Rs 2,000
02 May,2025 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal SanchetiMom’s magicAkash Deshpande, chef, Luv Restaurant One of my favourite Maharashtrian meals is made from aloo (or Aroo) leaves, particularly the stems. Growing up, my mom had this genius way of turning humble ingredients into something memorable. She would boil the aloo stems, coat them in Malvani masala, and shallow-fry them till crisp just like bombil fry. A plate of crisp fry and varan bhaat with a light kokum saarwas pure nostalgia. It reminds me how Maharashtrian food can be incredibly smart and deeply comforting at once. In the city though, I like going to Konkan Swad for their bombil fry thaali and sol kadhi which are absolute favourites. Konkan SwadAt Mahatma Gandhi Road, Motilal Nagar III, Goregaon West. Call 9867890933 Joys of comfort foodDhruv Ghanekar, music composer and producer I have always loved a simple plate of varan bhaat. It is the quintessential Maharashtrian meal that I can never get tired of, despite having it every day. Fluffy rice paired with simple, no-masala preparation of dal topped with dollops of homemade toop or ghee, and a slice of lime takes me back to my childhood days where I would look forward to having a steaming plate of varan bhaat cooked by my mother. It might seem like the simplest thing to make but needs attention and care. Whenever I have to indulge in a bit of snacking, I head out to Kaka vada pav, which is a small stall in Shivaji Park for a good bite. Kaka vada pavAt Behind Ravi caterers, Swatantryaveer Savarkar Road, Shivaji Park, Dadar West. Quick, happy meals Hemant Divate, poet, editor and publisher Bombil stuffed with prawn. Pic courtesy/Jai Hind I still remember the hectic-ness that preceded the making of the earlier issues of Abhidha Nantar, a literary journal back in the 1980s where we would do the DTP, editing, proof-reading, and printing at the Lokvangmaya press in Dadar. Since this was before the advent of high technology, we couldn’t pick up the phone every two minutes to check the time. The only thing that reminded us about the approaching lunchtime was the clock in our stomachs. When our stomachs roared, we fled to Hotel Jaihind in Parel to devour food, especially my favourite — bharlele bombil. Bombil or Bombay duck stuffed with small prawns cooked in a delicious masala, fried crisp to perfection used to be the highlight of my lunch. Meals shared with dear friends and loved ones consistently elevated the whole experience to a higher level. Jai Hind Lunch Home At Multiple outlets (Bandra East, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi)Call 8097454913 The pav-er of misalMandar Bhide, stand-up comedian Misal pav. Pic courtesy/Aaswad on Instagram It is hard for me to choose between misal pav and vada pav. Having travelled all over Maharashtra, I can say that the misal is different in each city, and everyone claims to have the best version of it. When I started my sales job in 2011, I was posted in Kolhapur for four weeks for a training programme and ate misal pav every day for lunch without ever getting bored. In Mumbai, I like heading out to Aaswad and Prakash in Dadar for vegetarian food and Sadichha in Bandra for crab dishes and kombdi vade. Aaswad Upahar and Mithai GruhAt Sanskruti Building Gadkari Chauk, 4, Lady Jamshedji Road, opposite Shiv Sena Bhavan, Dadar West. Call 9867890933 SadichhaAt Opposite MIG Cricket Club Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bandra East. Call 8291612018 Prakash Shakahari Upahaar KendraAt Horizon Building, Gokhale Road, Dadar West. Call 9867890933 Also check out A classic fareLocated in Kala Ghoda, this restaurant has been popular among sea food fans from the city as well as tourists. AT Trishna, Sai Baba Mandir Marg, next to Commerce House, Kala Ghoda, Fort.CALL 9206260260 Prawn koliwada. Pic courtesy/Trishna on Instagram Seafood bonanzaThis city-favourite haunt is famous for its delish coastal fare. From crispy bombil fry and spicy crab dishes, to stuffed pomfret and flavourful prawn curries, one only needs to have the appetite and the heart to indulge in classic Maharashtrian flavours.AT Gajalee, Multiple locations (Vile Parle, Andheri East)CALL 2226166470 (Vile Parle outlet) A traditional thaali. Pic courtesy/Gajalee on Instagram Simple yet boldWhether you are craving bharleli vangi or a plate of fiery Nagpur saoji chicken or Malvani cocktails, this Mahim landmark is a must-halt.AT Diva Maharashtracha, Mili Building, Takandas Kataria Marg, next to Goa Portuguesa Restobar, Shivaji Park.CALL 0224440707 A classic Maharashtrian spread. Pic courtesy/Diva Maharashtracha on Instagram Maharashtrian favouritesTrue to its name, this eatery’s menu is a delight for those who love their puran poli, kothimbir vadi, batata usal and other snacks served deliciously hot. AT Mi Marathi, Alpha Society, Parle Road, Navpada, Vile Parle East. CALL 9619557173 All in oneThis eatery whips up diverse flavours from Kolhapur, Alibaug, Konkan as well as Vidarbha.AT The Maratha Kitchen, Sonawala Road, opposite Corporate Annex, near Udyog Bhavan, Sonawala Industrial Estate, Goregaon. CALL 8850965616 Old favouriteLoved by many for its simple and affordable menu, this old outlet has stood the test of time to deliver the best of Maharashtrian snacks and dishes to Mumbaikars.AT Panshikar, multiple outlets (Dadar, Vile Parle, Girgaon, Ghatkopar)CALL 9833209882 (Ghatkopar)
01 May,2025 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaDecoding your match-day look can be a tall order if you’re a true-blue fan of the game — you want your outfit to reflect your unwavering support for your team of choice, while also being comfortable enough to jump, wave, dance and holler all through the match. For fashion designer Asang Kamble, the choice is a simple one: “I would not compromise on comfort. Instead, I’d focus on creative ways to weave my love for cricket into my attire. The soaring summer sun makes it especially important to focus on the right fabrics and shapes that are flattering and breathable at the same time,” he explains. A fine balance (From left) Pair your team’s jersey with a simple skirt. Pic Courtesy/ TANVISHAH91 on Instagram (middle) Ditch your heels for comfortable shoes. Pic Courtesy/lahari_shari on Instagram (right) Oversized sunglasses are match-day essentials. Pic Courtesy/Kat_diaries on Instagram Wearing the team colours from head-to-toe is an extreme option that some fans might embrace; but for the rest of us, a more wearable option is to layer smartly. Start with a light base of shorts, a coord set, a skater skirt and baby tee, flowing floor-length skirts, skorts or knee-length jean shorts (jorts). Natural fibres such as cotton and linen are your safest bet in the searing heat. Asang Kamble However, if you tend to get very sweaty, choose moisture-wicking activewear. Now, layer your team colours over your base in clever ways — an overshirt, baseball cap, accessories like your earrings, a headscarf or bandana, or even coloured sneakers. “With statement handbags trending, you could even channel your support for the game with a cricket bat or ball-shaped handbag, or one that features a pop or abstract design in your team’s colours,” Kamble suggests. Accessorise with panache Choose cotton and linen layers in your team’s colours. Pic Courtesy/iammaya1008 on Instagram Oversized sunglasses are an integral part of your game day fit. Additionally, you could wear oversized bows in your hair, dress up your look with a fanny pack and interestingly coloured beaded jewellery. Keep your make-up minimal to avoid sweating it off. Neck jewellery is best avoided, as are impractical shoes such as very high heels. Remember to carry an extra layer (such as a light cardigan or varsity jacket) for day-to-evening matches, and extra sunscreen for reapplication. If you want your exuberance to shine through with a face tattoo, skin-safe face paint is a much more practical alternative to glitter, Kamble signs off.
01 May,2025 03:54 PM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulWith social media, reels and work taking up a major part of my attention, it is no surprise that the chores are getting left behind. It does not help either to get apps that are too boring to track. The solution I came across is on a quirky, but aptly named application, Remember The Milk. Simple to use without being too dull, the app allows you to list down your daily, weekly or monthly activities to keep track of. With different alarms and visual codes, it has certainly kept me on track, thus far. Log on to: Remember The Milk on Playstore
01 May,2025 08:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarMiranda Priestly may have rolled her eyes at the mention of florals for spring, and we’d imagine she’d have a similar reaction when we mention wearing white in the summer too. That’s because the colour has traditionally been synonymous with the warmer months — the colour is said to make you instantly feel fresher, and can evoke feelings of calmness and tranquillity, which most Mumbaikars will appreciate given the soaring temperatures. Kareena Kapoor Khan dons an all-white ensemble. Pic courtesy/Kareena Kapoor Khan on Instagram Is it any wonder then that the Bollywood brigade has been embracing every hue of the colour, from Karisma Kapoor’s ethereal and yet intricate ivory anarkali set to Kajal Aggarwal’s long white cotton dress, embroidered with floral thread-work. Celebrity stylist Mitali Ambekar notes that while white lends an air of effortless elegance, it also comes bearing a list of styling rules. Is your white right? To avoid a faux-pas or wardrobe malfunction when wearing white, pick garments that are lined or have built-in slips. This is especially important when picking skirts, pants and dresses. Additionally, wear the garment at home in natural light before stepping out, to check that it isn’t see-through or ill-fitting, Ambekar advises. Structured fabrics such as cotton twill, crepe and linen blends offer better shape and coverage. Similarly, heavier cottons, linens and crepes work better for daywear whereas delicate silks are best suited to indoor settings. Aditya Roy Kapoor’s boxy jacket is classic and flattering. Pic courtesy/Mohit Rai on Instagram “Before you purchase an all-white garment, hold the piece against the light to spot any uneven seams or defects. Also check the stitching carefully as flaws show more prominently on white,” she adds. Instead of stark white, explore off-white or ivory tones, which can be more flattering on warmer skin tones. Very tight fits in an all-white outfit can highlight every line and crease — size up when purchasing an all-white fit, says Ambekar. “Timeless cuts over trendy ones work best in an all-white look as simplicity makes white look more elevated. To get more wear from your pick, choose a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down easily. Bella Hadid layers versatile all-white separates. Pic courtesy/Bella Hadid on Instagram A seamless fit Wearing white can be tricky, even if you aren’t prone to spills and stains. Ambekar offers a few tips:>> Wear nude or beige undergarments under white. White underwear can still peek through and create an unwanted contrast>> Use sweat pads or garment shields, especially in humid weather to avoid sweat patches >> Avoid coloured accessories that may bleed especially in Mumbai’s humidity >> Elevate an all-white outfit by mixing textures such as lace, linen, embroidery, embossing and other types of self-texture>> Prevent makeup transfers by dressing after applying your makeup and use a setting spray. Covering your face with a scarf before you pull your outfit on can help too>> Always carry a stain remover pen to manage sudden spills>> Use optical brighteners or blue detergents to keep the whites crisp, and never mix them with coloured laundry>> Pair your all-white look with white or transparent footwear for a clean finish
01 May,2025 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulThursdayLaugh out loud Add a fun twist to your lazy Thursday by attending Bandra Lol featuring Sapan Verma, Atul Khatri (below), and Anirban Dasgupta. The comedians will be brewing fresh jokes.Time 9.30 pmAT Jashn Studios, 7th Floor, 705 - N Square, 24th Road, Linking Road. LOG ON TO bookmyshow.comCOST Rs 399 FridayIt’s playtime Pic Courtesy/IPTA Mumbai Buddhe Ne Maari Century by Masood Akhtar is a satire on Indian farmers’ life in the 1990s. The drama is a comment on the feudalism that used to happen in the 20th century.Time 5 pmAT Prithvi Theatre, 20, Juhu Road, Janki Kutir, Juhu.COST Rs 500LOG ON TO prithvitheatre.org Summer fun Pic courtesy/Instagram Parsi Dairy Farm is organising Summerland, a festival where they will have games like hopscotch. The winners of the games get prizes. The festival will be held at all the outlets in Mumbai. From May 2 to May 25; 10 am to 12 amAT Multiple locations (Marine Lines, Ghatkopar) SaturdayPancham Da’s magic Kamlesh Bhadkamkar and Shraddha Vaidya at a previous performance. Pic Courtesy/Mandar Vaidya Attend a musical evening with songs of Hindi music legend RD Burman by Kamlesh Bhadkamkar and Shraddha Vaidya. Time 7.30 pmAT Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha, Manpada, Thane West. COST Rs 200 onwards CALL 9820032130 Magical touch Pic Courtesy/The Hypeee Give a magical touch of creativity to an ordinary rock and transform it into an art piece. Time 1 pmAT Starbucks, Hotel Bawa Continental, Juhu; Third Wave Coffee, Girgaon Chowpatty. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.com COST Rs 799 SundayMusic and lyrics Pic courtesy/Instagram Kanha Kamboj will be performing a soul-touching poetry show titled Naram Lehja. The evening will leave a poetic impression on the audience.Time 6 pmAT Broadway Blues, 2nd Floor, RR house, Todi Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West. LOG ON TO bookmyshow.comCOST Rs 399 onwards Rack your brains Pic courtesy/Thinkizm Jolly Art Adda is organising a board game design workshop for children. It will help exercise the young minds and make their weekend productive.Time 11 am to 2 pmAT I THINK techno campus, Jolly Board Tower 1, Nehru Nagar, Kanjurmarg East.COST Rs 800CALL 9956713300 Verses by the sea A heritage walk at Worli Koliwada. Pic courtesy/The Heritage Project The Heritage Project and Poets of Mumbai is conducting a special poetry walk at Worli Koliwada.Time 5 pm At Cleveland Jetty, Koliwada, Worli. COST Rs 250LOG ON TO townscript.com
01 May,2025 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal SanchetiMiles Davis’ Birth of the Cool: The film explores the life of the iconic musician and is a treat for his fans and jazz enthusiasts. The director of the documentary, Stanley Nelson, gives a deep insight into the musician’s life. Log on to: Amazon Prime and PBS A moment from the documentary by Ken Burns. PIC COURTESY/PBS ON FACEBOOK Jazz by Ken Burns: This 10-episode documentary series talks about some of the greatest Jazz players in the history of the USA. The film explores sex and romance, the great depression and wars, and how these factors influenced the genre of music in the country. Director Ken Burns is known for his documentaries about American history and culture. Log on to: Amazon Prime Anita O’Day. Pic courtesy/SilverMineENT on Youtube Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer: Directed and written by Robbie CavolinaIan and McCrudden, this documentary follows jazz icon Anita O’Day’s path to success. O’Day made a full career is jazz despite early diagnosis of a serious illness that affected her voice. Log on to: Apple TV Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog: The 1997 film is directed by Don McGlynn, who shows the life of a genius jazz player Charles Mingus aka The Angry Man of Jazz. The film also sheds light on Mingus’s struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Log on to: Amazon Prime and YouTube Louis Armstrong plays the trumpet. Pic courtesy/Wikimedia commons Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues: The documentary scratches beneath the surface to explore how the jazz legend’s life was influenced by the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Log on to: Amazon Prime and Apple TV Gig guide The Meg D Collective- by Bombay Jazz ClubON April 30, 8.30 pmAT PCO Cocktail Bar, Lower ParelCALL 9920055588 (for reservations and queries) Tribute to Ustad Zakir HussainON April 30, 7 pmAT St Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra West. Log on to: district.inENTRY Rs 1,180 The Rajeev Raja Combine ON May 3, 8 pmAT AntiSocial, Lower ParelLog on to: skillboxes.comENTRY Rs 499 (cover charge); Rs 799 (entry ticket)
30 April,2025 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal SanchetiMost comedians climb the stand-up ladder the usual way. Gig around the city, launch a solo show, maybe go international, and if it all goes well, land a short stint with a Bollywood celebrity. With city-based comedian Kashyap Swaroop, it feels as though someone handed us his resume upside down. He recalls writing ad films for your favourite tinseltown A-listers back in the day, has the city’s top comedians on speed dial and recently performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. After all that, he debuts his first solo, Would You Rather? in a Powai club this weekend. “I have a full-blown identity crisis, and there’s some inherent humour to it,” admits Swaroop, who grew up in a familiar half Kashmiri and half Tamil household. Familiar for him, and for us. The 33-year-old’s parents, filmmakers Kamal Swaroop and Priya Krishnaswamy gave the world parallel cinema classics such as Om Dar-B-Dar (1988), which continues to be cited as inspiration and referenced in films by the likes of Anurag Kashyap and Imtiaz Ali. Kashyap Swaroop Inspiring is not exactly the word the comedian would choose, though. “As much as I love experimental films, they don’t make you much money. I wanted to take my writing to a wider audience,” he reveals. Swaroop recalls his own earliest inspiration, “I remember watching a clip of American comedian Lenny Bruce. Standing in a sea of policemen in his audience, he read out a legal notice they’d just served him to stop the show. I was sold,” he adds. A decade later, Swaroop swears by his satirical one-liners. But he might not have many takers, we’re afraid. “I wasn’t a big fan of where the bar was set in Indian comedy. The storytelling style of humour had more takers than any other genre. And It really put me off initially. I looked overseas for audiences that appreciated deadpan, dry-wit one-liners,” he recalls. In his upcoming new solo show, however, he calls truce. The 90-minute set is sprinkled with anecdotes from the comedian’s personal and familial life. “There was a time when my father and I would frequent a pub where he got offered a fortune by an infamous shady figure to write his biopic. That’s a story and a half,” he offers a sneak peek. Swaroop has tested waters, albeit far from home, before the big showcase. Last year, he signed himself up for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF). “It was like a comedy gym. I was performing almost every night of the week. It burnt a hole in my pocket as an independent comedian, but by the end of the trip, I was at a break even with my expenses. Performing to a diverse international crowd shows you where you stand in the global scene,” he recalls. But a thumbs up from Down Under will barely keep you afloat amidst changing tides back home, he admits. “Like many comedians before me, I will tweak my jokes to play it safe; especially with the way things are looking for comedians right now,” he sighs. Nearly 30 minutes of Swaroop’s set from MICF will make it to the upcoming solo show. As for the rest, he’ll “save it for a time when jokes don’t invite jail-time”. Like he said, he’s not a big fan of bars. ON May 3; 7 pm onwardsAT RA Studio, Saki Vihar Road, Manohar Nagar, Powai.LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comENTRY Rs 299
30 April,2025 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleThis writer remembers when the most prized titles on the book shelf at home would be his father’s collection of Paul Scott’s Raj Quartet. It evokes a nostalgia, though tinged with Colonialism. A peek into the works on display at DAG’s upcoming exhibition, Destination India: Foreign Artists in India, 1857-1947, that opens tomorrow offers a similar déjà vu. Giles Tillotson, curator and senior vice president, DAG, has been at the helm of putting this vast collection of around 100 works together. Taj Mahal at Sunset, kokka woodblock print on paper, 1919, Charles William Bartlett For a long time, there has been a general myth among art historians that the attraction of India diminished for artists post the 1857 War of Independence, owing to the rise of photography. But Tillotson observes, “As I began to oversee acquisitions, there were names we had not always heard of. There was a story to tell, not that artists had stopped coming to India, but that they were coming from diverse parts of the world.” These included Charles William Bartlett, Alfred Edward Emslie, Marius Bauer, Cecil Burns, Edwin Lord Weeks, Erich Kips, Hugo Vilfred Pedersen and Hiroshi Yoshida to name but a few. These were American, Dutch, Danish, and Japanese artists moving through the heartland of India. A changed perspective The challenge of photography also shaped their perspective. “It was no longer an enlightenment or explanation of the Orient but a much more individual response to different experiences,” Tillotson points out. As an example, he points to William Hodges’ first visit to the Taj Mahal in 1783. Ajumeru no Burenderuwajaa/High Gate in Ajmer (Buland Darwaza of Ajmer), Hiroshi Yoshida, kokka woodblock print on paper, 1931 “Hodges is the first artist to ever visit the Taj Mahal. He was producing work for an audience that had heard of the Taj Mahal, but never seen an image. By the time William Simpson and Edward Lear visit, a century later, it has become a cliché,” he states. And so, the works become individual perspectives offering a glimpse of marketplaces, people, landscapes and culture — vibrant in colour, culture and texture of life. The locations were just as new as the perspective. Exotic not colonial The meagre presence of Colonial epicentres such as Bombay in the works evokes our curiosity. “The artists were looking at Bombay as another European city. They are in search of subject matters that are more exotic,” the curator adds. While Delhi, Agra and Benares continued to fascinate them, the period turns attention to destinations such as Rajasthan and Kashmir — new unexplored regions till the late 19th and even 20th Century. The establishment of rail networks, a stabilised Colonial conquest of India enabled these travels. An Indian Street Scene, Alfred Edward Emslie, watercolour on paper pasted on cardboard Yet, Bombay is a key artistic city of the period for the artists who did stay behind. Cecil Burns would go on to head the Bombay School of Art (later Sir JJ School of Art) as will Charles Gerrard and John Griffiths. Griffiths would also work on the decoration of the now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the High Court buildings. The Dutchman Marius Bauer would arrive in the city in 1898, and opt for help on his routes to Gwalior, Mathura, Vrindavan and Udaipur using a familiar city establishment, Thomas Cook. “They were a shipping company then, established in 1888. Not the tourist agency cashing travellers’ cheques as we know them,” Tillotson adds. Maratta Head, Horace Van Ruith, watercolour on handmade paper, c 1880 Art as fiction Tillotson purposely earmarked the exhibition between two of the Subcontinent’s tumultuous years of political change — 1857 and 1947. Yet, the artworks eschew any portrayal of these social moments. To give context, Hiroshi Yoshida travels through India in 1930, the same year Mahatma Gandhi declares the momentous Civil Disobedience Movement. Giles Tillotson “It is the curious incident of the dog that did not bark in the night,” Tillotson quips, adding, “There is a sense in which all art is fiction, but these works were not aimed at engaging with societal change and change in landscape.” This is not to say that there were not Indian artists radically changing the landscape at the same time. “That is a story for another exhibition,” he concludes. On May 1 to June 28; 11 am to 7 pmAt DAG, Mumbai Gallery, The Taj Mahal Palace, Apollo Bunder.
30 April,2025 08:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarADVERTISEMENT
