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Over a phone call from Kolkata, Vikram Rajan*, an audio engineer and guitarist formerly based out of Mumbai, wants us to listen to a track that he has composed. It's available on Soundcloud and, as we stream it, we more or less agree that its flavour of electronica-jazz could accompany a languorous Sunday evening. "For a long time, I had been unable to come up with something good. And, then, I composed this around March while I was microdosing and sometimes, megadosing on acid," says Rajan.

The 33-year-old is referring to a way-of-life that's effectively snapping the ties between drug abuse and the creative arts. This is a lifestyle experiment that some of the brightest techies in Silicon Valley are engaging in, and has got psychiatrists and anti-drug crusaders distraught. "From a 100 mics paper, I take about 20 mics, twice a week, giving the doses a 2-3 days gap. The effects of acid last for about six hours for me," says Rajan, who started experimenting with drugs as a teenager.

After a litany of prescriptions failed to control her mood swings and depression, Ayelet Waldman found relief in LSD. The former federal public defender authored A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life, in 2016. She wrote: "(It) made room in my mind not necessarily for joy, but for insight. It allowed me a little space to consider how to act in accordance with my values, not just react to external stimuli. This, not the razzle-dazzle of pleasure, was its gift." Pic/Getty Images

In need of a quick glossary before we proceed? Acid is officially called Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), a psychedelic drug banned in India, the possession of which can lead to imprisonment from one to 20 years under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. LSD is often illegally sold in the form of stamps, with the hallucinogen embedded on blotter paper. Mics is micrograms, that's one-millionth of a gram. A microdose is when you have about one-tenth of a recreational 'party' dose, which starts at about 200 mics.

"With microdosing, you are not tripping — this is not a trip. The euphoria isn't there. It's not about feeling good, it's about calmness," continues Rajan. Microdosing first hit headlines after Steve Jobs' passed away in 2011, when a number of inspiring tales on how LSD became the new go-to substance for enhanced performance by tech employees hit the net. Espresso became passé. 'Flow states' were the new yoga. While Jobs did more than just microdose (he was known to have gone all the way), Silicon Valley techies are reportedly doing acid in quantities such that their effects are 'sub-perceptual', where you won't "see stuff" but you harness its "positive" effects.

A dropper with CBD cannabis oil, used for medicinal purposes. Initial research in the area has shown that patients can reap the benefits without its full-blown 'high' effects

Paul Austin, founder of The Third Wave, where you will find a manifesto on microdosing, defines it as, "the act of integrating sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics, such as LSD or Psilocybin Mushrooms, into your weekly routine for higher levels of creativity, more energy, increased focus, and improved relational skills." The Third Wave, according to Austin, follows the first two waves, in which psychedelics were used indigenously for thousands of years, and then, in the 60s and 70s, when they were a part of American counterculture. Austin writes that The Third Wave is upon us, "brought about by recent developments in cannabis legalisation and psychedelic research — and it will change the way mainstream culture perceives psychedelic use."

Classically acid, now weed
For Rajan, however, it wasn't sub-perceptual Silicon Valley that got him to ration his 100 mics stamps, each of which costs about R2,000. It was simply a matter of demand and supply. Mumbai had better stuff than Kolkata, and more availability. Microdosing has classically been associated with LSD, but now has been extended to cannabis as well. Austin's website has guided instructions for microdosing on nine drugs, including cannabis and ayahuasca. Mumbai-based communications officer Varna Kumar*, 25, smokes a mandatory post-work joint every night in order to cope with anxiety and panic attacks. "I feel I have worked enough through the day, without much time to understand what I am going through. At night, when I am by myself, I smoke a small joint to achieve REM sleep," she says. The joint, a mix of two strains, sativa and indica, help her body relax. It makes her anxiety seem defeatable, is how she describes it. Her counsellor, who also smokes up, has not advocated this as a coping mechanism. "It's different from when I am smoking up recreationally during the weekend or when I am away on a vacation. I will do three to four joints when I have nothing to take care of," she says.

Rajan doesn't buy it. He offers an example that may be best contemplated upon or contested by those who have done both LSD and cannabis. "With weed, you are either stoned, or you are not. You will need to smoke up as soon as the high wears off. When you get stoned, your mind becomes passive. But, microdosing on LSD allows you to be calm enough to multitask, allowing a lot of information to be funnelled into your brain easily. You are alert, you are awake," he says, adding, "What is LSD all about? When you start tripping, you see a shift in perspective." You need not agree with Rajan, as he himself says, "We are all chemical reactions", with each of us reacting differently to drugs.

Covert, not convenient
Microdosing will often be compared to that hard-earned and well-deserved one drink after work hours. It's nothing like that, microdosers will tell you, and so will psychiatrists and rehab therapists. For one, microdosing has none of the ease of getting a drink at your favourite pub. You will be persecuted in your search for your creative spell or a calmer mind. Next, it's not even like getting a drug prescription that your GP advises you to have for the course of a fortnight. Kumar and Rajan know it all too well. Microdosing means self-experimentation, knowing when you are crossing the threshold into recreational high dosages. Cannabis, for instance, is best microdosed through edibles, like space brownies, which are available legally in some parts of the world. It's probably the reason why microdosing is yet to take on Silicon Valley proportions in India. "Here, we don't often get to know what strain of cannabis we are using, or where it is sourced from," says Kumar. Saying "this stuff is craazzyy" is, therefore, not enough if you want to microdose. "If you are living with family, it's hard to make edibles. All this means that the convenience factor associated with a drink is not the same with this covert process," she adds.

The idea of the junkie, with matted hair and piercings, is a stereotype that microdosing is replacing. It's no longer cool to be a junkie, especially in the vegan-conscious, gluten-free, aerial yoga health lifestyle that we are seeing around us. Microdosing may be the most metrosexual among the various kinds of drug use, and it carries the allure of high-performance and alleviation of mental health issues, with published studies to back these up. But doctors and psychiatrists are warning us about the glamourisation of microdosing, even as research to mainstream it for mental health is going on. Psychiatrist Dr Samir Parikh says, "Microdosing encourages the thought process that you need a drug for enhanced performance or better creativity or to calm your nerves. This will mean that students microdose before exams, athletes before a run, couples before a wedding, and the next thing you know, because someone has to attend a birthday bash. There is no end to important situations in life. We are making people believe that a student could have scored an additional five marks in an exam had she just microdosed. Can you imagine the perils of this philosophy?" he says. He backs this up with the number of risks associated with prolonged drug abuse, such as a permanent change in brain circuitry, cerebrovascular diseases, and panic attacks.

Then there are those who will argue that moderation as 'one-drink-a-day' is more addictive than the weekend drunken revelry. Is addiction, even in microdoses, still addiction, where the brain searches for rewards compulsively? Kumar disagrees. "Microdosing is the difference between dependence and addiction. For example, I am dependent on a cab to take me to the station. Can I get through my day without it? Can I walk to the station? Yes, I can. That's what microdosing is. I can get through my day without a joint, but a joint just makes it a little easier," she says.Psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Merchant, who runs a rehabilitation centre at Kalyan, says microdoses pose the risk of turning into overdoses. "With any drug, the body learns to metabolise it faster. Which means, that the quantity for a microdose will keep increasing and your hold on reality will keep getting more tangential."

Rajan himself admits to a 'bad trip'. LSD users will tell you that recreational doses are best done in settings that you feel comfortable in, to enjoy, or cope, with the hallucinations. With microdosing, you are headed into your office or your studio to function better. Rajan had once taken more than a microdose, leading him to have a panic attack, the kind where he couldn't even see his hands. The golden rule, he says, is that if you don't go on a full trip, you will never know what a microdose is.

That ailing pain
The push for microdosing is coming from a quarter where its future seems to be most secured — pain management. Mumbai-based homemaker Susheela Kamath*, 48, was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer a couple of years ago, and having undergone nearly a year's worth of chemotherapy and radiation, the accompanying pain and nausea, were all too real. Her daughter provided her with high-grade hash oil. The dealer provided her with a tiny spoon, the kind that you are handed inflight to stir your coffee with. "I had to initially understand, through a lot of trial and error, by gauging my mother's mood, on what a microdose for her would be. Hash oil is very potent," says the daughter.

A little drop of it on her toast every day, helped Kamath cope with pain. "From the third day to the tenth day after chemotherapy, my mother would have about three to four spoons a day, and, on other days, just half a spoon," says the daughter. Coping with the pain meant she could do more during her day, and also have an appetite. Now, months after she has wound up chemotherapy and radiation, she has bid adieu to the prescription drugs that came along with it, and the hash oil as well, without yearning for that high. Unfortunately, unlike medical grade marijuana that is available in some countries, and still not permitted in India, the daughter did not know if the oil had cannabidiol (CBD), which gives marijuana its medical properties, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gives you the "high".

Dr Kailash Kothari, interventional spine and pain management specialist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, says that there is not enough evidence to either prove or disprove that microdosing on cannabis can help with pain management, the way opioids, such as morphine, act on the nervous system. "Do cannabinoids work like tranquilisers or do they have long-term effect? There is not enough research as of now," he says, adding, "Getting dependent on these takes a lot of time and not something that can happen in about 15 days of use." In the meanwhile, you can enjoy a night of quiet or a better track on Soundcloud by rationing your stash. But, is it short-term solace or long-term abuse?

*All names have been changed on request to protect identity

Bringing out the BEST

BEST Stories Collective is an Instagram account co-founded by photographers Aslam Saiyad and Gopal MS. It documents nuggets of everyday life and history around the BEST buses in the city. In light of the general elections, Saiyad along with photographer Fahim Sayed have started a campaign on the page where they lay out placards encouraging people to vote to save BEST, the Aarey forest or even the Mumbai coastline.

Talking about how the idea was conceptualised, Saiyad told this diarist, "All the politicians are talking about national or global issues but nobody is talking about the issues of Mumbai, like the future of the Aarey colony, BEST or the Kolis. I wanted to grab the attention of the people, especially in the last days of the elections. Even after voting is over, we will continue to highlight these problems maybe in a different visual format."

From a son to his father

As you read these words with your morning cup of chai, a 100 musicians from the classical, folk and jazz traditions would already be performing at the NCPA as part of a day-long tribute to Ustad Allarakha on his birth centenary, beginning at 6.30 am until 10 at night. But before the live performance came a tribute from the legendary tabla player's son and noted percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, which was released recently.

An archival picture of Ustad Allarakha

The seven-minute long video, Alla ne Rakha, has been composed by Qureshi with lyrics by Rachna Dixit. And in the spirit of today's performance, the video features several well-known names including Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Shankar Mahadevan, Ajay Gogavale, Salim Merchant and Neeti Mohan.

When Sabya endorsed Sabya

Things came full circle when renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee recently embraced a page named after him. An export of an international account called Diet Prada, Diet Sabya was started in 2018 and weeds out copies and plagiarists from the industry, and may we add, rather humorously.

So when Mukherjee said, "Well done, whoever you are," giving a thumbs up to the faceless folks behind DS, when he spoke to an entertainment website, it reiterated the caption that accompanied the video shared by DS, "That's all."

Austrian moves

After creating a full-length contemporary ballet piece with the Ballet Chemnitz in Germany in 2017, and a collaboration with Polish dance company Zawirowania Dance Theatre last year, Ashley Lobo has now become the first Indian to be invited to choreograph a piece for The Landestheater Linz, the state theatre for Linz in Austria.

Titled Yama, the performance is a full-length 55-minute contemporary ballet piece. "This is a huge opportunity and reassurance for me. Dance for me is about emotion and personal expression, and I look forward to extending that to the Austrians," the choreographer told this diarist.

Danes to the rescue

Even as news comes in of pilots of the grounded Jet Airways being humiliated by a senior official of Spicejet during a recruitment drive, when he called the act a "charity", another heartwarming development assured us that all's not lost in this cut-throat competitive world. The Indian operations of a Denmark-based apparel giant recently posted on social media a campaign titled Join the Family.

Pic/PTI

"Customer centricity is at the core of both retail and aviation industries. With several employees of Jet Airways having been affected due to the recent shut down of the airlines, we... are willing to extend opportunities to them, if you know anyone who would consider an industry change." If you, too, would like to spread the word, career.india@bestseller.com is where CVs can be emailed.

A look called love

Madhuri Dixit Nene looks fondly at husband Sriram during a day out at the movies. Pic/Satej Shinde

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Finger-inking good

Anushka Sharma offers voters at a polling station in Versova a frame worthy of the album when she poses with them on Monday after casting her vote. Pic/Satej Shinde

Not a happy ending

Ask any music-loving person who grew up in the 1990s, and they will tell you that AR Rahman's tracks were like anthems to the generation. As much as we love every chord the man has composed, there have been some visible cracks of late. But when we heard that the music director has composed the Marvel Anthem in Hindi for Avengers Endgame, we couldn't believe it.

For, Roke Na Rukenge Ab To Yaara faced a lot of flak after its release, and now that even more people are listening to it, many are calling it "cringe-worthy". A city-based musician even wrote, "My favourite part of Avengers: Endgame was not listening to Rahman's track at the end credits." Seems like Rahman will have to work on his game to please fans, many of who are tagging the song as the "only disappointment" in the movie.

A sweet goodbye

"I've known Pablo for 11 years; he's my best friend who was supposed to come help me out for two months but I was able to convince him to stay for three years," pastry chef Pooja Dhingra revealed to this diarist, albeit with a heavy heart while sharing with us that her close aide and business partner, chef Pablo Naranjo Agular, is all set to bid adieu to the city, and their labour of love, Le 15.

Le15 Cafe won the Best New Cafe at The Guide Restaurant Awards 2019 by Mid-day

"I'm going to miss having him around terribly, more as a friend and my moral support than anything else," Dhingra shared. Their camaraderie is apparent in Agular's thoughts, too, when he confesses that Dhingra was like a little sister and an incredible support system. "India has taught me so much not only as a person but also as a chef! For the first time in many years I can say I'm happy. However, I've been living away for 13 years and it's time to go home. Before I do that, I'm going to travel around Asia to learn and discover as much as I can," the Colombian chef told this diarist.

A whiff of Kashmir in Oz

The previous edition of MasterChef Australia saw history being made when an Indian-origin chef was crowned the king of the kitchen. Now, Kashmir-born Sandeep Pandit hopes to win the 11th edition. The IT project manager took one step closer to making this a reality when his name was announced as one of the 10 participants.

The Bangalore University graduate will be plating up a traditional feast from Kashmir, and hopes to charm Georgie Calombaris with his hot and spicy signature dish. The 37-year-old's social media profile mentions him as a complete foodie.

He has a food blog where he tells stories associated with the dishes like his mother's rogan josh, besides sharing their recipes. He picked up cooking after they moved to Australia and his parents worked hard to make ends meet. Well, here's hoping he introduces the world to the lesser-known delights of Kashmiri cuisine.

Live in concert

The voting day holiday for Mumbaikars packed in a treat yesterday with a day-long concert at the NCPA, celebrating Ustad Allarakha's birth centenary. While the free entry ensured it was open to all, the Nariman Point venue isn't logistically accessible to everyone. But that didn't bar music lovers from across the city, and for that matter anywhere in the world, from soaking in the tunes played in memory of the legendary tabla player. For, the venue ensured that the concert was streamed live on its Facebook page.

And as word spread, listeners kept joining in through the course of the day, as a stellar line-up of artistes — which had been kept under wraps — including Asha Bhosle, Prabha Atre, Rakesh Chaurasia and Niladri Kumar as well as folk drummers and a brass band from Jaipur performed. Now that's what we call an inclusive event.

Tete-a-tete with Gulzar

Poet, lyricist, and dire­c­tor Gulzar, known for classic movies like Aandhi, Angoor and Ijaazat, wi­ll be in conversation with three authors who have written bo­o­ks based on these films, at a ta­lk by Harper Collins India in Worli later this week. Author Sa­ba M Bashir who has done a cl­ose textual analysis of the film Aa­ndhi, will examine the details of its cast, dialogues and songs, while author Sathya Saran, who has traced Gulzar's adaptation of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, will talk about the filming and plot.

Author Mira Hashmi, who will be joining on camera from Pakistan, has written about how Gulzar's skill as a storyteller is exemplified by his complex characters. "The movie is a perfect showcase of Gulzar's impish wit, his way with words and how he can look at the world from a unique angle. I loved the humour in the dialogues and the way the songs are set; they are so tongue-in-cheek," Saran told this diarist.

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BMC Spares No One

Atul Kasbekar helps Vidya Balan navigate her way on a dug up street near Kala Ghoda, as she arrives to launch a saree collection inspired by her latest film. pic/suresh karkera

On stage for the first time
It was their on-screen chemistry that led to a happily-ever-after life off screen. But actors Varun Badola and Rajeshwari Sachdev, who have worked together on several projects, hadn't shared space on stage until Ila Arun roped them for Shabd Leela, a dramatised reading of iconic Hindi writer, poet and playwright Dr Dharamvir Bharati's works. Directed by KK Raina, and adapted by Arun, the play will premiere at a festival to be held next week. "We are reading from Bharati ji's Kanupriya, Andha Yug as well as letters he had written to his wife. Such is the language of the letters that he has set major couple's goals for us!" Sachdev told this diarist. What is it like to be on the stage with Varun? "Such creative pursuits add a new, exciting dimension to the relationship," she says.

What's your Hindi word of the year?
After more than a decade of their much-anticipated English Word of the Year, the Oxford Dictionaries are launching their first ever Hindi Word of the Year. The initiative is calling on Hindi speakers from across the country to help choose a word or expression that has attracted interest over the last 12 months and reflects the mood, or preoccupations of the year, The word needn't be a new one. A panel of language experts including Namita Gokhale, Kritika Agrawal, Saurabh Dwivedi, Malika Ghosh, and Poonam Nigam Sahay will choose the winner from public suggestions, and announce it in January. Given that 'fake news' (Collins Word of the Year 2017) and 'post truth' have been the favourites recently, we wonder if 'jumla' has a chance.

An artist's homecoming
In the early 1960s, Gujarat-born artist Natvar Bhavsar moved to the US for further studies and ended up making New York his home, developing a distinct abstract style of painting, influenced by the colour-field artists of that time. In the last five decades, the feted artist's works have been widely collected by international art connoisseurs and museums, including Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Next week, the octogenarian will host his first retrospective in India, aptly titled Homecoming, presented by DAG Modern. It features smoky, layered compositions created by Bhavsar by sifting powdered pigments on canvas and allowing air currents, his breath and body movements to determine where they fall.

Natvar Bhavsar with his works. Pic courtesy/Janet Brosious Bhavsar

Eat this colour
An Italian research scholar in India has, quite literally, given us food for thought. Chiara Colombi (in pic) is in Thane at present, carrying out a project on chromotherapy called Eat Your Colour. It involves her organising seven lunches, each based on a different colour, over one week. Once the lunch is done, all the participants will use the leftovers from their plates as well as the kitchen to create a shape that embodies what they felt about the colour of the day. "I will then put the collective creation in a lunchbox and then display it in a public space," Colombi says, adding, "The idea is to explore how colours can be used in a therapeutic way through the process of creation."

Clinton junior, the author
Now, here's one family that's keeping publishers happy all year through. Close on the heels of mum and former Democratic presidential candidate Hilary's tell-all about her loss to eventual winner, Donald Trump in What Happened, daughter Chelsea Clinton's title, She Persisted Around The World is already creating a buzz in literary circles. The book, packed with delightful illustrations by Alexandra Bolger, and expected in March 2018, is the companion to her earlier New York Times bestseller, She Persisted. Publishers Penguin took to social media to make the announcement.

The follow-up, like the first title, will salute little activists, feminists and kid influencers who dared to dream big. Armed with Bolger's art, and featuring icons like JK Rowling and Malala Yousafzai, we can expect this one to top the bestselling list too.

No net gains

The poor are left to protect themselves in tents on a skywalk in Powai on Monday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Paisa vasool with Pant

At a time when uncertainty hits most industries around the world, writer Meghna Pant's first-ever podcast on Audible hopes to bring some clarity on money matters. Titled Show Me The Money, the podcast is a personal finance audio show that addresses the basics of saving, investing and spending with experts and top investment houses such as SBI, HDFC, and DSP. The recording began last December and about the importance of the show now, Pant told this diarist, "The deepest learning from this pandemic is that life is unpredictable and we need to be prepared for anything. And the only things that can help us tide over tough times, downturns and job losses, are our savings and investments. What are smart financial decisions? How can women, millennials, artists, freelancers and influencers become richer? What's worth spending on and what's not? The idea is to give people money advice that actually works, while they're sitting at home in their PJs. All for free!"

Party all night

This diarist watched DJ Ivan offer his friends a treat when they were starved of their fix of weekend dancing recently. A bunch of them were on a video call when one person directed them to a mammoth set that the city-based musician was playing live on Instagram, where he started spinning old-school electronic tunes around midnight and went on for seven hours straight. The friends logged in to the music from home, showing how the definition of partying in Mumbai has changed during the lockdown. "This is for those who are missing the club right now," the gracious DJ said.

Some signs of the times

Although we're all finding ways to comprehend the current scenario we're living in, an emoji that accurately represents what we're going through can always help. So, the New York-based creative agency &Walsh has launched hundreds of emojis that can be downloaded for free — because they were "frustrated by the limitations of the current emoji set." Too scared to text your crush? Just send them the "Be My Quarantine?" emoji. Tired of people reminding you to wash your hands? Show them the graphic depiction of bubbles emerging from your hands instead. And if you can't deal with anything or anyone at the moment, simply send the banner that says, "Hello I Am Going Insane". We understand.

Why you should swing into this auction

After the pandemic struck artist Raju Sutar took up the brush up in a bid to help with relief work. It started off with 30 paintings that he posted on social media, appealing to followers to pay R500 or more for each. "I asked them to pay the money to either the Maharashtra Chief Minister's (CM) Relief Fund or any other COVID-19 fund. The paintings were sold out in 20 hours and some people paid more than R3,000 for them," he told us. This is what led him to kick-start an auction on Instagram. The circular paintings, each 3.5-inch in diameter, are inspired by the popular card game Ganjifa. "I've posted four paintings so far. Each day, one painting goes under the hammer and I take bids till 10 pm in the comments section. The winner is declared after that and they need to send the money to the CM's Fund. I'll send the artworks to the winners by post once the lockdown ends," he said, adding that R23,000 has been raised so far.

A mindful debut

Singer, actor and speaker on mindfulness, Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop is set to make her literary debut next month as her book Building a Happy Family (Penguin India) will be launched digitally by Oxford Bookstore. The title comes with a foreword from Dr Shashi Tharoor and the author focusses on the impact books, music, art and positive reinforcement has on the lives of children. "I always believed that parenting is about bringing up the parent and not the child. I wrote the book so we adults can re-visit our childhood through our children's unique eyes," Loomba Swaroop told this diarist. In doing this, she also stated that we will magically realise that these "little masters" are our greatest teachers in mindfulness. About the motivation to delve into mindfulness per se, the London-based author added, "I starting collecting notes on it soon after my recovery from facial paralysis. It's been 20 years since then. But when I started the journey of being a mother, in my mind first, I knew I wanted to be a non-judgemental and easygoing mother. Mindfulness made me realise that for it to happen I would first have to start by being non-judgemental and easy going with myself and everyone around me."

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Not allowed

Wall art in Jogeshwari East coincidentally depicts everything that's out of bounds including transport and dabbawalla tiffins. Pic/Rane Ashish

Your dance debut

It's World Dance Day today and a streaming platform has come forward to celebrate it and not just through dance films. Besides streaming classics like La La Land, Step Up and Dirty Dancing, they are urging users to replicate moves from the films and take away a bunch of prizes as part of Groove from Home.

A still from La La Land

"Dance and singing reality shows have always been a part of our culture and viewing habits so we feel this fits in seamlessly. In these unprecedented times we want to create opportunities where people can take their minds off gloomy news and lose themselves in a world of great stories," Rohit Jain, MD of the streaming platform, told this diarist. Log on to Lionsgate Play on Instagram to post your moves.

Keeping the spirits up

Deboo in choreography with Manipuri martial artistes. Pic/Farrokh Chothia

Dancer-choreographer Astad Deboo is doing his bit by keeping the spirits up this World Dance Day. Though he admits it hasn't been a productive time in terms of creating new work, he wants to ensure he can use his privilege to reach out to those less fortunate. "This image says to me let's rise above this [the Coronavirus] and not be bogged down at this time," Deboo told this diarist.

"While everyone is celebrating the day with video clips and events online, I have been keeping my body in shape through exercise and have been inundated with queries for fundraising for my foundation," he added.

Let's take it online

F&B venture Social in partnership with music firm Submerge is taking its annual festival The Exchange online with panelists who will be talking about the entertainment industry during the pandemic, the path ahead and online streaming. Scheduled over today and tomorrow, the panels include Monica Dogra, Ankytrixx, Tuhin Mehta and DJ Kan-i will feature on Facebook Live discussions.

"The festival has come to us at a crucial time, when everyone in the world has questions about their life and the future in general, with no answers or plans. I will talk about practical solutions to help monetise and sustain work," Ankytrixx, DJ and electronic music producer, told this diarist.

Putting the onus back on us

Singer Baba Sehgal has been actively producing tracks through the lockdown, often themed on the virus and preventive measures. This time, he has teamed up with Seattle-based singer Sonia Keshwani in a melodic anthem that puts the onus back on human beings.

Titled We are sorry, it drives home the point about environmental damage. "Though I have a rap segment in between, I have veered off my regular style for a melodic song this time. As for the theme, I think it's time we said sorry for all the damage that we have caused. Everything that is happening is a result of that," Sehgal told this diarist.

For artistes, from artistes

Sameera Iyengar

The COVID-19 crisis has hit performing arts hard and disrupted many livelihoods. To take matters into their own hands, artistes Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan, Sameera Iyengar, Rahul Vora and Mona Irani along with Arundhati Ghosh, executive director, India Foundation for the Arts, organised a campaign called Assistance for Disaster Affected Artistes (ADAA). The aim was to support 100 artistes with a financial package over the next six months.

Quasar Thakore-Padamsee

Donations from 282 individuals and organisations (including those by city theatre artistes like Akarsh Khurana and Quasar Thakore-Padamsee) have resulted in them exceeding the set target. "Our funds now allow 132 artistes and their families across 10 states in India to be supported. We are currently in the process of finalising the artiste beneficiaries with the help of our partners. We will begin disbursement of funds through our distribution partner Indian Writer's Forum in early May — each beneficiary will receive a financial package of R30,000 each, over six months," Sameera Iyengar told this diarist, on behalf of the team.

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Sound of silence

With air and noise pollution levels down, the Common Man at a Sion signal has nothing but the virus to fear. Pic/Ashish Raje

Time to speak up

The lockdown has once again put several women's issues like domestic abuse, personal freedom and financial security in focus. To open up conversations around the same in the context of the lockdown, Penguin Random House India has started a weekly Facebook live series called #SpeakUp, hosted by journalist Pragya Tiwari. It will have speakers like Kavita Krishnan, Puja Mehra, Samra Zafar and Shiromi Pinto. Highlighting the fact that one of the greatest inequalities in India is along the lines of gender, Tiwari said, "The series will bring to the fore voices of women and issues the world is confronted with through their lens."

Mumbai: For better or verse

Writers and poets across the world have been responding to the current state of affairs in myriad ways. Like his colleagues, Murzban F Shroff, author of Breathless in Bombay, too, decided to look at the way his city is changing, which he encapsulated in a poem. "It is on the Coronavirus, and also reflects my love for the city and captures its now desolate state," Shroff said, sharing his poem with us.

Living Life Capsized
I walk out into my capsized city
emptied of traffic, emptied of life, and I see
dogs lounging belly-up and cats tread fearlessly
and I see layers of bird-poo on the top of cars
whose owners might have once fought over parking spots

I walk out into my capsized city and I see
a family of four within their 11ft x 14ft shanty
I see the bleakness on their faces, the torpor in their limbs
I see this because their door is open and there is no window
and there is a kerosene stove aflame on which something is cooking
and that is the only sign of life, really,
in that prison of unforeseen circumstances

I walk out into my capsized city, a lone explorer of sorts
and I see the reproachful half-faces of street-cleaners
as they plunge their gloved hands into large eco-friendly litterbins
and drag out empty boxes of chocolates, cereals, cookies, porridge…
Someone has eaten, and eaten well!

I walk out into my abandoned city and I feel abandoned myself
The doctor's clinic is locked, the stores are shuttered
The temple bells are silent, the deity glowers in the dark
there is no one left to do the invocation, no one left
to clank the bells, then make some request

I walk out into my abandoned city and I have never felt safer
The earthmovers have fallen silent
The half-built structures sit like shell-shocked sentinels
The plots on which they stand have come to resemble graveyards
despite what the brochures say, what they once promised

I circle my capsized city, warily, softly, respectfully
just to remind myself of all that existed here
all that once traded in the name of good fortune
and is now in hiding, now in exile
a museum of squandered opportunities.

Look who's got wings to fly

Kunal Kamra is talking about flying again, on Twitter. But this time, when all airlines in the country are grounded to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, Kamra's flight ban has come to an end. "From what I understand, the flying ban that was imposed on January 28 should have ended on April 28," he told this diarist. He continues to find humour in the situation, as he has before, and added, "My three-month airline ban has been lifted; now waiting for the airlines to fly."

All for India

In order to keep the country entertained during these trying times and raise money for the PM CARES fund, YouTube will host a day-long digital event in association with over 100 creators, musicians, actors and comedians, who will live-stream performances from their homes today. Singer Benny Dayal, who will be part of the show, said, "It will be a special concert as it brings together hundreds of artistes to rally behind those who are making sure that we are safe. The phrase 'one nation' speaks a lot. It's a toned-down version of the concerts that we are used to, but it's fun."

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Lying in hope

A child rests on a hammock at a camp that migrant workers looking to return to Tamil Nadu have set up, in Mahim on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkare

Guess who came to dinner

Rishi Kapoor at the Kapadia household when he went for dinner

The world lost not just a distinguished actor, but also a passionate foodie when Rishi Kapoor passed away yesterday. His family also alluded to that side of his in the public statement they put out after his death. But Kapoor didn't just like to eat. He even helped out youngsters trying to gain a foothold in the F&B industry, as was the case with Munaf Kapadia of The Bohri Kitchen. He shared that he'd once delivered food to the Kapoor household in Bandra and been introduced to the family in October 2017. The late actor had paid Kapadia a visit at his home in Colaba once after that, and left a genuine impact on what was then a small business, a family enterprise with a few people, which would take on one-off catering assignments.

"He had a meal with my parents and was very respectful towards them, when it was especially a big deal for them since he was their childhood star. I discussed artificial intelligence with him. It was that kind of an experience, you know? He was the first person who evaporated the Bollywood barrier for me and created a window that led to many opportunities over the years, from investments to more people from films," Kapadia told this diarist about a person who had as big a heart as he had an appetite. 

Not giving a damn

Irrfan Khan (left) and Papa CJ at the interview

Tom Hanks once famously said in an interview that he always thought he was the coolest guy in the room, until Irrfan Khan walked in. But apart from this unflappable demeanour, what made Khan an endearing human being is how he had no airs about himself. Comedian Papa CJ discovered this when he once conducted a lengthy interview with the actor in 2016. "The most beautiful thing I learnt from that interview is that as human beings, our journey is inward. He was so honest and open, and offered such an insight into his mind — from his parents to childhood and right up to death," he told this diarist. Ironically, the last question in that interview — which had been conducted before Khan was diagnosed with a rare cancer — had been about how he would like to be remembered after his death. His answer? "I don't think about it, and I don't give a damn."  

Diners feel at home during lockdown

A recent survey has revealed that people are apprehensive about ordering for food from outside after a pizza delivery boy tested positive for COVID-19. They would much rather cook for themselves at home. Neta App, a technology platform that aims to foster political accountability, said that 91 per cent of those sampled across Indian cities said they preferred to eat in than ask for home delivery. In Mumbai, this figure was 81 per cent. Not just that, 22 per cent of the total respondents also said that they would object if they saw their neighbours getting food delivered. As the app's founder Pratham Mittal said, "Food delivery has suddenly changed from being a personal decision to a community decision." 

Free to stream

Made in 2006, Q2P is a documentary that shows how toilets in India are a symbol of caste, class and — most importantly — gender inequality. It was recently chosen as the free film of the month by the Royal Anthropological Institute in the UK. "A toilet is like a little piece of that dream called development. It is a metaphor for the idea of a global city," director and mid-day columnist Paromita Vohra said, adding that there was hardly any information available on the subject when she made the film.

Let's start sharing at the table

One of the bigger sectors that has been hit hard due to the lockdown is the restaurant industry, which is why the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) is asking customers to lend a helping hand. It's started an initiative called Rise4Restaurants to give employees and members some succour, and NRAI president Anurag Katriar told us, "The idea is simple. See, we are struggling to pay salaries because there is no income and we don't know when this will end.

So we are telling our guests to buy a `1,000 voucher for `750, out of which you pay `250 right now and the rest later on. Why `250? Because 25 per cent of our sales is towards manpower and this money will go towards helping them out." Log on to r4r.nrai.org for more details.

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Such a long journey

Migratory birds including flamingos make the waters near Airoli Creek their home, when they arrive from colder regions in search of food. 

Relief comes from art

(Left) Untitled by Thota Vaikuntam; (right) Kurta series by Dharamanarayan Dasgupta

It was yesterday that Saffronart closed bidding and announced the collections for its unique COVID-19 Relief Fundraiser Auction. The collection was an encouraging R66 lakhs that will be donated to NGOs Goonj, Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action, and Stree Mukti Sanghatan that have been distributing essential items to affected communities. The auction released 52 artworks including paintings by artists Krishen Khanna and Thota Vaikuntam; and installations by Tayeba Begum Lipi, Dharmanarayan Dasgupta and many more.

Dinesh Vazirani, CEO, Saffronart revealed that he was humbled by the response to the auction and said, "We sincerely thank the art community for the generosity in both donating and bidding on works to support organisations doing important work on ground. After we receive the funds from the winning bidders, we will be disbursing them between the three organisations based on need and reach. We are in discussions with them regarding this".

Bonding over stories

Who better to lift your lockdown blues than the country's favourite children's author? Starting yesterday, an initiative by Prasar Bharati is bringing a collection of veteran storyteller and author Ruskin Bond's stories to All India Radio (AIR). What's more, they will be read out by the author himself. Available on all of AIR's radio and digital platforms, this is set to be a treat for listeners who enjoy stories from hilly Himalayan towns in his simplistic style. From the bustling markets to the devious old maharanis, the majestic trees and vibrant birds and yes to the occasional popping up of a ghosts — you'll find it all there.

Mapping Values

The response of countries to the pandemic has given us a glimpse of the values system they stand for. The importance of values as a means of understanding the rationale behind decisions taken by men and women, and by countries at large, is what researcher Dr Mandeep Rai's new book The Values Compass addresses. The title, which is available in e-book format, has assumed renewed significance in the current context. From India's faith to Vietnam's resilience, Argentina's passion to Singapore's order, Rai has looked at 101 countries to identify a single key value in each that is represented in its history, geography, and culture."Getting pregnant was a catalyst moment [to write the book]. Only this baby [the book] took a lot longer than nine months. So the experience of writing for me was like pumping blood into a beating heart. And now, the Coronavirus is reminding us that, if we want to understand a country, its values provide the most revealing lens," she said.

Remembering the worker

Komita Dhanda of Jana Natya Manch and MD Pallavi in a session

On May 1, World Labour Day, Leftword Publishers and Delhi-based bookstore May Day hosted an online celebration of workers' rights with performances from all over the world. Starting 1.30 pm and going on all the way till midnight, the line-up featured names like poet Aamir Aziz, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, comedy outfit Aisi Taisi Democracy, theatre group Jana Natya Manch and singer MD Pallavi among others. "The objective was to celebrate workers from all over the world. Right now, it is all the more obvious that they are running the world while we stay shut in our homes," Pallavi told this diarist after her session. 

A break from the laughter

Comedian Sorabh Pant, who has been hosting live sessions on social media every day of the lockdown to keep the spirits of those watching, high, took a different route in his video yesterday. He wasn't making the usual jokes and decided to pay tribute to actors Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor in his own way. He talked about the legacies the two have left behind and a Twitter exchange he had with Khan over a joke. "I was prompted to talk about it from an audience member and it led me to the realisation that Irrfan was actually my favourite actor in the whole world. It became a tribute and also reminded me that I don't always have to attempt to be comedic about it. Though, I think, neither Khan nor Kapoor would have minded if I cracked a few jokes," he told this diarist.

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Irrfan moves to bandra

Mumbai artist Ranjit Dahiya, founder of the Bollywood Art Project, instructs a worker as he puts final touches on a mural of actor Irrfan Khan at Chapel Road on Friday evening. Khan passed away on Wednesday, after fighting Cancer for two years. Dahiya, who is also behind the murals of Amitabh Bachchan and Anarkali in Bandra, started work on the mural on the day Khan died. He lives near Chapel Road and was hence, able to work on the wall, regardless of the lockdown. He founded The Bollywood Art Project to transform the walls of the city with graffiti art influenced by the design tradition of hand-painted Bollywood posters, as an ode to Indian Cinema. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Combating Corona

Retired Cdr. Rajeshwari Kori, the first Indian woman to have sailed on board a warship, is currently fighting a war against the Coronavirus. Kori, who is now the deputy controller of civil defence in Raigad district of Maharashtra, is making provisions for medical equipment and grains for hospitals.

"We have started this initiative under the guidance of Raigad collector Nidhi Chowdhary. Apart from using government resources, we are receiving funds from donors, NGOs and friends. The whole experience has been satisfying so far.

There are 15 tehsils under Raigad, of which we consolidate a list of demands and try to help them on priority basis. This is just to tell the hospital staff
that they are not in this alone, we are with them," Kori told this diarist.

Chrissie, that enduring darling of world tennis

Chris Evert lifts the 1981 Wimbledon singles trophy in London. Pic/Getty Images

Women tennis players have contributed greatly in popularising the game and the racquet sport has had some enduring darlings over the years.

High on that list is Chris Evert, who through her smart comments on Twitter provides every reason to believe that she is not an "in my time, we did things this way" kind of former player.

If not for the lockdown, Chris Evert would have been preparing to enjoy another commentary stint at Wimbledon. And while she stays home in America, we thought of providing an example of her popularity even in other countries during her playing days. Martina Navratilova, her fiercest rival on court, was being visited in North Dallas by her Czech grandmother in 1981.

Since Chris and Martina were the closest of friends, it was inevitable that Andela Subertova, 84, met Chris. The old lady was over the moon to meet the then 1974 and 1976 Wimbledon champion, which caused Martina to exclaim: "She [Subertova] says she's going to brag when she gets home that she met Chris."

Chris claimed her last Wimbledon crown in 1981 after demolishing Czech Hana Mandlikova, who had overcome Martina in the semis. Considering Subertova's affection for Chris, the grand old lady wouldn't have been too down.

Moms prepare their kids to leave the nest

Anju Kish

The mothers of children studying in Standard 12 at Jamnabai Narsee International School have come together for a thoughtful initiative. The plan was hatched in a WhatsApp group, where the moms decided to equip their children with skills they will need when they step out to pursue higher education. They have been conducting skill-sharing webinars on Zoom and these sessions are facilitated by various moms, who are experts in their own fields. They have conducted four such sessions so far.

Sheila Navlakha

One of them was about communication skills and how to make the most of one's college experience by communicating with ease. It was conducted by Sheila Navlakha, a mom who is also the founder of SNS Trainers. The last one focused on sexual literacy. It was facilitated by Anju Kish, a mom who founded Untaboo, and Apurupa Vatsalya, the director of programs and advoacy at Kish's company. "The session revolved around the top five things every 18-year-old should know when it comes to sex, such as sexual and social consent, resisting the pressure to have sexual intercourse for the first time, safe sex practices, sexual behaviours such as sexting and the possible repercussions of these behaviours, and gender sensitivity," explained Kish. She plans to facilitate a session for the parents in the coming week, talking to them about how they can support their children in exhibiting healthy sexual behaviour.

Midnight musings with Raman Iyer

One is never too old for bedtime stories, especially if it's accompanied by soulful music. It's why we are loving Raman Iyer's daily midnight Instagram Live audio podcast on his handle @ramaniyer. Iyer, who is the co-founder of Mumbai-based folk fusion band Kabir Cafe, can be heard narrating ancient folk tales, and stories from Indian history and mythology, all while playing the mandolin, where he switches from Hindustani to Carnatic, and Western Classical.

"My idea of getaways is to disappear into libraries. I make notes and don't always agree with what's written in books. So, I decided to share whatever little I've gathered, along with my reflections, in an intimate setting at a quiet hour. It's kind of like a terrace/campsite feeling, where this old uncle tells stories and takes a break to strum an instrument," he shares, adding, "Also, it's fun to bring back the charm of the radio, on Instagram, a highly visual space."

Hair I come

Bollywood's well-known hair and make-up artiste, Florian Hurel, has put in long hours at work. But, participating in a 24-hour livestream hair event will be a first. On May 5, 36 different hair and beauty care professionals from 19 countries will come under one digital roof.

The initiative titled @Hairdressers United will see experts curate new styles, showcase tutorials and analyse the evolution of the hair industry. "I think hair will be a great medium of expression. People will want to speak through their hair, tell stories and make the world a better place," said Hurel.

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Time slides by

A security guard uses the slide as a couch to relax on Sunday at Five Gardens, Dadar East Pic/Ashish Raje

A day in the life of Irrfan Khan

Irrfan with Heggode at the ashram

Everyone is aware of what a classy actor Irrfan Khan was, but not many people know about another side of his — the fact that he championed the cause of activism in his lifetime. Playwright and social activist Prasanna Heggode recently shared photos taken on a day that the actor and his wife spent at Badarwal Gandhi Ashram in Karnataka. The pictures show Khan examining women who are weaving cotton, and he later also interacted with other activists to understand grassroot reality when it comes to agriculture and handloom. Heggode also shared how the place had no bathrooms, and Khan ate food cooked on a wood fire. "Irrfan showed keen interest in every minute detail that goes into activism," he said.

Joining forces

The biggest concert in the country thus far took place online yesterday, with big-ticket names including Zakir Hussain, AR Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan, and international stars such as Mick Jagger, Sophie Turner and Nick Jonas. All the proceeds from the gig will be donated to the NGO, Give India. Musician Ankur Tewari, who was also part of the line-up, told this diarist, "I have performed for online concerts for charity earlier, and since I sensed from the comments that we receive that people are experiencing heightened anxiety, I tried to pick songs that highlighted the positive side to life, instead of showing the glass as half empty"

Pumped up

At a time when zero contact is the need of the hour, Gamdevi's AVL (Advanced Video Lab) Retail has developed a foot-pedal hand sanitiser. This allows the product to be dispensed via pressing your foot against a pedal at the bottom. The store also offers walking sticks with adjustable height that also doubles as a foldable chair as well as laptop storing and charging karts. "As a fabrication business, we have to create products that people are in urgent need of at this moment. We developed it a month and a half ago, and have been supplying to hospitals, societies and other institutions. Delivery is available all over Mumbai and for other cities, courier charges are applicable," founder Kamal Dharamsey told this diarist. The product retails at '2,500 (plus 18 per cent GST) and can be ordered by calling 9819893075.

Dance to a different beat

Theatre practitioner Quasar Thakore-Padamsee is up to something different in the lockdown. He took to his social media recently to share a crowd-funding request for a dance production that he is involved in. Odissi dancers who have had some experience with contemporary dance, Bhavna Pani, Charvi Budhdeo, Namaha Mazoomdar, Nupura Bhaskar and Gia Singh Arora, have come together for a performance themed on silence in dialogue, that was to open in June. "It was a project I was brought on board for as an outsider to help put it together. It's however an exciting time to be producing something during these times. The influence makes its way into the work. Also, we are actually rehearsing over Zoom and that's interesting," Thakore-Padamsee told this diarist. To support the project, log on to ketto.org.

A classical idea

Thane-based Suranjan Trust is an organisation that promotes Hindustani classical music, and the platform is organising a digital competition for the genre. It's called Passion 2020, and Chinmay Lele from the trust said, "The auditions will conducted be in three batches, with May 17 being the last date for registrations. We will send a Google Drive link to the applicants, who will then have to upload a video of them performing, with the shortlisted people performing on Facebook Live by May-end."

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In graphic company

No one likes wearing a mask and the faces on the wall make the displeasure clear, but it's safety first for this man at Thakur Village, Kandivli, on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Music makes a difference

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada, known not just for her work but also for causes close to her heart, is at it again. On social media, she is offering to sing a personalised song or a birthday wish in return for a donation for a Coronavirus-related charity. "I have a collated list of families who need support," she told this diarist. She has taken as many as 1,277 requests so far for over 500 beneficiary families in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Karnataka. "I have been singing on requests and birthday wishes for a long time without monetising it. I thought, why not change it into a donation drive?" she reasoned.

How art matters today

Gayatri and Vikas Oberoi with sons Vihaan (in green tee) and Yuvaan (in red)

Real estate developer Vikas and Gayatri Oberoi's son, Vihaan, 13, is an aspiring artist, studying at the Oberoi International School. His passion led him to pursue acrylic painting and drawing. The self-taught youngster's tools vary from painting knives to cooking pan lids. He particularly enjoys working on multiple canvases making diptychs and triptychs as he loves the disconnection and continuity of such form of paintings. Vihaan shares, "Knowing the situation we are in, and learning about the hardships people are facing under lockdown, I have used my time at home to compile my work for an online exhibition (https://colorwaysbyvihaan.org). I was always keen on holding a show; it's fulfilling to know that it will help people in need." Proceeds will be collected by the Oberoi Foundation and donated to NGO Teach for India's COVID-19 Relief and Learning Fund. "I hope my art brings as much positivity to people, as creating it did for me," adds Vihaan. His parents have always been encouraging: "We are thrilled that he can contribute to a cause when it is most needed. We will continue to guide his creative mind and generosity, and are thankful for the appreciation he has received."

Vihaan painting

Taking the stage for 10 years

City-based theatre production company Tpot has turned 10. Formed in 2010 by actor, writer and director Trishla Patel and her husband Vishal Capoor, they have been sharing interesting tidbits and behind-the-scene moments about some of their iconic productions including Aaj Rang Hai, Char Small, Zinga Zinga Roses and In Search of an Author. Patel told this diarist that she didn't foresee herself hitting this milestone. "I thought I'd do one play. I didn't even have a name for the company; it came about over a drunken night with my husband at a Chinese restaurant. I feel like my writing and plays have grown more mature over time" she added.

Pawse and post

Spending time with the doggo on your daily commute never failed to make your day better. So, while you cannot do that as often now, here's an opportunity to relive those happy moments. The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) India has started an Instagram campaign where all you need to do is post a picture with a streetie taken pre-lockdown, tag WSD and five other people and use the hashtags #LockdownSpiritsUp, #wsd and #wsdindia. About the importance of this project, Abodh Aras, CEO of WSD, told this diarist, "During these times of uncertainty, the initiative focusses on how the street dogs and cats bring about positivity and cheer. Just looking at these photos brings a smile to our faces. And it nudges us take care of them too."

Soirée with Shabana Azmi

Last week, Manjul Publishing House started a live event, titled Dastaan-e-Sheron Shayaari on Instagram which ends today. And the weekend saw journalist and poet Atika Farooqui in conversation with Shabana Azmi. Here, viewers got to listen to Azmi's views on life during the lockdown, her accident and growing up in Janki Kutir, Juhu. She spoke about the independent film Waterborne that she was part of 15 years ago, which was to be released on Google's video store only, and mentioned how people expressed their hesitance of the online medium to her. But Azmi had said then, "Yeh humara future hai aur is future ke liye hum ko abhi se preparation karna padega."

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They have goat you covered

Civic officials patrol a market in Dongri on Tuesday as a goat follows them on their route. Pic/Bipin Kokate

The joy of six

Sheldon D'Silva

The lockdown is a time when lots of people are signing up for online sessions to learn new skills, including picking up a musical instrument or polishing their skills on the same. It's for them that a series of workshops called Lowdown in Lockdown has been organised, where six different artistes will elaborate on their individual instruments, starting May 11. These artistes are Gino Banks (drums), Rakesh Chaurasia (flute), Sheldon D'Silva (bass guitar), Ojas Adhiya (tabla), Purbayan Chatterjee (sitar) and Sangeet Haldipur (keyboard). Chatterjee will be talking about how the strains of the sitar fit into different soundscapes, while D'Silva told this diarist, "The topics I will cover include right-hand sound palette, strengthening your fingers, building the bassline, and improvisation."

Helping hand

BMC workers wearing the face masks they received thanks to the effort

Even as the country is applauding frontline workers such as doctors and nurses in the fight against the pandemic, there isn't as much recognition being routed to those doing routine jobs, like say, gas cylinder delivery personnel. That's the thought that an organisation called Me2 Kids Club had when it partnered with Project SKAR, an initiative started by four children, to raise money and buy masks for the latter group of essential workers. Shilpa Jain of Me2 Kids Club told this diarist, "We aim to collect '10 lakh and have already collected '1.5 lakh for the club." Log on to https://bit.ly/354iQND to show your support.

Here's why Sona is going places

The organisers of this year's edition of Hot Docs, the world's largest documentary film festival, were stuck in a conundrum when the global lockdown started. They eventually decided to take the event forward, but as a "festival-at-home" experience this month where the films will be screened online. The only Indian film to be featured on the line-up is Shut Up Sona, an 85-minute documentary directed by Deepti Gupta, featuring singer Sona Mohapatra. It raises a voice against a misogynistic world, and even ventures into mythology, speaking of the legend of Krishna and Meera. Gupta told us about how she expected the unexpected while researching the film, while Mohapatra said, "In telling my story, I hope to connect the disparate dots within my culture to build a narrative that portrays a more nuanced view of the hopes and aspirations of India."

Creating a record

The recently held iForIndia concert featuring stars including Gulzar, Jack Black and Bryan Adams was the country's biggest ever online musical event held to raise funds to fight the pandemic. Now, it's created another record for raising '52 crore and counting, thus becoming the world's biggest fundraiser on Facebook. "As artistes, this was the only way we could pay tribute to those who work on the frontlines while we work for home," Ayaan Ali Bangash, who performed at the event, told this diarist.

Theatre veteran exits the stage of life

Bomi Kapadia (right) acting in a play

Veteran theatre artiste Bomi Kapadia breathed his last at the age of 93 on Monday. Known for both his work and demeanour, city thespians remember him fondly. Adman and theatre director Rahul DaCunha took to social media to share memories of his work and times with Kapadia. "I first worked with him in 1984 in the first play I did, and then in '86 and '88," DaCunha told this diarist. Recalling about a show gone wrong, he added, "The actors walked in embarrassed after the show. As he passed by he said, 'What can I say? You win some, you lose some,' and it cracked me up. He believed in keeping the laughter and humour going during the rehearsals. The process was fun if everyone was having more fun."

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Indoor Premier League

With nowhere to go, a boy practises his shots at home, in Borivli West. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Business, books and lockdown lessons

Anil Dharker

How do business leaders approach tricky situations? How do they find opportunities in adversities? In today's Lit Live session, its founder Anil Dharker will be in conversation with Apurva Purohit, President, Jagran Group, to not only touch upon such topics from the eyes of a leader but also chat about her recent bestseller and titles that inspire her in what promises to be an engaging Instagram live talk. Purohit, fresh off the success of her latest book, Lady, You're The Boss! (Westland), which is the second installment in The Adventures of a Woman At Work series, will continue the conversation she began five years ago with Lady, You're Not a Man! Being an avid reader and inspirational speaker, she will also talk about books like Lifespan, The Body, The Balance Within, Factfulness and John Le Carre's works of fiction.

Apart from books, Purohit hopes to deep-dive into her vast pool of experience and knowledge as a leader. She will decode and discuss her success mantras in areas like communication skills and decision-making; here she hopes to throw light on key factors like making tough choices in difficult times and the balance required to manage all stakeholders. With the pandemic on everyone's minds and work from home a reality, viewers can look forward to hearing her thoughts on how the lockdown has been a learning curve, and the lessons we can all take from work-life integration from this challenging period. Log on to @LitliveMumbai on Instagram to catch the live session at 5 pm today.

Apurva Purohit

The vampire is coming back

So far we've heard Bella Swan's side of the story in the Twilight series. More than a decade since she wrote the first book in the series, author Stephenie Meyer has penned down Edward Cullen's version in the companion novel, Midnight Sun, which will hit stores in India in August. The book explores Edward's past, what meeting Bella meant to him, and his journey. "It feels strange to be making this announcement when the world is facing a pandemic, and no one really knows what's next. I seriously thought about delaying this announcement until things were back to normal; however, that felt wrong, considering how long those who are eager for this book have already waited. So, I hope this book gives my readers a little pleasure to anticipate and, after it arrives, a chance to live in an imaginary world for a while," said Meyer about her upcoming release.

A still from the movie Twilight, that is based on Meyer's series

When HC put a smile on Vir's face

Days after an advocate moved the Delhi High Court (HC) against Vir Das's Netflix show Hasmukh, claiming that it maligned the legal profession, the HC came to the stand-up comic's aid, observing that the essence of democracy is the liberty given to creative artistes. On Wednesday, Das welcomed the order dismissing the advocate's plea and said in a statement, "Yesterday, in the Delhi High Court, in the middle of the pandemic, there was a hearing. A hearing about my show where a fictitious comedian does jokes about a fictitious lawyer... As artistes we are taught to accept feedback humbly, and I do so knowing that my work always has, and will polarise people. But if we can accept that these actions go a little beyond feedback, I hope I've earned the right to respectfully respond." He added that having spent a decade trying to make people laugh, he knows that "comedy, of all genres, does more good than harm." "Offence is taken, not given. I humbly thank the High Court for its support," the comedian signed off.

Game for this discussion?

Why do we play games? What makes it "fun"? These are some of the questions that filmmaker and co-founder of new media laboratory Memesys, Anand Gandhi, and his friend and co-founder Zain Memon discuss in a video he posted on his YouTube channel on Wednesday. In the video, titled Games: A Natural Learning System, Gandhi and Memon talk about the "evolutionary function of games". "The video is part of a larger series of talks that address the self, the ecosystem and the future of humanity. One major subject that the series covers is human behaviour design through cinema and games. Two talks on these subjects have been released on the channel so far. There are more in the pipeline," Gandhi told this diarist.

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Horsing around

Youngsters on a bike tow a horse along as they ride in Dadar on Thursday. Pic/Ashish Raje

When stories cross borders 

At a time when the Internet is our window to the world, Sarmaya, a not-for-profit curated repository of art, has tied up with the NGO Pratham to offer art resources and spread awareness about the vast cultural legacy of India in vernaculars. On its social media accounts, you'll thus find team members narrating the story of the ancient Indian Chera coinage in Malayalam, Marathi and Hindi. "Beyond the boundaries of the Tier-1 cities, interesting content or pedagogy is not available in languages other than English. Since we call ourselves a museum without boundaries, we thought we should create content in the vernacular. Our stories and collections are from all over India. We have such a diverse legacy; it should reach as many people as possible. We're using artifacts from our collection to supplement the storytelling," founder Paul Abraham told this diarist. 

CMs, don't forget the arts

Last month, we reported in this section that the Assistance for Disaster Affected Artistes (ADAA) formed by artistes and cultural practitioners Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan, Rahul Vohra, Arundhati Ghosh, Sameera Iyengar and Mona Irani, had exceeded its target for donations collected to support artistes hit by the pandemic. Now, the group has appealed to the chief ministers of Indian states with model funding schemes and action plans to support the arts and culture community.

"While several relief schemes have been announced for various sectors, and several individuals and arts organisations are also launching fund raising campaigns and relief measures, finally, it is the government that controls policy matters. Our letter and proposed action plans are gentle reminders to our law and policy makers that along with an economic emergency, the country also faces a cultural emergency," Mudgal told this diarist.

Scripting new beginnings

 
 Catch the Light by Siddharth Chauhan that received the grant

In its constant attempt to bring more Indian LGBTQIA+ content to the fore, Kashish Mumbai International Film Festival (India) is now inviting Indian filmmakers to submit narrative screenplays based on stories from the community for a film production grant, Kashish QDrishti Film Grant 2020.

"The grant has been awarded to films that were in competition for the film festival earlier. This time, we have opened it out for scripts. We have also raised the grant amount to Rs 2 lakh from the earlier Rs 1 lakh," Sridhar Rangayan, festival director, told this diarist. "We want to nurture the LGBTQIA+ film industry and help produce and distribute their content".  

Rooting for the raaga

Mumbai Green Raaga by Tender Roots Academy of Performing Arts by Banyan Tree Events in association with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has taken the online route, too. Having supported young artistes in the past, the web format promises to do the same. They have already made available 15 such videos on their social media. "It can never be the same as a live experience. But we are featuring young talent to the world in inspiring capsules from the archives," Mahesh Babu, founder and MD, Banyan Tree Events, said. 

Beard today, gone tomorrow

Musician and chef Sahil Makhija of Headbanger's Kitchen saw people on social media shave off their beards during the lockdown and friends could bet he wouldn't. "They said they'd donate Rs 5,000 if I did. The seed of the idea was sown and I put up a poll on my YouTube channel. I shaved my beard live for COVID-19 relief donations," Makhija told this diarist. He has managed to raise $370 through the live session and Rs 8,500 through a Facebook post about the same. "I will split the amount between charities providing PPEs for doctors, and those catering meals for stranded people," he said.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

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There's Relief in the air

Tom Hanks played a FedEx employee whose plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean, in the movie Cast Away. We are glad this carrier with food and medicines had a safe touchdown in Mumbai on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Open a window

Leaping Windows is a corner café-cum-reader haven in Versova that patrons would keep returning to for its warm vibe and collection of comics at the in-house library. But like everyone else in the F&B business, owners Usta and Bidisha Shome are feeling the pinch in the absence of that loyal clientele. They have thus started a crowdfunding campaign to cover the salaries of their employees. Utsa told this diarist, "A business of our kind doesn't have a contingency fund of more than a month and we started this fundraiser to make sure that our staff, who are part of our family, get paid." Log on to 30bbbarfuel.in to keep this neighbourhood gem afloat. 

School of thought

The trying times that we are living in have taken their toll on all sections of the society, including schools, especially the not-for-profit standalone ones, like the Kandivli-based Akshara High School. The institution, which calls itself an inclusive neighbourhood school, boasts of an arts-based curriculum, hands-on learning and heavily subsidised fees for those from the middle and lower-income groups. However, closure for nearly three months has meant a sudden drop in donations and pending fees. To ensure that its 250 students have a school to come back to, they have started an online fundraiser. "Akshara is a place where students learn science through baking, mathematics in the playground, and lessons beyond textbooks. But the parents of most kids in our school have faced pay-cuts or job losses. With donations thinning, we are struggling to keep the school running, and hence, we decided to start the fundraiser," said founder Mridula Chakraborty. To help the school out, log on to www.ketto.org.

An online tribute to Kaifi saab

In January last year, actor Shabana Azmi, lyricist Javed Akhtar, director Feroze Abbas Khan, and musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Ustad Zakir Hussain had joined hands to organise Raag Shayari, a grand performance meant to pay tribute to poet Kaifi Azmi on his birth centenary. It interpreted Azmi's greatness in different ways, with Mahadevan singing some of his poems, and Akhtar reciting some others in Urdu while Hussain played the tabla to add music to the verses.

That same show was broadcast digitally yesterday on the occasion of the noted poet's death anniversary, and Hussain said, "Shabana ji and Javed saab had put together Raag Shayari, and it was under their guidance and thanks to brilliant composing by Shankar Mahadevan that we were able to put together a fitting and reverential tribute to Kaifi saab, the legend. It was a special privilege to me to be part of this performance."

Silence of the arts

Isolation often creates fodder for the artistic mind, and auction house Christie's recently released a list of 10 master painters who created masterpieces themed on solitude. Frida Kahlo, who's included in the list, once said, for instance, "I paint myself because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." VS Gaitonde the only Indian to feature was also of the opinion, "Everything starts from silence. The silence of the canvas. The silence of the painting knife. The painter starts by absorbing all these silences."

Adieu to the old banyan tree

There was one unexpected casualty in the heavy unseasonal rains that lashed Pune recently. An old, beautiful banyan tree that stood witness to the frenetic hustle and bustle of men and mounts at Pune's iconic racecourse was uprooted. An open shed and some part of the seating area was damaged. Two small television sets were also smashed. Surendra Sanas, chairman, Pune Turf Clubhouse committee, said it was unfortunate to lose a precious tree that stood as a sentinel for so many years. The other damage, Sanas said, is not as alarming. "We are waiting for the insurance formalities to be completed after which restoration with the aid of a few workers staying within the premises will start," he said.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Be ready to rock

9.30 pm Head to this busy venue for concerts to catch ethnic rockers Motherjane live, as they play the Mumbai leg of their three-city tour. The band’s originally from Kochi and has been around for two decades, watching a fledgling indie circuit grow bigger over the years. City-based singer-songwriter Ankit Dayal will open the proceedings.

On Today
At AntiSocial, Khar West.
Call 65226324
Cost Rs 400

Enjoy a DIY meal

Build your bowl using an array of options including jasmine or brown rice, grilled chicken, bulgogi, paneer and more. You can also choose from premium protein options at '350, along with toppings and sauces.

Till September 1
Time 11.30 am to 3 pm
At Bastian, New Kamal Building, Bandra West.
Call 26420145

Try interesting wines

8 pm K1 by Geoff Hardy is an award-winning wine from Australia that headed here only some time ago. Attend this dinner to try a selection of heady ‘grape juice’, which will be paired with a meal that’s curated by this Byculla eatery (in pic).

On August 30
At Magazine Street Kitchen, Byculla East.
Call 23726708
Cost Rs 3,815

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