Thane: Eight vehicles parked in Lokmanya Nagar area of Maharashtra's Thane city were torched by unidentified persons in the wee hours of Monday, a civic official said.

Locals saw smoke near a bus stop in Lokmanya Nagar and informed the authorities around 3 am about four two-wheelers and as many auto-rickshaws being on fire, Thane's regional disaster management cell (RDMC) chief Santosh Kadam said.

RDMC officials and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames, he said. A probe was underway, a police official said, adding that no arrest was made so far. Last month, around nine two-wheelers had been set ablaze in Naupada area of the city. Later, two persons were arrested in connection with the incident.

In a similar incident, Delhi police arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly setting ablaze 18 vehicles in south Delhi's Madangir Village, police said Thursday. The accused was identified as Vijay Shukla and a country-made pistol and some matchboxes were found from his possession, a senior police officer said.

In a video of the incident which had gone viral, a man was seen setting fire to the vehicles after opening the fuel pipe of the motorcycles. Petrol overflowed from the tanks of six motorcycles after which they were set on fire by a match stick.

The cars parked nearby also caught fire, the officer said. The police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident at around 3.05 am Tuesday and doused the flames. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC against the man and subsequently, he was arrested, police said.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Three labourers died after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a sewage treatment plant of a local civic body in Thane district of Maharashtra, a police official said on Thursday. The deceased were daily wage labourers and had no formal training in sewage cleaning, he said.

The incident took place on Wednesday when the labourers were cleaning a chocked valve in a chamber of the non-operational sewage treatment plant located in Mira Road area, an official at Thane rural police's control room said.

One of the labourers climbed down into the sewage treatment plant to clean it, but felt suffocated and collapsed, he said. Two more labourers later went inside to check their colleague but they also inhaled toxic gas and died, he said. Another 17-year-old labourer, who also inhaled the toxic fumes, was admitted to a hospital where he was undergoing treatment, the official said.

The labourers were hired by a civic contractor from near the Mira Road railway station for the cleaning work but they were not given any protective gear like masks, he said. They were also not trained in such cleaning operations, he said. The deceased were identified as Muzaffar Moulik (24), Rafique Mandal (50) and Mofjum (18). The bodies were sent to a local hospital for post mortem, the official said, adding that a probe was underway.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

A girl studying in Class 10 was detained by Murbad police in the district Sunday for allegedly strangulating a neighbour's two-year-old baby.

The incident took place at Tulai village, said inspector Ajay Vasave of the local police. Manishka (2) went missing while playing near her house Saturday evening following which local people alongwith the police launched a search in the area, he said.

Suspecting that the 16-year-old girl who lived nearby might be involved in the child's disappearance, the police searched her house sometime after midnight and found the child's body concealed in the house, he said.

The two-year-old girl had been apparently strangulated though the autopsy report was not yet available, the inspector said. The accused was scolded by the victim's mother a few days ago and the girl wanted to take revenge which allegedly led her to commit the crime, he said. A case of murder under IPC section 302 has been registered.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Four people have been arrested for allegedly setting ablaze a chemical factory in Thane district of Maharashtra, police said on Thursday. According to assistant police inspector Pramod Badak, some unidentified persons barged into the factory located in Kashimira area on February 10 and set it ablaze. While there was no casualty, the factory suffered damage in the incident, he said.

The local crime branch investigated the case and found that the factory owner had failed to pay dues worth Rs 8 crore to a financier. The financier, in a bid to settle scores with the factory owner, allegedly gave a contract to some persons to destroy the chemical unit, Badak said.

While probing the case, the police on Tuesday arrested four people - Kamlesh Parekh (41), Rahul Munnalal Satpute (24), Akshay Chavan (21) and Lucky Raj Rajput (21) - for torching the factory, he said.

The financier and another key accused were yet to be nabbed, the official said. The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 435, 436 (both pertaining to mischief by fire or explosive substance with an intent to cause damage), 452 (house-trespass) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), he added.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

A 25-year-old man was found dead in a flour mill in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Friday. Krishna Gautam used to work as a machine operator in Therma Flour Mills and stayed in one of the galas in the company premises, Bhoiwada police said.

"He was found dead in his gala Thursday morning by friends who had come to invite him to play Holi. His head bore injury marks. We have taken a case of murder against unidentified persons," an official said.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Enjoy a vegan gourmet experience this Wednesday where you can tuck into dishes like cauliflower pistachio quinoa with cauliflower cream and roasted garlic panisse; beetroot kibbeh with a beetroot walnut pomegranate cream and salted vegan feta; and cacao olive oil cake with cacao oil and lemon coconut ice cream.

The event is curated by chef Raveena Taurani, who says, "Normally, when we step into a restaurant, the main course always focuses on an animal protein or a carbohydrate-heavy dish, but I was keen to showcase the vegetable as a true hero and show people how even veggies can be wholesome and flavourful in a meal."

ON February 27, 8 pm to 10 pm
AT Yogisattva, Pinnacle House, 15th Road, PD Hinduja Junction, Khar West 
CALL 9867455009
LOG ON TO yogisattva.com
COST Rs 2,700

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Varun Dhawan, who is currently promoting his upcoming movie Kalank, was spotted at a popular studio in Juhu, Mumbai. While on his way, the actor bumped into Sunny Deol, and he couldn't stop fanboying after meeting the Gadar actor.

Sunny Deol with Varun Dhawan/picture courtesy: Satej Shinde

Varun Dhawan was elated on meeting Sunny. The actor greeted Sunny Deol and was pleased to share this moment when they bumped into each other.

Sunny Deol, who is currently shooting for Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, which is his son, Karan's, Bollywood debut, also had a small conversation with his fan. 

On the professional front, Varun Dhawan will be next seen in Karan Johar's multi-starrer period drama, Kalank and Remo D'Souza's Street Dancer 3D.

Talking about Kalank, the film has a star-studded cast comprising Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sanjay Dutt, this period drama set in 1940s India, is definitely going to take you on an unforgettable journey.

The first look posters of the three men of Kalank came out on March 7 and the leading ladies' first looks were revealed on International Women's Day (March 8). The film was originally conceptualised about 15 years ago by the late Yash Johar and his son Karan Johar, who has bankrolled the film. Abhishek Varman has helmed the period drama that releases on April 17 this year.

Also Read: Kalank is the highest viewed teaser in Bollywood in 24hrs!

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

A leopard entered a society in Marol, Andheri. He was caught after almost two hours.

There was a big crowd at Vijay Nagar near Marol Marushi. People were waiting with sticks in their hands.

CCTV footage of the leopard

In the CCTV footage, the wild animal was seen running around the premises of Woodland Apartment near Police camp.

The SGNP leopard rescue team and Thane team reached the spot immediately while Dr Shailesh Pethe, Deputy Conservator of Forest Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Range Forest Officer Santosh Kank were preparing the strategy.

Also read: Decomposed body of leopard found at Sanjay Gandhi National Park

The forest officers were able to nab the leopard after two hours. He was taken away in a van. The Powai team, MIDC police and fire brigade were also involved in the rescue operation.

In February this year, a leopard was spotted in the basement of Korum Mall in Thane.

Also read: Mumbai: Leopard numbers increase in Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates

Bandra got its first outlet of The Wine Table in May last year. What does it offer? MRP Wine bar by glass & bottle and Wine education/training/food pairing with wines, etc. From imported - Ren, Beaujolais villages, Peppoli, Cono Sur, Torres, Salbach, Masi masianco, Robert Mondavi to domestic - Amaris reserve, Fratelli MS red, Fratelli Sangiovese, Moksh sauvignon blanc, M reserve, Raaya rose, the outlets offer all things wine.

Tignanello Italian, priced at Rs 20,000, is the most expensive buy. We walk in at 6 pm to douse our red craving, and a bite but the kitchen opens only at 7 pm. We order a Sileni pinot noir (Rs 630) and a Mokksh ren (Rs 396), a flagship brand of the store. The Sileni from New Zealand is light and perfumed and perfect for the rather early indulgence. The ren merlot is medium bodied, woody and deeper on the palate.

While our server gives us back stories of wines and vineyards, we’ll surely go back to try some whites next.

AT: Darvesh Royale Building, Perry Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West
CALL: +91 9167007667
TIMINGS: 10 am to 12.30 am
NOTE: The Wine Table didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

If you appreciate great sound — which is rich, heavy and laidback yet energetic — an event that will be held at Bandra's Corona Garden will give you reason to look forward to the weekend. Celebrating World Record Day today, a music conglomerate has organised a vinyl record sale with mo­re than 2,000 titles on discount, including albums by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Linkin Park.

Listeners will be able to enjoy a series of acoustic sessions by city-based musicians Nikhil D'Souza, Mali (Maalavika), Tejas, Aarifah and Ramya Pothuri. The day-long affair will end with a special showcase by Kadak Apple Records, where each singer will perform an original composition, accompanied by the rest of the musicians. There will also be an indoor electronic stage that revolves around the 45" vinyl record culture, where DJs Zokhuma (Arman Menzies), ENG (Kunal Lodhia) and Pinnacle will be playing records.

"The simplicity of playing a vinyl record and enjoying the rich, warm sound makes the experience personal and extraordinary. It's the only physical format of music that has seen a rise in demand. The maximum sales take place in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru via online stores," says Jay Mehta, digital head business, Sony Music, organisers of the event.

Aarifah

For 26-year-old Mumbai multi-instrumentalist Aarifah, the introduction to vinyl records happened recently, not unusual for millennials. "A bandmate introduced me to vinyls at a record shop in Mahim. I got to learn the mechanics first hand, which was pretty cool," the Dadar resident tells us. She will be performing her unreleased acoustic originals, which are lyrically-heavy and melancholic. These are also songs she plans to record and release later this year. The musician will be performing her single, Resilient. "This one is about heartache and being resilient through that. The focus is to keep my lyrics as honest as possible," she says, adding that listeners can look forward to a mellow vibe with lots of harmonies as the quartet (Tejas, Mali, Aarifah and Ramya) conclude the concert together.

ON Today 13, 2 pm onwards
AT Corona Garden, St John Baptist Road, Bandra West.
LOG ON TO (to RSVP) insider.in
FREE

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Oh, wretched irony, that President Ram Nath Kovind — whom BJP president Amit Shah unabashedly introduced as a Dalit when nominating him as a Presidential candidate — should himself introduce a caste system, where it never existed before: India's august National Film Awards. The President informed the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) three weeks earlier that he would leave the award function in an hour. But the winners were informed only a day earlier, that the President would give away only 11 of the approximately 137 awards at the 65th National Film Awards; the rest would be given away by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, and Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore. As the award winners' invitations stated that they would receive the award from the President of India, they wrote to the DFF about a breach of trust, "65 years of tradition was being overturned in a jiffy," and nearly 55 winners boycotted the function.

Nothing spoke of the sordidness of this prestigious event as that photograph with just two disturbed award winners, in a hall full of empty chairs. The names of the 30 award winners who protested were not even announced. It is heartbreaking that a number of award winners, including Fahadh Faasil, who won Best Supporting Actor for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, and Parvathy, who won Special Mention for Take Off, both in Malayalam, returned home without their National Awards. We are proud the National Awards still go to those truly deserving them, mostly. Bollywood, which usually hogs the limelight, is shown its true place in Indian cinema at the National Film Awards. Malayalam cinema won 11 major awards, Hindi cinema only eight in comparison; Bengali and Assamese cinema won five each; Marathi cinema won four; Tamil and Telugu cinema won three each.

The President, who is 72, gave no reasons for his self-styled, one-hour Cinderella rule. If he had medical issues, he could reasonably have declined, or split the awards into two sessions.

I have had the honour of attending four National Film Awards — once as an award winner, and thrice on the National Film Award Jury, in 2008, 2011 and 2014. Bungling and uncertainty are a given. I had won the National Award for Best Film Critic for 1998, but received the award only in 2000, because of unstable governments. As I'm usually at the Berlin Film Festival in February, I had asked the DFF about likely dates since October, but they said they would know only at the last minute. I was at the Berlin Film Festival when I was swiftly summoned to New Delhi, so my parents Indu Shedde and S Rammohan went to New Delhi, and my mother received the National Award on my behalf from President KR Narayanan.

On the other hand, Ramendra Naresh, a Dalit student who topped the MCA programme at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, refused to accept his gold medal from President Kovind at the convocation scheduled last December, to protest against the growing atrocities against Dalits. Along with all this year's award-winners, I applaud Naresh as well.

Meenakshi Shedde is South Asia Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival, award-winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist. Reach her at meenakshishedde@gmail.com

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Illustration/Ravi Jadhav

For years, every time I've gone to a beauty parlour, yaniki, what fancy folks now call salon, one of the ladies there will ask me in that characteristic beautician tone — yaniki, terrorism masked as concern — "eyebrows nahin karaate ho?" (don't you 'do' — thread and shape — your eyebrows?). Depending on my confidence levels (usually low, an unavoidable side effect of entering a beauty parlour) my 'no' might be uttered with giggling diffidence, false hauteur, or bland deflection. The response of the beauty parlour lady is always the same — "accha?", yaniki, "fine, be that way." It's on your head. Don't come crying to me afterwards. I toh have done my due diligence by asking." Sometimes, feeling a little bold, I would ingratiatingly say, "The natural shape is pretty nice na, so why get into one more jhamela." The beautician will give that sweeping, sarcastic glance at my eyebrows and say, "Haan, vaise toh it's fine", yaniki, pity and disdain, bechari thinks natural is a thing.

This has been a consistent question, of course, but as any random or regular beauty parlour visitor knows, there are others, spoken in a special voice designed to decimate your ego and turn you into a trembling supplicant, begging for beauty treatments. "Last clean up kab kiya tha?" (When's the last time you had a facial?). "Feets ko bleach nahin kara na? Bahut tanning ho gayi hai." (Don't bleach your feet? They're very tanned).

It doesn't matter if you by-hearted The Beauty Myth when you were 15, you will be engulfed by that doomful self-hate and self-doubt start, like a seventh grader in the principal's office. The crushing stereotypes of advertising are laughable wannabes compared to the beauty parlour interrogation.

These questions derive part of their potency from the fact that you are trapped in electric chair type furniture, usually with a giant plastic bib tied around you as if you still cannot be trusted to eat properly, leave alone look presentable, and several other people getting their eyebrows done, or doing others' eyebrows around, who will come to a cinematic halt and stare at you when you admit that you are not one of them.

This potency is only slightly reduced by the advent of app-based home beautician services. To the usual litany of questions they also add, "Ma'am, braazil karalo na, sab karate hain" (Ma'am, everyone gets a Brazilian wax now). You can answer coldly or pretend to be immersed in your phone, like teenagers do with parents. But dude, these are young women who magically produce footstools and pedicure tubs from a backpack. They are not so easily daunted.
With the passage of time, the questions have dwindled. I've relaxed slowly into the truth that as you approach the out-point of the conventional marriageable age zone, the beautician, like the world, starts to expect less conformity from you. The eyebrow question now comes at me only once in every five times.

It was obviously too good to be true. Last week as I submitted to the plastic bib, the beauty parlour lady looked at me with that familiar intent look. "Hair colouring nahin karate?" she asked, checking out my now no longer tentative greys. "Nahin," I said, stoically, preparing for a couple of decades of this now.

Paromita Vohra is an award-winning Mumbai-based filmmaker, writer and curator working with fiction and non-fiction. Reach her at www.parodevipictures.com

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

The recent frenzy over supposed cracks in the Kemps Corner bridge - the country's first-ever flyover - has been proved to be an overreaction, but also brings to light the power that WhatsApp has to spread misinformation and paranoia.

This paper yesterday reported that thousands of app users had received a picture of a fissure in a portion of the bridge, with claims that the flyover was in danger of collapsing. The viral photo sparked widespread panic; so much so, that the civic commissioner was drawn into the Kemps Corner frenzy. There was a post from a young politician seeking to reassure the public. The 86-year-old architect of the bridge also gave a statement to assuage fears and calm outrage bubbling on WhatsApp.

Through the days, more rumours came in, stating that the bridge was falling and traffic had been diverted. One can imagine the mental state of a motorist about to drive onto the bridge, if they were to glance at WhatsApp and spot the alarmist message. The rapid-fire messages sparked fear and anger. Reassurance, on the other hand, was much slower to come.

This shows just how important it is that we filter messages on WhatsApp, and not forward blindly. In this 'quick click' age, it takes just the push of a button to spread fear. Thankfully, the bridge fall phobia had no major repercussions, but it does bring to mind other times when WhatsApp messages have started and stoked the fires of a frenzied crisis.

Each of us has a responsibility to verify, or at least use some discretion, before pressing the forward button. There is no race where one has to be first to pass on information. In fact, there is merit in holding back, cross-checking, and then forwarding only if there is credibility in the message. In this instant age, let's not fall for anymore half-baked stories.

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

The city is shaken up by the brutal murder of a young woman working with an upmarket chain of salons. In what has been dubbed as a case having parallels with the Sheena Bora murder, this beautician's body was kept in a car post the murder and then disposed off in marshy land at Wadala. Police teams are trying to recover the body, but have been unsuccessful so far.

It's time to focus on the reason for this murder. According to the police, two colleagues, who have been caught, killed the young woman because she refused to take back a notice sent to one of the accused because of his shoddy performance at work. Despite their entreaties, the victim had not relented about withdrawing a notice sent to one accused till the last day when his employment may have been terminated.

Both colleagues claim, according to reports, that the murder was done in the heat of the moment. The family of the accused, though, insist they are innocent. What has shocked the city is the triviality of the motive. A life has been lost simply because somebody was going to lose his job. As one tries to absorb this, a much smaller report recently was indication of a society, which is weaned on instant gratification and instant rage. A young gym owner was stabbed to death and his female friend hit with a beer bottle over a quarrel with a Disc Jockey (DJ) over which songs to play.

We have been seeing murders happening over slightest provocations. Bring back regard for human life, which has been cheapened considerably. Cherish patience, logic and encourage our children to think before they act. Put an absolute premium on human life. These seem like knee-jerk murders, where rage consumes the murderers, who are mostly ordinary men and women who have no criminal record. Speed kills and in more ways than one.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Jagadamb refers to the ancestral deity Tulja Bhavani whose shrine sits in the mid-size city of Tuljapur in Osmanabad district. But, in present-day Maharashtra, the term Jagadamb rises above the geographical address. It is an embodiment of the feisty street-fighting youth, belonging to the Marathas or other backward castes, who owe their allegiance to a goddess who was also the motivation for Maharashtra's most-revered Chhatrapati Shivaji. Flashed on hooded T-shirts and pullovers, 'Jagadamb' has emerged topmost among the potent watchwords currently dominating popular discourse. Online sales and offline retail purchases across the state speak for the all-seasons connect of Jagadamb, which has takers irrespective of commemorative days and morcha schedules.

Abhijit Tarphe, a Dadar-based calligraphy artist, creates tees that occupy the fun space between political discourse, street lingo and social commentary. Pic/Ashish Raje

Apparel carrying longer mantras of Maratha loyalty — Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha, Hoy Maratha and Amhi Shivrayanche Sainik — have enjoyed cyclical demand, corresponding with the calendar of the 58 silent marches held last year. As the anecdote goes, Maratha T-shirts are in a "politically dormant" state at the moment. But fiery speaker (at the Maratha Kranti Morcha) and advocate from Aurangabad, Swati Nakhate Patil, feels T-shirts are effective communication tools. "What better reminder of the time when we took to the streets for reservations and equal terms? The identifiable catch lines recap our journey so far." T-shirt messages, she thinks, help in creating a family of volunteers. She'd know considering she is head of the Akka Foundation which has initiated a reform movement against socials ills like dowry and superstition among the Marathas. The foundation's signature T-shirt, wears a generic slogan – Sarvansathi Sarva Kahi – which indicates a wider fight for everyone's rights.

Swati Nakhate Patil, seen here with volunteers wearing their signature tee with the slogan, Sarvansathi Sarva Kahi. She heads the Akka Foundation which is fighting against socials ills. She has been one of the main speakers at the Maratha Kranti Morcha over the last one year

"The Marāthās" is a collective term referring to an Indo Aryan group of Hindus, Marathi-speaking castes of warriors and peasants who created an empire, covering a major part of India. They are not alone in the fight for rights. Another rights movement that's currently finding a reflection on T-shirts through creative slogans, photographs and graphic designs concerns the Lingayat community. They are seeking legal recognition as a religion distinct from Hinduism. Inspired by the success of their counterparts in Karnataka, the Lingayats in Maharashtra (some of whom have thronged Mantralaya too) are pressing for their religious minority status on T-shirts, which sing paeans to 12th century social reformer, philosopher and statesman Basaveshwara.

The Killa brand of tees focuses on Maratha pride associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji, and his various forts

He rejected temple worship by replacing it with direct worship of Shiva in the form of the Ishtalinga necklace, the image of the linga set in a silver casket, to be worn at all times close to the heart. Little wonder that both, Basaveshwara and the Shiv linga prominently feature on the T-shirts. As a professor of history and a keen observer of progressive movement slogans, Satara-based Amrut Salunkhe points out an interesting contradiction in the Lingayat factions. Not all sub-sects recognise Basava as the founder, but they don't seem to mind the T-shirt — available in Kannada and Marathi typography — carrying the phrase, Jai Vishwaguru Dharmsansthapak Basaveshwar! "The dissident factions have not yet come up with a counter icon. At this point, two different T-shirt creatives wouldn't have helped in lobbying for the larger Lingayat brotherhood," Salunkhe feels.

Theme T-shirts honouring the men of letters in the Marathi cultural world have been in currency for two decades; a recent manifestation was seen during a death anniversary of late Namdeo Dhasal whose fans wore the poet-ideologue's world view on a memorial T-shirt. The Bharatiya brand made use of faces of popular litterateurs like PL Deshpande and Narayan Surve, just as it made good use of the Marathi Abhiman Geet, and distributed T-shirts on Ashadi Ekadashi, Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi. They fashioned kid-centric lyrical sequence tees on monsoon joys too. Bharatiya has now extended its T-shirt ideation to Hindi and is soon to come up with Tamil messages. Their fare was earlier vended at literary summits, before it grew popular online, somewhat in the provincial cosmos where the Killa T-shirts thrived. Designed by Malvan-based artist and JJ School of Applied Art alumnus Arun Amberkar, Killa garments focus on the fortresses built by Chhatrapati Shivaji. The iconic rajmudra (official signature) T-shirt has been a hit for over a decade. Amberkar calls the line "lovingly crafted, wearable and usable slivers of history."

Dadar-based calligraphy artist Abhijit Tarphe feels customised tees are a fun zone for current affairs to find a rightful space. His T-shirts displayed apt word play (Sonu, tuza mazhyavar bharvasa nay ka?) when RJ Mallishka had attacked the BMC. He captures the Mumbai commuter spirit in the line, Mili to BEST, Nahi Toh Next.
Tarphe also has a range of occasion-based T-shirts like the tricolour-filled Independence Day special or Gokulashtami's Aya Makhan Chor creative. It is another story that T-shirts for Gokulashtami and Holi usually are gifted by political party leaders, chiefly Shiv Sena Shakha Pramukhs.

Jai Bhim T-shirts as a community-building tool have worked well over the years, not just for the April 14 Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti or the December 6 Mahaparinirvan Din. The apparel also comes in handy for Buddha Jayanti and during any political rally Dalit groups organise. This year, a Goregaon-based youth association, designed a special T-shirt declaring Mazhi Chaityabhoomi, Swacchabhoomi (My clean Chaityabhoomi). It served two political purposes; an affirmation of the Swacch Bharat mantra, challenging the stereotypical notion of Dalits arriving from rural Maharashtra who converge at Dadar's Shivaji Park Chaityabhoomi and litter.

T-shirt messaging extends to a range of causes — Separate Vidarbha; Who Killed Judge Loya?; Make (Women Safe) in India; Rape Roko; India Against Corruption; Donate Eyes; Pinkathon run against breast cancer. It has also been used to add cohesion to groups (I am with Anna Hazare; Desh Me Narendra/ Pradesh Me Devendra) or merely declare strength (Dr B R Ambedkar: King Number 1) or sport a vibe (Dude Please, Thane is not Bombay!/ Delhi is about Mera Baap Kaun Hai, Mumbai is about Who I am). T-shirts can help start a conversation, from the polite to the political.

Sumedha Raikar-Mhatre is a culture columnist in search of the sub-text. You can reach her at sumedha.raikar@gmail.com

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

In the two days of staged photographs, there is not one photo of Modi hugging Xi, his trademark personalised diplomacy of forcibly embracing other leaders. Pic/AP

One of the better things during the Karnataka Assembly election, no matter who emerges the single largest party tomorrow, was Congress president Rahul Gandhi's press conference in Bangalore. You may not have seen it on TV. It is on YouTube, however. Rahul again comes across in a light different to the whispers about him during the past two decades, proving how it was all the doing of a well-oiled BJP machine. My favourite part was Rahul's take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Wuhan in central China for an "informal" summit with President Xi Jinping.

Here's what he said:
"I expected the PM to go to China as the leader of our country [and] speak to them about Doklam... He didn't say a word. [He] had a conversation with the Chinese President with no agenda. Are you telling me there's no agenda? There is an agenda, it's called Doklam; there is an agenda, it's called the Maldives; there is an agenda, it's called Nepal... The agenda is that we're surrounded on all sides; it's pretty clear. But you guys don't like to raise that, I don't know why.

"Our foreign policy has been completely decimated. And it's because the PM views foreign policy as an individual exercise. He's of the impression that he can go have a conversation with the president of China, or he can go have a conversation with the president of Nepal, and everything will magically happen.

"The PM needs to carry his own people with him. Are there any conversations going on with the finance minister, with the defence minister about this type of strategy? No. It's a one-man show."

Briefly: China tried to seize the Doklam plateau in Bhutan last year but after a 73-day standoff against our troops, it backed down. It has reportedly since built an infrastructure leading to Doklam. In the Maldives, China is displacing India: President Abdulla Gameen last year welcomed three Chinese warships, and last month hosted the Pakistan army chief. In Nepal, despite Modi's visit this weekend to promote Janakpur, Sita's birthplace, as a religious tourism spot, the Nepalese have drifted from us after India's five-month blockade in 2015 - we were pushing for greater political inclusion of the Madhesis. Modi is a villain for the Nepalese, as evident on social media.

China has seized advantage of India's pathetic neighbourhood behaviour, and, as Rahul said, has India surrounded. No wonder many think Modi went to beg Xi to keep relations calm in the run-up to the 2019 parliamentary election. That Modi's governance is election-oriented is no secret. Will the Chinese will play ball? When the two-day "informal" summit ended, the Indian side issued a statement and reportedly urged the Chinese to issue their own. Compare the two and you see a difference: while India mentioned a strategic direction to our respective armies to avoid tension on the Line of Actual Control, China only said the armies would follow past protocols. Joint statements are never easy, but individual statements are a piece of cake.

Modi had to supplicate himself because he cannot afford to go into the 2019 election after a showdown with China. Even a short skirmish will humiliate India. Unlike tension on the Line of Control with Pakistan, which benefits Modi since it can be dovetailed into communal rhetoric, tension with China gives Modi no benefit. Modi cannot help but humour China.

The Chinese were amenable to being humoured since they have now what they wanted in Doklam. China nowadays also wants to be seen as a responsible global power: hence it has nudged North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un into meeting his South Korean counterpart and, next month, with Donald Trump. China has also reached out to Japan, with whom relations are more complicated than with India.

Mainly, it was because Modi agreed to humiliate the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader who has lived in India since 1959. India prohibited its ministers from attending a Dalai Lama function (ironically, to thank India) and asked him to shift it from Delhi to his base in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. It was an insult; worse, he privately expressed the fear that he might be expelled.

The Chinese gave us time but they did not give Modi a hug. In the two days of staged photographs, there is not one photo of Modi hugging Xi, his trademark personalised diplomacy of forcibly embracing other leaders. Rahul Gandhi is right: Modi has decimated India's foreign policy. It's too bad that this and other aspects of his press conference were ignored by the TV media. But then, after Gujarat, Karnataka has been good practice for him. Modi's obsession with the 2019 election means that governance will suffer, so Rahul will get more occasions to show the public his mettle.

Aditya Sinha's next book, The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace, co-written with a former RAW chief and a former ISI chief, is out next week. He tweets @autumnshade Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com

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

The mystery behind the death of a group of brothers seems to have been solved, said a report in this paper. The Chavan cousins were found dead between Kandivli and Borivli stations earlier this week.

A day after their death, an eyewitness informed the police he saw them jumping from the train to cross the tracks when it had stopped at a red signal between stations.

An inspector stated in the report that when the train halted, the boys tried to jump to cross the tracks. In doing so, they missed seeing a train coming from the opposite direction and were hit by it. Investigations are on and eyewitnesses are being sought to corroborate the version. Yet, it looks quite certain that this is yet another track death amongst the many in the annals of railway track death history.

We need to see signage on stations warning people not to cross tracks. Even some signage inside train bogies about the danger of crossing tracks will be helpful. This may not be an absolute deterrent, but will at least make people stop and rethink before crossing tracks.

Maybe passengers' unions can put up warnings on social media. A track crossing survivor, who has had a narrow escape, could recount his experience. He could even speak about how lucky he was to escape with his life and exhort the lakhs who use the service not to endanger their lives.

From riding rooftop of trains to crossing tracks, there are so many dangers that commuters bring upon themselves. A service that is already strained to a breaking point is inherently dangerous because of the sheer numbers. It is safety first, when it comes to this service, commuters must realise there is a greater onus than ever on them to ensure their own safety. Crossing tracks is an invitation to a grievous injury or a tragic end.

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

Illustration/Uday Mohite

I knew two Mumbai cops. Two Mumbai cops who went to the same college as me. Yeah, Ashok Kamte and Himanshu Roy were marginally junior to me at St Xaviers' College. Two Bombay boys who became police officers and subsequently looked after the city they grew up in.

One who followed in his father's footsteps as a policeman. The other who chose not to become a doctor like his parents. There was an incredibly tragic irony when Ashok was shot on 26/11 in the narrow lane that separated our college from Rang Bhavan. (It's no surprise that Ashok and Himanshu considered each other brothers — and Himanshu always regretted not being in Mumbai, standing side by side with Ashok, when he was gunned down).

I knew Himanshu Roy a bit. Mumbai is a small city in spite of its size. And, South Mumbai an even smaller world. Himanshu was born and brought up in Colaba, schooled in Campion, and graduated from our college.

I first met him in 1995 at a friend, Mark Manuel's home. He was then an incredibly, lean, bespectacled man — wiry and tall. And I remember thinking he was very gangly for a cop. But he exuded great hunger. There was a glint in his eyes, a manner in his demeanour, a strength in that stick-like figure. I'll never forget that bristling energy. He was like a coiled snake, ready for action, ready to change the world, ready to catch the bad guys, a superhero without the cape and mask. He was idealistic and worldly wise at the same time. (It perhaps requires those two qualities, to join the force and survive). He was about to leave for Nashik, from where he returned two years later, with rippling Popeye arms and a barrel chest.

There is something incredibly brave in deciding to become a Mumbai cop. Not just because of the valour required in handling criminals. But, of the skill needed in navigating a system run by politicians.

It was no surprise that the cases he handled were of a diverse nature. IPL spot-fixing, the J Dey and Pallavi Purkayastha murders, the riots of Khairlanji. He devised anti-dacoity measures in rural Maharashtra, cracked the Shakti Mills rape case. He set up Mumbai's first Cyber Crime Cell, and established a special cell to deal with crimes related to women.

So, the news that he'd shot himself in his flat, was incredibly sad. Cancer had wreaked havoc on his body and perhaps he saw no other way out. But suicide is always a many-sided Hydra. The debate on whether it is a brave move, a cowardly act, a desperate measure or a selfish resolution will rage on forever.

But for me, there is always one trait linked to killing oneself — loneliness. Whether Himanshu 'Hercules' Roy was lonely in his final hour we'll never know. But, a man who'd spent his life protecting a city, ultimately couldn't protect himself.

Goodbye, big man, I'm sure you're out there somewhere, looking out for us.

Rahul da Cunha is an adman, theatre director/playwright, photographer and traveller. Reach him at rahuldacunha62@gmail.com

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Yakuza 6 is the final chapter in the Kazuma Kiryu saga and the debut of a new engine for the game. For those who have never played Yakuza before, there is a handy back story that you can read through complete with choice visuals from the previous game. Even without the story mode, the game is self-sufficient and you won't feel like you are missing something. It plays out like a melodramatic Japanese movie — there are lots of cut-scenes and it will be a while before you go around breaking bones and destroying property. Fortunately, the story is decent enough to keep you engaged, considering it is around 30 hours long.

For the uninitiated, you play Kazuma Kiryu, a yakuza, who is part of the Japanese mafiosi. The idea of the game is to go around completing the tasks assigned in the story mode. However, you are also in Japan, which means there are many fun distractions to while away time. In the past, these distractions have been many and made Yakuza a game that you could play forever. In Yakuza 6, however, the side activities are few, but they are well made. Some choices are playing mahjong, working out, playing baseball, visiting a hostess bar or a cat café.

The biggest addition to the side activities is the Clan Creator mini-game, where you direct gang members in a top down view of a brawl. You can add special characters to your clan, by defeating them in combat. This mini-game is a lot of fun, even though defeating your foes is often too easy. The overall combat in Yakuza is also super easy. Kiryu is capable of handling multiple thugs with just a few basic moves. You can pick up anything off the street and use it as a weapon. Building rage can trigger special moves, which is essentially just beating people senseless with whatever you have in your hand. The simplicity of combat makes it easy to learn, but it can get repetitive after a while.

Visually, the new engine shows off the cut-scenes and characters really shine through. The motion is seamless and once you are in an area, the game never stutters. Japan is recreated beautifully, it is like you are roaming the streets of the country. You can enter stores, narrow lanes and explore anything that is on the map. The game is a fitting end to the story of Kazuma Kiryu. The top-notch storytelling and the graphics more than do justice to the Yakuza series. More side activities and layered combat could have kept the game interesting beyond the main storyline, but despite all of this, Yakuza manages to entertain.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Rating: 4/5
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: PS4
Price: Rs 2,999

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

Missed out on last week's Green Humour? You can read it here.

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

A result of the 2013 floods, which wreaked havoc and killed thousands of people, is that the river Mandakini, which passes the temple area disappears after a stretch

I happily strut on through the Gaurikund market where vendors pour hot chai and roll parathas for eager yatris freezing under their overalls. It is April 29, the first darshan of the season. I have set out at 4.45 am, dodging horses and men wearing pithoo baskets ready to carry pilgrims to the top. I am in the company of a rishi, who grins at my woollens. "It is going to be sunny today," she says, wrapping a rice-paper thin shawl over her white skirt and blouse.

The path is peppered with signboards advising yatris to check their pace

Trek record
A cobbled path begins where the kaccha road ends. A green signboard reads: Kedarnath 16 km. The 2013 flood washed away the old route. Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering re-charted the route via Gaurikund and passing Jungle Chatti Bheembali and Linchauli to reach the basecamp. Then, another kilometre leads to the temple. Rain shelters, medical camps, bio toilets and potable water fountains appear frequently.

The path has toilets and food stalls and medical camps are regular intervals

When the going gets tough
Uphill, at gradient 8, I set a steady pace, holding onto an orange railing; matching the sparse spotting of crimson-red Buransh flowers in an otherwise green flora valley. The gushing of a waterfall and a dawn in the breaking lend a quietude broken by enthusiastic cries of "Jai Bhole!" and "Har Har Mahadev!". I stop at each signboard that advises walkers to take regular breaks. An hour of evening walk in the city, I realised, was not enough training to adjust to the thin air quality and keep the body supple.

The flood had washed away the old route

Giving up is easy
Ahead of me, a couple plonks onto a bench. "Aur kitna dur hai," the wife asks. A sweeper, cleaning the tracks, laughs, "Bas che ghante chalte jao. Upar mat dekho (Keep walking continuously for six hours. Don't look up to see how far it is)." By now, I have lost sight of my 58-year-old companion, who has kept a steady lead.
I stare at the green board that reads 14 km, the time is 5.30 am. A tendency to get cramps on my right leg, I am surprised it hasn't revolted yet. But there's a sharp pull in my thigh, a new pain on this new adventure. I think to myself: "Why did I sign up for this? Turn back. Just turn back." Probably from the distress look on my face, a woman on horseback sees me and screams from afar: "Don't give up. You will make it."

The tough get going
This is my first victory. To turn a deaf ear to my feet's pleads. By the time I make it to Bheembali, the road steepens. People who have finished their darshan shower encouraging words and promise the ever-winding road will smoothen. By the time I reach Kedarnath basecamp, the clouds have covered the peaks, and there's a light rain splatter. I follow a group through steep patches that help you cut the road time. Sometimes, I find myself on all fours, holding onto branches. My inspiration pool is slowly evaporating.

Miracles find you
In that moment, the clouds clear and the snow peaks make an appearance. It fills me with gratitude — for everything that is right and wrong in my life. The walk down to the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati and dip my hands in the icy cold water. I skip the line to the temple, bow to the dhwaj on the temple and turn around for the road downhill.

A walk to remember
The rains have washed the muddy road and turned it into a sludge fest. I follow a couple and their son down a 'short cut' which catches me off-guard. It is open to the valley, and one wrong step will have me tumbling down. This descent is long but we walk it with a joyous gait. The burden was my own uphill, but now, it is ours to share.

8
No. of hours it takes in a state-run bus from Rishikesh to Sonprayag

Adventure & Religious
Tour & taste
Food and Leisure
Relaxing
Educational

Lohit Bhatia, CEO of IKYA Human Capital Solutions, a division of Quess Corp, says that at the recruitment end of the business, productivity measures will include how many candidates were lined up as potential candidates for a job, how many were interviewed by the client, how many of these were given the letter and then, finally, how many joined the firm

A few weeks ago, an ad appeared on a premium page of a premium pink paper. The ad, by the homeopathy firm Welcome Cure, with the smiling faces of actors Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza was targeted towards corporates, promising help in reducing absenteeism and increasing employee productivity. Chaitanya Choudhury, vice-president corporate relationship at the three-year-old firm with headquarters in Santacruz, says what they provide is a wellness package to employees. At sign up, when the employee’s health ailments are assessed by a Welcome Cure doctor, medicines are designed as per the ailment and sent to the employee on a regular basis at their doorstep.

"Homeopathy also builds immunity, which means that a person falls ill less often. When we sign up with companies, we also assess the specific ailments that professionals from that industry are susceptible to and align the treatment accordingly. If an employee needs special attention, we red flag it and let the HR know. Our doctors are available every day from 9 am to 9 pm. When stress is taken care of, chronic health issues are too. Productivity will naturally improve," adds Choudhury.

Bengaluru-based executive coach Sridhar Laxman conduct six-month-long training sessions where, among other aspects, he helps improve his clients' productivity. An entire training module with him could cost anywhere between Rs 2.5 lakhs to Rs 3.5 lakhs. Pic/Ajeesh F Rawther

The VFM race
In a piece in the Financial Express this April, Neelesh Hundekari, Partner and Head of Leadership, Change & Organisation Practice India, AT Kearney, stated that a study conducted by his firm had found that though Indian businesses have access to one of the largest young and educated workforces in the world, they have not able to make their people as productive as their counterparts across the world. "The revenue per employee in the Indian consumer packaged goods industry — on a PPP-adjusted basis—stood at $64,000, compared to China’s $87,000, South Korea’s $188,000 and the UK’s $287,000. In other words, a UK CPG firm is five times more productive than its Indian counterpart."

Yet, what is productivity? Mohit Gundecha, Co-founder and CEO of the Pune-based data analytics firm Jombay, says: "Many companies confuse productivity with efficiency. Efficiency is ‘getting the same output with less input’, while productivity is ‘getting more output with the same input’." That enhancing employee productivity is a prime objective for companies is easily understood when one sees the reams of research on this. A listicle on bookauthority.com mentions 11 books on the subject, all published only in the last nine months. And this is possibly just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, it was reported that a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, had found that drinking coffee during meetings can lead to a more focussed group discussion, boost involvement and leave members feeling better about everyone’s participation.

Does your company spends too much time on meetings, or do your employees not collaborate well? Call in behavioural scientists Mayur Tekchandaney and Anand Damani who will study your office environment and suggest changes for the desired results. Pic/Ashish Raje

Lohit Bhatia, CEO of IKYA Human Capital Solutions, a division of Quess Corp, puts it down to a simple value-for-money equation. "With every passing year, capital is becoming scarce. And getting higher returns is paramount. Earlier, startups would be flooded with money, but in 2016-17, the money started evaporating. So, every rupee needs to count. After all, someone’s personal wealth is being invested, so it’s important for an outcome to be delivered."

A measure of your work
Where there are deliverables, there are measures to keep count. And, this count has, today, become an important part of the appraisal system that decides your annual increment. An employee at a top multi-national bank says her bonus is partially linked to this performance rating. The sales team, for instance, will be measured against the revenue they bring in, the number of new clients they crack and how many new products are sold. And, an internal software has been built to keep track.

WelcomeCure is a over three-year-old homoeopathy firm that employs over 200 doctors, all available for an online chat or video call between 9 am and 9 pm.

"Each customer has a relationship manager and so, any transaction by them is automatically credited into that manager’s account. At the end of the month, the performance management team will run the reports, check and pass on the information to payroll," says the employee. For those in the wealth management sector, targets include not just getting in more clients but keeping the assets you already have under management and taking care of their wealth.

While transactions are definitely measurable, what about all the work that goes on to make the transaction? The innumerable calls? Bhatia says that at Ikya, where productivity forms close to fifty per cent of the appraisal weightage, every part of the process is measurable. Take for instance, the sales and business development team. "What are the number of sales meetings they have on a daily basis and what is the conversion ratio? If it’s less than five per cent, it’s not constructive for business," he adds. For those involved in the firm’s recruitment end of the business, the numbers that need to add up are: how many candidates were lined up as potential candidates for a job? How many of these were interviewed by customers? What was the success rate i.e. how many of these were given the letter and then, finally, how many joined the firm?

This year, its CEO Punit Desai, started corporate packages which allow firms to extend its service to its employees. An annual package could cost around Rs 12,000 per employee and, says the firm, if the employee leaves the office in the middle of the year, the service still continue till the end of the package. Pics/Sneha Kharabe

Numbers don’t reveal all secrets
Not all jobs can be crunched down in numbers. Karan Khetarpal, director at The Chocolate Spoon Company Pvt. Ltd., which runs the Sassy Spoon chain of restaurants, says that while regular audits can help estimate productivity in different areas of the kitchen, the scope remains limited. "At our central kitchen for instance, we have multiple pastry chefs and here we can calculate their individual outputs. At the restaurant kitchen level, you can monitor wastage and yield of chefs based on inputs such as dairy, poultry and sea food, as well as ordering patterns. There’s an immediate economic impact of what they are doing. For instance, one day we realised that the burgers weren’t available at an outlet because the buns were out of stock. This happened because the kitchen had under ordered the previous day, so it was assessable," says Khetarpal, an investment banker by profession. But, while the sales team may have its targets, it’s not easy to count how many dishes a chef cooked or how many cocktails a particular bartender served. "This is not a factory where you can assess an individual’s productivity. Plus, the turnaround is so high, that the head chef will weed out those not being productive, anyway," he adds.

In January this year, Amazon opened its new office in Seattle with giant glass-and-metal domes filled with tropical and rare plants as a tool to "attract, retain and enhance the productivity and well-being of its fast-growing workforce". The dome took six years of planning and construction.

What the target measure has done, says Bhatia, is bring objectivity into the picture when annual appraisals are done. "There was a time when it was said that in India you got a hike depending on whether your manager liked your face or not. This is becoming a thing of the past because of target measures. Also, there used to be a gap between the organisation’s expectation, what’s being delivered and what the employee thought he was achieving for you. Now there’s an analytical, non-emotional conversation," he adds.

Where does quality fit in? T Muralidharan, founder and chairman of TMI Group, pan India talent and productivity consulting firm, says that output productivity has two key parts — Quantity and Quality. "While quantity is easily measurable, quality is not and hence the supervisor’s judgement comes into the play. In addition quality Vs quality determined by the relative weightage in the goal sheet requires a lot of careful review. Companies have to think a lot more on this. There’s no one-fits-all answer."

Amazon CEO Jeffrey Bezoz. Pics/PTI

The productivity docs
How then does a company improve its productivity? Adopting the latest technology, Gundecha says, is usually the first method. "More intuitive technology tools that work faster and provide analytical support for decision making are a constant demand. Allowing employees flexibility in working schedules is being recognised as a way to boost morale, build loyalty and encourage them to do more for the company." Better health will also mean a better employee.

"An office where every second person has a health issue makes for a depressing environment. However, imagine that your co-workers are all running marathons or climbing mountains. It will keep the environment motivated," says Vishal Gondal, the CEO and founder of GoQii, the fitness tracking firm that also ties up with corporates. Interestingly, for GoQii’s own employees, being fit (or atleast trying to get there) is part of the appraisal process. If you don’t walk an average of 10,000 steps a day or its equivalent, you might immediately be disqualified for assessment.

T Muralidharan, ChairmanTMI Group

Changing the environment
Briefcase is a Khar-based firm run by behavioural scientists Anand Damani and Mayur Tekchandaney. They say they use findings from experiments conducted on real people over the last 50 years to understand how a change in the environment can improve productivity, increase collaboration and motivation. How we sit in offices, says Damani, can impact team collaboration pointing out to the cubicle and workstation system most offices have. "However, when a team sits together on a round table there’s more eye contact and the whole direction is towards each other, employees tend to collaborate more." Are your meetings too long? Damani says replace the chair and tables with a long bar table with everyone standing. "Meetings will end faster since no one wants to stand for long," he says.

And when do they get called in? Damani says it typically begins with issues and problems being faced in the company, such as pace of work being slow or lack of ownership. "It’s the CEO who approaches us. Not the HR. At least not yet. We then find out what is at the heart of the problem." Not just relationship with the management, recognition patterns in the company can also affect productivity. He recalls an employee who’d won the company revenue worth lakhs, being rewarded with a dinner voucher of Rs 5000.

Lohit Bhatia, CEO, IKYA Human Capital Solutions

"The person should also have been made into a hero within the company. His achievement should have been made a case study and showcased to the company’s clients. The process should have been entered into differed awards." While Damani won’t reveal how much they charge the companies for their services, he says it usually takes them a year’s work with the firms. Sometimes, it’s individual training that’s required. This is where Bengaluru-based executive coach Sridhar Laxman steps in. For the last seven years, Laxman has been coaching individuals in what might be simply put as leadership training. Productivity is one component of this. Yet, he argues, when someone learns how to manage stress, not hesitate to take risks, and handle conflict resolution, they will take decisions on the fly easier and show up at work with greater levels of courage. "And when this happens, their productivity will improve."

Signing up with Laxman will cost you between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh. The course is conducted over six to eight months with one hour long sessions every three weeks. Largely, up until now, he says, it’s been firms who have hired him to work with individual employees. It’s only in the last financial year, says Laxman, that 40 per cent of his clientele has been individuals seeking him out on their own. And what could you learn to do under his guidance? Firstly the ability to say no. "Many people struggle around it. They hesitate, fearing that if they say no, they will not be seen as effective contributors. However, saying no conveys that you understand that you have certain priorities now. And there’s no point taking on task six when those on priority one and and two need your immediate attention."

Eat with your hands, please," Lloyd Braganza who runs one of Goa's most popular restaurants, tells us, rolling up the sleeves of his floral shirt, revealing a koi fish tattoo. We are at Copper Leaf, one of the best fish thali destinations at Porvorim, and for company we have chef and restauranteur Braganza, his wife Nerissa and their seven-year-old son Naethan. Llyod stops talking when the thali arrives. A mound of rice and a crispy fillet of matzo are skirted by coconut curry, clams masala, kismuri (dried fish and coconut salad), bhindi fry, gulab jamun, sol kadi and banana.

"This is Goa's most authentic thali, and locals as well as tourists come here for their fill," Marissa tells us. The fish has a sweet freshness, and the curry is hearty. The meal switches on our sussegad mood. But, there's more to this stop than indulging in gluttony. Six years after enticing Goans with delicious meals at his eatery, House of Lloyd, the family is set to open shop in Mumbai and ahead of its launch, the Braganzas are happy to give us a tour of their Goa-inspired menu.

The pork chops

Fish Market: The next stop is the Malim jetty where most of the fresh catch of the day coming in from along the coast is sold. Scenes of women haggling over prices, to fishermen unloading their catch and slicing the guts, greet us. We see ribbon fish, ponies and sole fish drying in the sun, apart from mud crabs piled in open crates.

Yeast Ecpected, Poie: We are at a nameless bakery. We enter a small room that opens into a dungeon-like opening with a woodfire oven burning a crimson orange. In a corner, a mixer is folding dough. One of the bakers, Gajanand Naik, shows off a basket full of poie. "At midnight, we start making poie. The dough is mixed for 30
minutes and left to rest for three hours," says Naik. Made from husk and wheat, the art of poie has lost a prominent ingredient — the toddy. When the Portuguese introduced the bread in Goa, they replaced yeast with locally available toddy.

Plum and white chocolate with vodka

Rassa Omelette: Our next stop is, again, an unnamed snack stall. "You are known by your product. There's no need for a name," Braganza laughs. A server puts a fat chunk of omelette on a plate and drowns it in rassa. We tear a piece of poie, that soaks up the gravy. The fluffy omelette and poie do little to douse the spice notes from the Kashmiri chillies and garam masala giving the curry its kick.

Fruit Cocktails Pork chops and Serradura: Our final stop is at House of Llyod, situated on the veranda of his 150-year-old ancestral home. Braganza has thrown over a chef's coat over his shorts and is busy behind the bar. Christmas seems to have come early as we alternate between a green jalepeno-passion fruit cocktail and a vodka-spiked plum and white chocolate. No sugar, juice or additives, the cocktails are blitzed on order. Braganza's food sings a melodious tune, one whose lyrics have been written over years oscillating between struggle and success. In 1996, his first venture was Chopsticks, a Chinese restaurant at Baga, which put him on the Goa culinary map. "I had no culinary degree and brought on board a chef from Royal China in Mumbai, to help. By 25, I had money and luxury cars. Then, I had to shut shop because of losses, " says Braganza. He began at the lowest rung, again, as waiter. In 2003, he opened Lloyds, a five-table Goan and barbeque restaurant in Calangute. Partners drove his business to closure in 2011. "Nerissa coaxed me to give it one more try. It would be my last one, I told her," Braganza recalls. The same year, together they rebuilt the restaurant on the current premise — a tile-roof open-air tent that gives the feel of a garden setting overlooking the heritage property. She took charge of the front of the house, and he revisited his childhood to master family recipes with his mother.

The Juhu outpost. Pic/Ashish Raje

Soul Food: Goan food, says Branganza, is meant to be consumed two days after it has been cooked. The gravies thicken from concentration of flavours. We understand this when we dip a garlic poie into a bowl of bloody red sorpotel. The spares have merged with the spices and transformed the curry with meaty flavour. This dish is one of the most tedious to make, Braganza says. "First, you boil the meat, dice it, and fry the parts separately. After frying the onions, you add the meat that will hold the masala," says Braganza. While it is best served three days later, chef has a serving reserved for himself that is two years old. For the Mumbai outlet, all the house curries and sauces, along with poie, will come from Goa. The most awaited dish — the barbeque grilled pork chops — makes an entry. "This takes me back to my heydays. At Lloyd's, when I fired the grill, people would follow the aromas to order the dish that was smelling so delicious," says Braganza, falling silent when the dish arrives. The meal ends with Marissa's serradura, a classic cream and biscuit pudding. The dry powder is soothed by the creamy condensed milk mush and we lick our spoons clean. We can't wait to have the next serving back home. Mr and Mrs Braganza, welcome to Mumbai.

Chef Lloyd Braganza with wife Nerissa and son Naethan

Also read - Mumbai Food: Chef Raji Gupta's pop up offers flavours from Kerala to Goa

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

When the trailer of Shank’s hit the Internet two years ago, it garnered over 2,00,000 views in under a fortnight. And, why not? Until then we had not really seen stylised montages of modaks and varan bhaat being served in a fine-dining ambience. The trailer had us curious about Ashay Dileep Javadekar’s film, which looked like a documentary. Where is this Shank’s, the Marathi fine-dining place, we wondered. Two years on, with the release of the film online, we have the answers.

The 1 hour, 11 minute-long film, shot on a Canon Powershot and iPhone 6, traces the journey of Shashank Joshi, a man who nurtured and nourished his dream of being a chef, right from his boyhood days in a small town in Maharashtra. We know him, little by little, through his family, especially one cousin he is close to. We know him through his college friend, through food critics and historians, and most importantly, his mentor’s daughter Pauline with whom he has the most extraordinary journey. We see how he had to fight the odds, and nearly give up before he makes his dream a reality.

Bhave in a still from the film

A generous part of the film is made of lush close-up shots of Maharashtrian food that is sure to get Indians, especially those from the state, excited. And for Westerners, well, it’s Indian food like they have never seen before — a far cry from tandoori chicken, paneer masala and dal makhni. The screenplay uses a documentary narrative to tell a fictional story. Javadekar seems to be an ardent believer of the phrase: God is in the details. The care with which each character has been crafted, from dialogues to props and their stories, you forget that none of it is real. That’s also because of the convincing performances the actors bring to the table. Makarand Bhave becomes Shashank, in the controlled passion with which he narrates his story. Playing Pauline Bonnet-Joshi, his partner in crime, is Melissa Ehrlich Blevins. She brings so many moods into her account, from compassion, to vulnerability, excitement, and determination. The supporting cast is also impressive.

Besides telling an absorbing story, Shank’s makes us ponder on questions like how the West perceives Indian cuisine, the importance of educating customers on the food, and also, the gender bias in the industry, a reality that is larger than we wish to acknowledge. Food for thought, quite literally. The film can be streamed seamlessly, at a reasonable price on a pay-per-view platform. Shank’s heroes Maharashtrian food like never before, but, more than that it urges dreamers, aspiring restaurateurs in this case, to make their real voices heard. Minus a few rough edges in production, the film might remind you of Chef’s Table. That’s interesting because when this film was made, Chef’s Table was yet to hit the screen. A word of caution though: Do not watch it on an empty stomach, unless you are looking to work up an appetite.

Log on to: www.njemovies.com
Price: Rs 99

Monday
Soak in some art
Attend an exhibition where artist Kanu Patel will showcase his paintings. His works are influenced by the religion, history, literature and arts of India.
Time 11 am to 7 pm
At Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda.
Call 9825041289
Free

Get a kick
Taekwondo is a semi-contact martial arts form that originated in Korea. Enrol for a summer camp where you can
learn the different techniques that it involves.
Time 9 am
At Natraj Hall, Link Road, Andheri West.
Log on to eventshigh.com
Entry Rs 1,800

Do something to dye for
Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique that is popular in many Southeast Asian countries. Learn how it’s done in Malaysia, where there are no restrictions on the colours you use On the fabric of your choice.
Time 12 noon
At Iteeha Studio, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
Log on to insider.in
Cost Rs 2,300

Tuesday
Deal with it
 An affordable watering hole is celebrating its first anniversary. And it’s offering an unbelievable deal to mark the occasion — get 36 unlimited drinks for just '365. If that doesn’t sound like a deal, we don’t know what will.
Time 9 pm onwards
At BKC Dive, Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex.
Call 8655077330

Mark their words
Poetry is one form of the arts that can truly encapsulate the complexity of the human condition. Attend an open-mic event where new and established talent will read out their verses.
Time 8.30 pm
At Hive at Gostana, Parbhat Kunj, Linking Road, Bandra West.
Call 64533359
Cost Rs 250 (including Rs 100 as cover)

Get a high
Aeromodelling is an excellent way of learning basic science and engineering principles. Sign your child up for a course that teaches them how to build and fly model planes.
Time 11 am
At Quistic Learning Centre, Oshiwara, Andheri West.
Log on to eventshigh.com
Cost Rs 2,500

Wednesday
Eat like a local
Sample some authentic Maharashtrian fare at an eatery on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Tuck into delicacies like aamras puri, katachi amti, dalimbi wal and vangiyacha bhari.
Time 12 pm and 7 pm
At The Bombay Havelli, Maharshi Karve Road, Opera House, Girgaum.
Call 33126813
Cost Rs 1,200

Learn about wine
If you are a wine enthusiast, attend the informative Taste and Learn Series being held at the restaurant of a BKC hotel. A sommelier will teach how to distinguish between different makes of the drink, which will be paired with a curated menu of small bites.
Time 7 pm
At Artisan, Sofitel Hotel, BKC.
Call 8268152599
Cost Rs 3,097

Move your body
Attend a physical movements course that focuses on khel kalari, a body-mind training system comprising kalaripayattu, yoga, mobility and locomotion, breathwork, and voice and chanting exercises.
Time 9.30 am to 11 am, and 4.30 pm to 6 pm
At Hybrid Fitness, Bungalow 34, Janaki Devi School Road, Andheri West.
Call 9967535562
Cost Rs 3,000 for each phase

Thursday
Manage money
Attend a workshop on managing your finances if you’re the sort who regularly find yourself asking, “Where did my all money disappear to?” Learn how to choose the right investment options and define your financial goals.
Time 10 am
At Verbena Brewpub, Lower Parel.
Call 39971886
Cost Rs 2,500

Tell tales
Have a story to tell? Attend a session where audience members are invited to take the stage and narrate interesting anecdotes from their life, be it a hair-raising tale or an incident that makes people laugh out loud.
On 8 pm
At The School Of Thought, Laxmi Industrial Estate, New Link Road, Andheri West.
Call 9819546349
Cost Rs 249

Go back in time
Catch Blackstratblues play a gig that rolls back time to the analogue era. The band is fronted by Warren Mendonsa (second from right in pic), a virtuoso guitarist, considered to be one of India’s best.
Time 9 pm
At Todi Mill Social, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
Call 7506394240
Entry Rs 600

Hear new jokes
The stand-up circuit in Mumbai is choc-a-bloc with a host of established comics and upcoming artistes. Many of them draw their inspiration from life in the Maximum City, meaning their routines are replete with jokes based on, say, Dadar station or vada pav. But if you are looking for something different, attend a gig that features only outstation artistes, who have their own flavour of comedy.
Time 8.30 pm
At The Cuckoo Club, 5AA Pali Hill Road, next to Candies, Bandra West.
Call 9619962969
Entry Rs 250

Catch a play
How does a husband’s quest to get his beloved wife’s sight restored create a stir in the life of an internationally renowned eye surgeon, who has given up his practice? And how does this interesting intersection of three lives play out? Find out at the staging of Molly Sweeney, a play directed by Rehaan Engineer.
Till April 22, 8 pm
At G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture, Mahalaxmi.
Log on to bookmyshow.com
Entry Rs 750

Also Read: Sign Up For The Ideal Weekend Plan

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

Artworks by Mehmet Guleryuz

"I am a representative, a child, a product, of the 1968 generation. I am a witness and a participant, a reactionary and an activist who was shaped by and responded to the changing social and political climate of my times. I have always seen every aspect of that which surrounds us as political, and I have always felt duty-bound to respond to these things as an artist," says Mehmet Güleryüz about the impact of the political climate of Turkey on his creative process. Evident through the fervent strokes seen in his artworks, the 80-year-old artist, one of the biggest names to emerge from the contemporary art scene of the country, has indeed responded to the many changes that have simmered around him over his 55-year career. The artist speaks about his creative journey as an actor, teacher and an artist, with the opening of his first show in the city, On The Road.

How has theatre affected your style of art?
My talent and gift for painting in parallel to that of my love of the fine arts as a whole forced me to take a leap into my simultaneous passion of theatre. You could say that I learned painting in the theatre. The problems that I had in reaction to the classic way in which the arts were taught forced me to make a choice to leave the field of fine arts studies and pursue an education/career in the performing arts. As a result of studying acting studio methodologies and our "emotion works", it also offered the scope where even though one was bound within the guidelines of the script, there was the opportunity to rediscover a new aspect. This gave me the invaluable opportunity to return to painting with my own methodology and vision, to understand what it was that I needed to do in painting. My very nature was open to improvisation, and to a sort of action painting that was in harmony with this sort of an expression and what I could call the foundation stone of my art.

How would you like to reiterate the importance of drawing to upcoming artists?
The act of drawing is open to everyone. It doesn't differentiate nor does it reject or exclude anyone. Everyone can, essentially, draw. The person who is responsible for that line, who can understand that when s/he draws, s/he only gains the identity of a painter after his or her decision to become a master of it.

Could you tell us about the paintings in this exhibition?
Although this is a selection from a different period of time covering over 40 years, it does not cover all processes. It contains only partial information of a very long journey. But at its core, it is always predominantly weighted in the human condition.

Has your journey to India inspired you in any way so far?
For anyone who cannot directly or intimately connect with it, India could be considered tera-incognita. It could be said to contain the unknown, but that which must definitively be discovered and experienced and learned from. Just imagine what this means for an artist, for someone like me. This is an experience which I am relishing and enjoying very much.

Till: April 24
At: Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda
From: April 26 to May 30
At: Jamaat, Colaba
Call: 22820718

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

Redoing your office interiors? Try out some of the must-have elements in office spaces like the right furniture, adding nature to the surroundings and activity based settings. Ishan Thacker, Associate Director, Vector Projects (I) Pvt. Ltd. and Amit Ramani, Founder and CEO of Awfis Space Solutions list some recommendations.

1. The right furniture: This plays a pivotal role in any kind of work space setting. Offices need to invest in the right kind of furniture to increase their employees' efficiency. Opt for something that has high functionality over ordinary designs. Adjustable desks and chairs can be a good choice; multipurpose furniture can also be added to save space. Another new entrant in the space is reconfigurable furniture that can be customized as per need. It provides both the required flexibility as well as privacy.

2. Go back to nature: Add in a little nature to your premises with biophilic designs. The latest trend in the office space, the presence of plants and other natural elements can add positivity within the environment and improve the air quality.

3. Activity-based settings: It is exciting to be at a workplace that engages you with diverse group of people and gives you the opportunity to network and collaborate. Flexible workstations, new age cabins, activity-based settings including comfortable couches and beanbags, breakout zones, meeting lounges and pods are some of the attractions in an office that provide a natural crossroad for employees to meet and share ideas, thereby enhancing their motivation levels and productivity.

4. Ergonomic lighting: Our cortisol level drops significantly under artificial and poor lighting conditions and dimly lit workplaces strain the eyes, causing headache and drowsiness. This can lead to poor productivity. Natural light is the best. Daylight that filters through the space not only affects employee well-being but also boosts the energy and mood level. Consider making the best use of natural light and swap the florescent bulbs with personal lamps, string lighting, and soft coloured bulbs to keep your employees alert and attentive.

5. Aesthetic appeal: Everything from layout, to furniture and even artwork is subject to appeal in a workplace. The idea is to create a transcendental experience for the user and to design a warm casual space that works as an incubator for ideas. Materials like wood and metal bring warmth and rustic feel to the space. Keeping in mind the fact that the office workspaces today are dynamic in nature and are witnessing rapid changes, the workplace style should be bold, industrial and vibrant with new age materials, technology and decluttered design vocabulary.

6. Technology: A modern office space is incomplete without the right technology. Integrated systems, fast-speed internet connections and latest hardware and software are things your office must have to appeal to the incoming tech-savvy generations. Not only that, office can also invest in mobile devices or rather agile settings to help one switch easily from one place as to another. The new workforce prefers more flexibility which will in turn result in enhanced productivity.

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

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Representational picture

While you are upgrading your wardrobe with Summer staples like floral dresses, shorts and tank tops, don’t forget to amp up your style with the perfect handbag. From carry-it-all oversized tote bags to stylish circular bags that are the rage, refresh your wardrobe with the top handbags for the season with tips from Narendra Kumar, Creative Director, Amazon Fashion!

Fringed and tasseled
Fringes and tassels are one of the key trends this season. A leather sling back with flirty fringes makes for the perfect daytime bag but be sure to incorporate just the right amount. For a bohemian look carry a fringe bag with a floral dress. Balance it out by keeping the rest of your outfit simple and straight with basic accessories.

Bucket bags
The bucket bag is an absolute must have in your wardrobe. While the structure is more casual, with minimalist designs and neutral hues, these look sophisticated and chic. Open bucket bags have a thick strap on top whereas closed bucket bags have drawstrings around the top.

Circular bags
Here is a refreshing new trend for Spring-Summer. These circular shaped bags will add a fun and distinctive touch to your whole look. Go for sleek, elegant designs in solid colors. If you are looking for something more casual, get a textured leather bag or denim with patchwork. These are quite small but come in a huge variety of styles.

Oversized tote and hobo
Oversized totes and hobos are the best bags to carry it all! These can easily transition from your work wear to a casual everyday bag. While neutrals work best with formals, a bright oversized bag is all you need for a day at the beach. However, since oversized bags tend to look bulky or slouchy, get a structured one.

Mini bags
Along with oversized bags, mini bags have also become a popular choice. Although these are very small, it can be a statement piece. Mini bags come with cute detailing like bows or buckles in boxy shapes. Pick a pastel colored mini bag with a top handle to carry your basic essentials.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Several years ago, when Dr Karanvir Singh was pursuing his doctorate in the field of applied psychology, he stumbled upon an interesting find. The focus of his PhD was relationships. What he surmised from those years of research and interviews was that "if people enjoyed good relationships with their partner, it also positively influenced and affected other areas of their lives too." But Singh, who now works as a relationship empowerment coach, believes that romantic utopia isn't possible, until one develops a perfect relationship with themselves.

Karanvir Singh

Having conducted over 55 workshops on relationship management across the globe, Singh is conducting a session for singles - My Perfect Welationship - that will equip participants with the right tools to create their happily ever after. The two-hour-long session, which will involve games apart from examination of case studies, will walk you through three main topics.

"First, it's important to define what is a right relationship," says Singh. While there is no ideal relationship, having false notions about love can be detrimental, he adds. Singh will also reflect on the need for "creating an inventory" of the kind of behaviour one is looking for, from their potential partners. "Top on this list is the non-negotiable ones," he says, adding that he will also discuss ways where one can spot the red flag in romance. Lastly, he will suggest ways of breaking the communication barrier. "When communication between two people is more aligned, half the conflicts can be gotten rid of," he says.

WHERE: Ninos Nook, Bhulabhai Desai Marg, Breach Candy
ENTRY: Rs 2,000
TO BOOK: in.bookmyshow.com

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

Smeetha Bhaumik

The poet-artist, for whom this is the second Glo/NaPoWriMo attempt, says, "Platforms like these are precious to a poet, because of the sense of community and writing in unison that they offer. Writing to new prompts every day is a challenge in itself, and an exciting one; I say this because I have seen unexpected beautiful verses emerge out of my pen [or mouse]." For Bhoumik, it's tough to pinpoint where her tryst with poetry began, "I have grown up with poetry as a background motif in an environment of science and engineering that dominated my Bengali household. So, its aesthetics have been with me all along. Though I took up writing much later, it was as if I had written it all my life. It just flowed," she says.

Moonlit haibun writes itself,
silver crescents that speak to silence
often.
On the walls trellises of poetry,
On the night:
Shadows
Of poems
To come

Ritu Poddar

A NaPoWriMo novice, Poddar says for her, the takeaways are many. "This has been the most productive and creative month of my life so far. I learnt that passion alone cannot take you anywhere but, passion combined with discipline can," she shares. Speaking of the challenges she faced, Poddar says, "There were days when I would easily find inspiration or an idea to write about. But on others, even the prompts could not help. I have stayed up all night to ensure I don't break the chain of writing continuously."

Collecting from every corner of my body
Debris of past heartbreaks,
Stench of hoarded guilt,
Leftovers of repeated mistakes,
Scraps of untreated anguish
Digging hard to pull out weeds of hurt
Rooted deep into the memory bed.
Cutting cobwebs of relations I weaved,
Which had turned into fetters.

When Washington-based poet and publisher, Maureen Thorson began the National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in 2003, little did she realise that it was going to turn April into the busiest month for poets across the world? The objective is to pen down 30 poems in 30 days — spurred on by prompts (available on the official NaPoWriMo blog) and a general camaraderie that allows you to find the much sought-after inspiration writers are constantly pining for. Today, this has become a global community, with most preferring to call it Glo/NaPoWriMo. It has found its way into the lives of many Indian poets.  We speak to four of them as the month comes to an end.

Rakhee Panth

Panth quit her job as a school teacher to pursue writing full time. This was her first NaPoWriMo attempt and she says the experience was exhilarating. She began writing when she was 11 and published her first short story at 14 in Children's World Magazine. "Writing is a lonely profession. This forum encourages writers across the world to stay inspired and motivated as a community [albeit virtual]. It is believed that creativity often follows its own graph but NaPoWriMo pushes you to harness your creative energy every day and expand your horizon in a guided manner — something that many writers are hungry for in our country. It helps inculcate discipline and is a creative and fun alternative to structure your writing process," she says.

When rain finally falls
And takes with it
The earth's sorrow,
Winnows its way
Into her heart
And stays,
I will call to you then

When eternity stops
And time stands still
I shall have dissolved you in me

Aashish Vaidya

The blog, which is maintained by Thorson features a participant every day. Aashish Vaidya was one of the few Indians to be named. Originally from Vadodara, Gujarat, Vaidya says that his foray into poetry was encouraged by his grandfather, and began with their affinity for Hindi ghazals. "Ghazal singing is that beautiful confluence of good poetry, good singing and good music. I wrote poems and articles sporadically in high school, and in college, for newsletters and community magazines. But, I can relate to Picasso's quote 'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.' So for many years, the desire to write lay dormant, as the proverbial life happened," he says. Vaidya, who is participating in the challenge for the fourth time, believes its significance is manifold. "It provides this huge nudge to write. And if you tap into the NaPoWriMo blog community, you can also find other individuals around the globe, who are writing. And in many cases, they are struggling to write, like you, at this maddening pace." he says.

But, talking anything rational with them is more
Like 'burning daylight,' or 'whistling up the wind.'
I mean it takes a special someone with,
'Too many cobwebs in the attic,' to believe someone who is
'Slicker than a slop jar or a boiled onion.'
I mean, come on y'all, howdayya believe someone who,
'Knows more ways to take your money than a roomful of lawyers.'

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Give your mother a break from routine, pamper her with a breakfast in bed or a spa hamper for Mother's Day, which falls on May 13 this year. Mikita Laad Gupta, Senior Designer at Bonito Designs and Abraham Santhosh, Head Designer of Elegancia, have shared ways which can help you bring a smile on your mother's face:

1. A day free from the 'Mom routine': Mothers never get a day off from their daily routine and they never complain too. Every mother always has a list of things she needs to do, so why not do it for her? Let her relax at home while you do the grocery shopping, run to the post office, pick up dry-cleaning or whatever else Mom needs you to do. She will definitely appreciate the gesture!

2. Breakfast in bed: The first part of Mother's Day should be her breakfast. A meal ordered from her favourite restaurant. Let her relax and not think about breakfast for everyone at home, because you have already taken care of it.

3. Sparkle up the home for her: Cleaning the house is a huge task for every mother. On this day, help her out by cleaning it before she starts her day. Fix those things that she always wanted to be repaired and make her day.

4. Home decor makeover: Mothers always want to make a change in their house, but they never really get the time for it due to their daily chores and work. This Mother's Day, make her dream come true by doing what she has always wanted to - could be a vegetable garden, or a mini library or a music library or even revamp the sitting room.

5. Pamper her with a spa hamper: Everyone loves a massage, some of them crave for a fresh manicure and pedicure. Some of them have not had a good haircut and colour since a long time. So here's a chance to pamper your mother with a spa hamper and let her have a relaxing day and look pretty as she always should.

6. A photo family tree: Everyone loves to see their old photos. It brings back memories and family tree of photos is the best way to see everyone you love right there. Create a family tree of photos on a wall at home as a surprise for her as she has always wanted to do it but never had the time.

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

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Mothers seem to be almost supernaturally gifted with the ability to instantly lift spirits and make us feel loved and cared for. As International Mothers Day draws closer, let us celebrate their wonderful presence in our lives by making them feel extra special. Satish Kannan, Co-founder and CEO of DocsApp and Ankit Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Wakefit.co give away some solutions that can make your mother happy:

1. Gift her a healthy life: Let her know how much you appreciate her selfless care by gifting her on-demand medical assistance and access to quality medical consultation.

2. Gift her blissful sleep: After a hectic day at work and home, the least your mother deserves is a good night's sleep so she can be fully rejuvenated to face the next day with abundant energy. Help her sleep healthier with a high quality and comfortable mattress that makes her feel more rested in a shorter period of time.

3. Gift her career growth: It is not unlikely that your mother took a professional break to raise you and your siblings. Now that you're all grown up and independent, encourage her to kick-start her career once again.

Here are some more interesting ways to thank your mom:

4. Plant flowers for her: It is time to make the most of the summer season. Buy flowers like lilies, zinnia, marigold and plan them for your mom.

5. Cook her favourite dish: Your mom must be cooking for you on each and every day of the year. But, on Mother's Day, let her take a break from routine kitchen activities and you cook her favouriet dish. Bring all ingredients in advance, make the dish and let her relax and enjoy a delicious meal.

(Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from IANS)

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

Representational picture

Are you someone that likes living life on the edge, from salary to salary, buying something as and when you set eyes on it, without worrying about your savings, and a "dekha jayega" attitude? That may seem cool -- but it's also a short cut to financial disaster. Walnut App CEO and Co-Founder Patanjali Somayaji lists five ways to ensure you don't go broke. Ever.

Download a money management app to track your expenses
If you have never been the type to track your expenses, now is a good time to start. You can download an app that tracks your spends and set a budget, keep a watch on your upcoming credit card and utility bill payments, as well as see how much you owe or have to get from others. This is the first step to getting your finances streamlined.

Make a plan and set goals for yourself
Set short-term (a few months ahead) and long-term (a year and beyond) goals. It could be anything from taking up a new hobby like learning the guitar, to buying a new phone/laptop/camera, getting married, buying a new house or being debt-free by a certain date, and so on. Based on the plan, break it down into quarterly and monthly goals so you know how much to save, how much is safe to spend and so on. Having a plan will give you an overview and much better control of your finances.

Set up an emergency fund
Once you're tracking your spends and have set goals, you know how much money you need to allocate to each of them. You would also get an estimate of your spending pattern and expenses for each month. Based on this, have an emergency fund in place that will take care of at least 6-8 months' worth of living expenses so that in case of a mishap or a loss of job, you don't go broke, and have something to fall back on. You can set it up so that a certain percentage of your salary/income each month is automatically transferred to this fund. It could be in a different bank account, a fixed deposit, or even a liquid fund -- and most importantly, it should be accessible easily and quickly when needed urgently.

Set limits for your spend categories
Take a look at your spends in greater detail to understand where the money goes each month. Assign limits to each of these categories for the month and see how you're doing at the end of the month. This will give you an idea of your lifestyle and if you're spending more than you earn, as well as where you can cut down on unnecessary spends.

Stay debt-free
Credit cards can be extremely useful -- for regular spends as well as during emergencies, and over time, with a good payment history, can boost your credit score too. However, if you're the type of person who cannot pay off credit card bills in full each month or who just pays the minimum amount due, stick to using your debit card or cash, or even a Line of Credit, which has a lower interest rate. Revolving credit on a credit card can be dangerous for your finances, and it can take you several years to repay the entire outstanding amount.

There will always be changes in situations, your current needs and requirements as well as your cash flow, so every 3-6 months, you should re-look at your plan and goals, and modify as needed to stay on top of your finances.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Dress up in light and bright outfits for a summer wedding. At the same time, do not forget to play with appropriate fabrics. To look bright and beautiful, experts suggest minimalistic embellishments and soft Maheshwari and Chanderi fabric for your attires. Designer Sweety Arora, and Renu Rana, Founder at Sihali Jageer, have listed what to wear under the sun, literally.

1. During summer, go with cool fabrics suited to a sizzling day. Think feather-light hand woven silks, fluid modal and cottons. A flowy dress from the traditional Maheshwari cottons and matching Coimbatore cotton silks with Chinese collar will add the extra glam to your look. You can also try Tangail fabrics beautiful cape tops with ikkat pants that look extremely trendy.

2. Colours like pink, blue, and yellow exude charm and tenderness. So, go for delicate pastels, soft maheshwari and Chanderi with a hint of metal, with gold and silver jamdani hand embroidery and booties. It is a perfect synthesis of traditional fabrics for contemporary needs and style.

3. To create an ethnic look, pair chanderi kurta and silver pajama with heavy Dhakai jamdani dupatta. You can also add an angrakha jamdani wraparound kurta over it for a dramatic twist.

4. For a beautiful fusion of traditional and contemporary look, the clothes must blend different styles from various parts of the country, from Rajput to Afghani traditions to our own Indian heritage, thus creating looks which are classy, glamorous and reflect one's signature style and love of colour. This mixture of different influences only helps in creating unique designs, clean cuts and modern style.

5. Rely on breezy prints with minimalistic embellishment.

6. Go for silhouettes that don't bog you down. Go for sheer skirts and wrap tops, cowl dresses, draped saris, light lehengas and anarkalis.

7. Keep your footwear as quirky and off-beat as the rest of your ensemble. Go for customised jutis, or blingy canvas shoes.

8. Invest in nice statement neckpieces and layered neckpieces as they look elegant, comfortable and unique. Try double rings with pearly strings, palm rings and pearl kadah.

9. Try to explore new designs and shapes in bags like bucket bag-inspired potlis, give an indo twist to messenger bags. You can also opt for customised miniature bag packs as those will make you stand out from the crowd.

(Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from IANS)

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

Representational picture

New Delhi: From decor options to the fabrics to colour code, tweaking your decor can help you keep your home feel cool in summer, say experts. Anuj Srivastava, co-founder and CEO of Livspace, and Adarsh Menon, Vice President and Head of Private Labels at Flipkart, share some tips to keep your home fresh and cool.

Decor options: Going Scandinavian is a summer-friendly choice to make. The emphasis is on creating a muted colour palette with clean lines, to allow the space to breathe and eliminate chaos. You can add plenty of greenery to the mileu that will help keep the temperatures from rising. Floating flower arrangements or installing a waterbody at home, along with muting the lighting to cooler options, will also help.

Keep it cool: Plenty of factors, apart from air conditioning, can aid in keeping your home cool. Replace the heavy rugs, blankets and drapes with lighter, eco-friendly materials in fresh colours like white, light blue, pink and green. If you do have an outdoor space, no matter how small, you should clean it up and set up seating options. If space permits, you can even set up a barbeque and move the party outdoors. As far as fabrics go, stick to cotton, linen and sheer materials to keep your home summer fresh. You can also opt for florals in cushions, accent pieces and paintings, or even get fresh cut flowers for the table to brighten up your living spaces.

Pastel palette: Doing up the home furniture in pastel shades adds a tinge of coolness to the eye that finds its way to the mind. Apart from making one feel cooler, pastel colours add that quirky look we so like. These colours can be incorporated in dining table chairs, bean bags, sofa sets, wardrobes and beds.

The forest look: One of the most refreshing looks for the summers is the forest look. Juxtapose the dark wood furniture with green plants. You can go for real or artificial plants and use them at the sides of your solid wood study table, dark wood TV units, bedsides, on top of dining table. For more adorned look, you could cover the flanks of your wardrobes, and even inside the bathrooms.

Cooling gel mattresses: They go a long way in making summers bearable. Gel memory foam mattresses do not trap heat like latex or ordinary foam mattresses. They are made using open cell technology which helps in air circulation resulting in a cool mattress for your comfort. Apart from giving a luxurious feeling, it also gives comfort.

Metallic accents and glass: Use of of luxe metallic touches in home decors is not new. The choice of metallic finish makes a huge difference. Think silver metallic finish with dark accents. It adds oomph and makes the area look neat and clutter-free.

Important tip for all: Invest in trendy, good quality, affordable furniture. When buying furniture, one major concern is durability. In a market that is largely unorganised the assurance of durability is hard to get.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Representational picture

New Delhi: You may not be able to escape the sweltering heat when you are outside, but you can make your home a cool haven by playing around with colours and adding greenery to your walls, suggest experts. A colour palette, when used well, can help in creating a naturally refreshing environment at home.

Peeyush Bachlaus, Head of Marketing at Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd, suggests four decor trends, in hues that range from cool blues and soothing greens to mellow yellows:

For a blissful green escape: Surround yourself with the colours of a secret garden, leaving everything else a pristine white. The colour green is well-associated with nature, allowing a room to feel relaxing to the eyes and refreshing for your mind. When paired with white, this palette can turn a bland room into a welcoming paradise. Green is also one of the easiest colours to adorn your interiors as pairing various shades of green with just about any other colour can work beautifully.

For a breezy haven: Large plants and strong colours are natural decor accents that bring lushness into one's home. This summer, transform your interiors into a cool breezy tropical paradise with the help of verdant aquatic colours with a cheerful palette of cool blues, mellow yellows, bright oranges and lush greens. These colours will make sure that your time home is a breeze and you feel the freshness of an aquatic theme.

For an eccentric summer makeover: Given our busy lifestyles and the sweltering heat to add to it, we all need an escape. Let your home be that much needed exotic escape by curating one area in your home. Mix and match cool blue and violet walls fearlessly, framing it with crisp white accents. Natural materials and details make this a room for all to enjoy. Colours such as blues and whites are cool colours as they help keep our mind cool and relaxed even during the sweltering heat of the summers.

For a refreshing classic look: A carefully curated palette of white and near white tones that form a blank canvas to your artistic home. As a trend, masterpiece white walls are refreshing. Radiant light coming in through the windows is the accent in these calm rooms. Bring artwork to focus by trying out alternative accent wall colours.

Sujit Jain, Founder, Griin, says vertical gardens can transform your dull walls immediately and purify the environment too.
"Vertical gardens not only add to the aesthetic value of the walls but they come with a lot of functional benefits also. The thick vegetation limits the movement of heat and helps to regulate sunlight and temperature even during the hot afternoons that makes it a perfect fit for summer decors.

"Some varieties of plants are also useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings. In addition to this, incorporating vertical gardens in the decor of any building brings a living element to the environment and being around greenery helps in reducing the stress levels also."

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

A habitual wife-beater has landed behind bars for trying to burn down his neighbour's house when the latter tried to rescue the woman during a fight. After the secretary of Shivswaraj Society in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar filed a complaint against the accused Alok Verma, 35, the local cops arrested him.

According to the police, Verma used to often fight with his wife and beat her up while drunk. Speaking to mid-day, secretary Rajgopal Nadar said, "On April 26, Verma reached home inebriated and started fighting with his wife. He even threw the food outside the house and vandalised the utensils inside. Soon after, his son came to my house and begged me to save his mother."

Also read: Couple who are having a baby ask neighbours to cook, do housework for them

Nadar went to their house and tried to stop Verma. "When I was trying to talk to him, he suddenly pinned his wife to the floor and started punching her. I immediately pulled him up and shouted at him, asking him to leave or else I would call the cops," Nadar said.

According to the complainant, Verma felt insulted at being yelled at and in turn threatened Nadar with harm. However, Nadar took his words lightly as he was drunk. Around midnight, the accused returned with petrol and set the door to Nadar's home on fire.

When one of the residents smelled something burning, he went out to check and saw flames had engulfed Nadar's door and window curtains. However, the neighbours rushed to the house with water and managed to douse the fire.

"Initially, we were not aware of how this happened. But later when I checked the CCTV footage from the cameras outside my door, I saw who the culprit was. After that I approached the Pant Nagar police and filed a complaint against Verma," said Nadar.

When contacted, Rohini Kale, senior police inspector of Panth Nagar police station, said, "The accused has been arrested under various sections of the IPC. The matter is being investigated."

Also read: Ex-IAF wing commander's wife found dead at her house in Dwarka

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

More than 3.11 crore voters spread across 17 Lok Sabha constituencies will cast their vote today, in the final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. While voters across North Maharashtra, Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and parts of Western Maharashtra gears up to cast their valuable votes come April 29, a popular restaurant in Malad added its own twist in order to urge its patron and voters to cast their votes as responsible citizens.

While the Mumbai votes today, innumerable initiatives have come up in the city with innovative ways to encourage people to exercise their franchise. However, a suburban restaurant in Malad came up with a cheeky poster to encourage voters to cast their valuable vote.

The cheeky message by Uncle's Kitchen, Malad requests voters to cast their voters on April 29, 2019

Uncle's Kitchen in Malad is a popular eatery and it put up a rather quirky poster on the wall outside their restaurant. The poster on the wall of Uncle's Chicken read, "We will keep our chicks away from you till 6 pm so that you can cast your valuable vote." Thus, urging their patrons and voters in Malad and Mumbai to come out in large numbers on April 29 and cast their vote. They, of course, were referring to their chicken dishes in the witty poster.

Uncle's Kitchen in Malad is a popular restaurant that serves Chinese cuisine and celebrities including Mithun Chakraborty, Raza Murad, music director Pritam, Mohnish Behl and Suresh Oberoi are believed to be regulars.

The right to vote is the gift of democracy. Let's all go out and VOTE!#VoteForIndia#LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/CuzLniWUsn

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 26, 2019

Just two days ago, Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to urge voters to cast their vote on April 29. He said that this year besides him and Anjali Tendulkar, his children, Sara and Arjun too will cast their votes for the first time this election. He captioned the video: The right to vote is the gift of democracy. Let us all go out and VOTE!

The results of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 will be announced on May 23, 2019. You can log on to eci.gov.in for more information.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

WORKSHOP

Do yoga by the sea
Sat, feb 25 & sun, feb 26 Set your mat aside and dig your toes deep into the sand. Listen to the sound of the waves and breathe in the fresh air as you move through energy boosting yogasanas. Taught right on the shore by Shweta D’souza, this yoga class is structured to give you a full body and mind workout.
TIME: 7.30 am to 8.30 am
AT: Silver Beach (beach entrance from Godrej House), JVPD, Juhu.
CALL: 9820401592
COST: Rs 650 per class

PLAY

Witness a strange reunion
Sun, feb 26 Catch a play titled Class of 84, which tells the story of seven friends who belonged to a tight-knit college group from 1979-84. They come together because of the death of their eighth friend. Will the friends come to terms with this death, and, more importantly, themselves, through the course of the evening?
TIME: 8.30 pm onwards
AT: Prithvi Theatre, 20 Janki Kutir, Juhu.
LOG ON TO: bookmyshow.com
COST: Rs 500

ART

For the love of pets
Till today View the work of young artist Manish Bobade, whose love for animals finds expression in his series My Pet. Bobade has created his works in the semi-abstract genre, which showcase dogs, cows, goats and in some instances, birds.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Gallery Pradarshak, 100, Kalpana Building, Plot 338, 12th Road, Khar(W).
CALL: 26462681

Go artsy with humour
Today Attend a talk on art and a demonstration by Sanjeev Sonpimpare at the Bombay Pier Pop-Up. The artist is known for reshaping Mumbai street scenes, middle class protagonists, magazine covers, and advertorial images with a tinge of humour in his works.
TIME: 5 pm to 6 pm
AT: Radio Club, 26, PJ Ramchandani Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba.
Call: 22845025

SHOP

Drop in at a flea
Sun, feb 26 Attend the Big CSR Flea and shop for a cause. The curated flea market will comprise stalls put up by a number of NGOs, women entrepreneurs and start-ups. There will be an array of handmade products to choose from.
TIME: 11 am to 10 pm
AT: Urban Community Development Center, 104/B, 14th Road, Bandra (W).
CALL: 9833984214

Get ready for summer
Ongoing Kolkata-based designer Vedika M brings her latest Spring Summer 2017 collection to Mumbai. The collection, which comes in vivid hues, uses a combination of brush and block printing techniques. Pick from short and long dresses, skirts and jackets.
CALL: 9830020022
LOG ON TO: vedikam.com
COST: Rs 3,000 onwards

FOOD & DRINK

Celebrate Margaritas
Till tues, feb 28 Raise a toast to Margarita Day by celebrating it for a whole week. Paying tribute to the refreshing citrus beverage that is loved the world over, a special menu has been curated to honour iconic women from Mexico. Try drinks named after not just the famous Margarita Carrillo Arronte, but also Frida Kahlo, Ellen Ochoa, Salma Hayek, and more.
TIME: 12 pm to 1 am AT The Good Wife, ground floor, The Capital, Bandra Kurla Complex.
CALL: 40039433
COST: Rs 450 plus taxes for each drink

Take a bite of cheesecake
Ongoing Dig into a new cheesecake menu that includes unique flavours such as Sprinkle Birthday Cake, Banoffee, Ferrero Rocher (in pic), Gluten Free Smores, and the seasonal classic, Strawberry, which features organic Mahabaleshwar strawberries and homemade strawberry jam.
TIME: 7 pm to 1.15 am
AT: Bastian, B/2, New Kamal Building, opposite National College, Linking Road, Bandra (W).
CALL: 26420145
COST: Rs 500 (per slice), Rs 2,750 (full cake)

Try a festive menu
Ongoing Celebrate the Year of the Rooster with a new menu featuring dishes like Beggar Spring Chicken (in pic), Charcoal Grilled Spare Ribs, Wood Baked Spiced Oily Pomfret, and more.
TIME: 6 pm to 1 am
AT: Dashanzi, JW Marriott, Juhu.
CALL: 9769311654

DEAL WITH THE WEEKEND

Be an early bird
Till March 31 Arrive for dinner between 7 pm and 8 pm, and enjoy a 30 per cent off on a dinner buffet featuring soups, salads, starters, main course and desserts.
AT: The Earth Plate, Hotel Sahara Star, Vile Parle (E).
CALL: 39895000
COST: (after discount) Rs 1,610 plus taxes

Shop for a steal
Ongoing Get up to 70 per cent off on the entire collection of 80 designers. Shop from a wide variety of outfits along with clutches and jewellery.
TIME: 10.30 am to 9 pm
AT: Kashish Infioré, Hughes Road.
CALL: 23613111

Go sip happy
Sun, feb 26 Enjoy extra long Happy Hours this Sunday and indulge
in unlimited drinks
such as Apple & Malta Sangria, Watermelon & Mint Sangria, flavoured wines, and beer, all for `899 (inclusive of taxes). Dig into Crab Cakes and Pork Van Dogh.
TIME: 11 pm to 12.45 am
AT: Veranda, Hotel Executive Enclave, Pali Hill, Bandra (W).
CALL: 33126749

COMEDY

Laugh at a ladies' special night
Today Ladies, if you think you are funny and have an opinion about booze, boys, Bobbi Brown or anything else under the sun, register for the stand-up comedy open mic evening, hosted by Kaneez Surka. Not only do you catch her at her best, you also get to attempt to be the next comic star.
TIME: 8 pm onwards
AT: The Cuckoo Club, Mc Ronell's Compound, Pali Hill, Bandra (W).
CALL: 9619962969
COST: Rs 200

Pick the best performer
Tues, Feb 28 Ten stand-up comedians will be trying out new jokes and you get to choose the best performer. All the jokes may not work, but the fun lies in listening to fresh material. The show will be hosted by Hijas Moosa.
TIME: 9 pm
AT: Backstage Cafe and Bar, Andheri (W).
CALL: 98927 20001
COST: Rs 200

MUSIC

Sing along
Thurs, mar 2 Catch Yatharth Ratnum, the winner of the first season of singing reality show, The Stage, at a gig. He will be joined by four other finalists from across the last two editions of the show.
TIME: 8.30 pm onwards
AT: Hard Rock Cafe, Wadia International Center (Bombay Dyeing), Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli.
CALL: 24382888
COST: Rs 750

Catch a tribute concert
Wed, Mar 1 Ustad Zakir Hussain and the SOI Chamber Orchestra will pay tribute to legendary composer Vanraj Bhatia, who is known for his iconic scores in films like Manthan, Junoon, Mandi and more.
TIME: 7 pm onwards
AT: NCPA, Tata Theatre, Nariman Point.
CALL: 24382888
COST: Rs 500 onwards

Tune in to the santoor
Thurs, Mar 2 Immerse yourself in soulful tunes by santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
AT: A concert, being held to raise funds for an NGO. The funds will be used towards promoting the welfare of children.
TIME: 7 pm onwards AT Nehru Centre, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli.
CALL: 24964676
COST: Rs 300 onwards

FOOD & DRINKS

Dig into a Thai feast
Till Mar 5 Take a culinary tour of Thailand with a new menu of Hued Grob (fried mushrooms in Thai black pepper sauce), Gai Yang (chicken leg marinated in curry paste), Koong Phad Kaprao (prawns tossed with garlic), and some interesting rice and noodle preparations.
TIME: 7 pm to 11.30 pm
At: Saptami, Holiday Inn, Saki Naka Junction, Andheri (E).
CALL: 40851800
COST: Rs 1,399 plus taxes

Bake teatime treats
Tues, Feb 28 Learn to make melt-in-the-mouth cookies like Earl Grey shortbread, jam drops, cardamom tea cookies, oat biscuits and the classic Shrewsbury biscuits. These make for the perfect accompaniment to your hot cup of chai, or a delightful gift for a loved one. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the class date and time.
TIME: 10 am to 1 pm
AT: Cakesmiths, second floor, Jatia Chambers, Dr VB Gandhi Marg, Kala Ghoda.
CALL: 30213333
COST: Rs 4,255

Get rid of a hangover
Ongoing Recover from a night of excessive drinking with this special Hangover Breakfast menu. Dig into oven-baked egg white omelette topped with vegetables and cheddar, chicken sausages served with French fries and salad, and even comforting pancakes, served alongside espresso and freshly squeezed orange juice.
TIME: 8 am to 11.30 am
AT: Silver Beach Cafe, Jaldarshan Building, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu.
CALL: 9819966495

SHOP

Dress in your festive best
Ongoing Pick an outfit from Shyamal and Bhumika's Spring Summer 2017 Collection, titled Fragrant Winds. The collection combines Indian silhouettes with patterns of blooms, grasslands and birds.
LOG ON TO: shyamalbhumika.com
CALL: 9833525200

ART

Marvel at the muse
Till mon, Mar 6 Head to a solo exhibition of paintings titled Muse 2, by artist Vijay Belgave. Through his works, he attempts to showcase the beauty of a young, sensitive woman and her thoughts, besides depicting the attachment between young lovers.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
At: Jehangir Art Gallery, MG Road, Kala Ghoda.
CALL: 9820960057

PLAY

Head to the smoking zone
Thurs, mar 2 Catch the play, Dhumrapaan, set in the smoking zone of a corporate building where employees discuss appraisals, politics and all that comes with working in an office. The stress and fears will help you draw a parallel with your own life.
TIME: 8.30 pm onwards
AT: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu.
CALL: 26149546
COST: Rs 300

Holi shakes!
till Mar 15 This Holi, say hello to The Holy Freak! Sip on this tall sinful glass of rabdi churned with vanilla ice cream, cake and milk, layered with special home-made jalebis and topped with colourful sprinkles.

TIME: 9 am to 1 am
AT: D:OH!, ground floor, Unit 2B, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
CALL: 62372829
COST: Rs 299

Shop
Fashion for men
ongoing Gentlemen, give your appearance a touch of glam with the Black collection featuring bracelets crafted in Onyx stone and pure leather, cufflinks, pocket squares, lapel pins and tie bars in quirky designs.

log on to thebrocode.in

Shining stars
ongoing Add some bling to your life with the jewellery from Radhika Jain, which features pendants, necklaces, bracelets and earrings made using handcrafted fibres finished with metallic elements.

AT: FUEL Store, 14th Road, off Linking Road, Khar (W).
TIME: 11 am to 8 pm
CALL: 9831030700

Shoulder talk
till mar 13 Ladies, avail a stylish deal where, for every handbag you purchase, you get a discount of 30 per cent on any mobile pouch and sling bag.
AT All Baggit outlets.

log on to baggit.com

Art
A visual feast
till tues, mar 7 Attend a solo exhibition of abstract paintings by Chandrakant Prajapati. His artworks are colourful, and he uses rollers, bold brushstrokes and knife work to create hidden patterns and shapes.

TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B, MG Road, Kala Ghoda.
CALL: 9825656177

Common lives
starts tues, mar 7 Catch a series of paintings, Living Lines at 360⁰, which is an extension of Ashok Hinge's earlier Living Lines series. This one looks at the
common man and society, including family bonding, friendships and crowded market places.

TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Discovery of India Building, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli.
CALL: 9930103369

Event
Painting party
wed, mar 8 Take your girlfriends, sisters, daughters or mothers and join a painting party with Bombay Drawing Room. Art supplies, a glass of Sangria and an appetiser will be provided.

TIME: 11 am onwards
AT: Raasta, Rohan Plaza, SV Road, Khar (W).
CALL: 9619273009
log on to: instamojo.com
COST: Rs 1,650

Laugh riot
tues, mar 7 Get your weekly dose of laughter from Amit Tandon, the comedian known as 'the married guy' of stand-up comedy. His humour centres on everyday life and issues that affect all of you.

TIME: 11 am onwards
AT: Hard Rock Cafe, Sharyans Audeu, Fun Cinema Lane, near Balaji Telefilms, Andheri.
log on to: insider.in
COST: Rs 500 (Entry) + RS 500 (Cover)

Thali deal
Every Monday Men, this deal is for you. Drop in at Khandani Rajdhani and get a 50 per cent discount on your thalis. Enjoy dishes like Masaledar Puri Bhaji, Zaikedar Paneer Aur Masala Dal Ke Saath Roti Chawal, Karare Farsan, Amdavad Ni Dhokla ke Sath Khatta Meetha Chutney, Crispy Jalebi and Swadisht Rabdi, Rasila Gulab Jamoon, and Halwa.

TIME: 12 to 3.30 pm, 7 pm to 11 pm
AT: All Khandani Rajdhani outlets.
CALL: 65226074 (Ghatkopar)

Garhwali delights
till mar 12 Savour the lost cuisine of Uttarakhand at a Flavors of Garhwal food festival. The food includes Urad Dal Pakodia, Jakhiya Machchi, Mutton Tari, Koda Khichdi, Jhangora Khichdi, Kafuli and authentic Garhwali desserts like Jhangore ki Kheer, Till a Laddoo and Swala Bhangjiri.

AT: JW Cafe, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar.
CALL 28538656
COST: Rs 2,199 plus taxes

Travel
Grape escape
from wed, mar 8 Head out of the city for a grape-stomping break, featuring walks through vineyards, good food, wine tastings and a chance to see how wine is made.

TIME: 11 am onwards
AT: Soma Vine Village, Village Ganghavare, Gangapur-Ganghavare Road, Nashik.
COST: Rs 1,500 per barrel

Perform
Woman, unleashed
wed, mar 8 Attend Devi Unleashed, a unique theatre experience combining monologues, story reading, classical dance and singing, performed by women artistes.

TIME: 7 pm to 8.30 pm
AT: Title Waves, St Pauls Media Complex, 24th Road, Bandra (W).
CALL: 24920482

Genius speak
tues, mar 7 to Thurs, mar 9 Learn about the life of Albert Einstein in this Motley play. Enacted by Naseeruddin Shah, it looks at the spirit of the scientist, who was plagued with doubts and disappointments.

TIME: 6 pm, 9 pm
AT: Prithvi Theatre, 20, Janki Kutir, Juhu.
CALL: 26149546
COST: Rs 500

Search engine giant Google unveiled a special doodle on Holi. The doodle shows a group of children splashing the Google logo with many colours.

According to Google, "Today, the Google letters are taking on a fresh set of colors in honor of the Holi festival. Coinciding with the arrival of spring, the vibrant celebration looks a lot like the Doodle: people run around happily covering each other in a rainbow of powdery hues.

Amid the cloud of red, blue, yellow, green, and everything in between, festival-goers can often be found laughing, singing, and dancing in the streets. The joyous event, which takes place in India, Nepal, and other countries around the world, traditionally marks the triumph of good over evil. It also gives family and friends a chance to simply come together, enjoying a spirited “Festival of Colors” that undoubtedly lives up to its name."

About Holi
Holi is a Hindu spring festival in India and Nepal, also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love", It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

The first day is known as Holika Dahan (हà¥ÂŠà¤²à¤¿à¤Â•à¤¾ दहन) or Chhoti Holi and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.

MUSIC

Melodious tunes
Sun, mar 19 Get enthralled by the music of Rakesh Chaurasia, one of India’s most promising musicians and an accomplished flautist. He blends his flute with mixed instruments. He will be accompanied by Ojas Adhiya on the tabla.
TIME: 7.30 am
AT: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu. LOG ON TO bookmyshow.com
COST: Rs 300

Travelling musician
Tonight Catch Nicolette Gore, a singer, songwriter from Ahmedabad, performing original numbers at a gig tonight. An avid traveller, her songs are inspired from her numerous trips across the country.
TIME: 10.30 pm
AT: Tuning Fork, first floor, Hotel Unicontinental, Khar (W).
CALL: 9833358490
COST: Rs 550

ART

Beauty and nature
Ongoing Catch the latest works of artists Ishaque Ali Sayyed and Avinash Deshmukh, which feature nature, still life and spiritual elements, at an exhibition titled Funne–Hayyat.
TIME: 11 am to 8 pm
AT: Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Worli.
CALL: 9833833149

Recycled furniture
Till sun, mar 19 View a unique exhibition, Installation Furniture, which has 60 furniture pieces divided into three series, Emotional, Recycled and Art. The recycled series uses materials like old tyres, cloth, wood, trees, and chains.
TIME: 11 am to 8 pm
AT: The Art Hub, Atria Mall, Worli.
CALL: 9167221322

WORKSHOP

Yoga for peace
Sun, mar 19 Attend a workshop with Bijay J Anand and learn how to deal with the physical and emotional pain in your life. He will be using Kundalini Yoga mantras and kriyas to lead you on a better path.
TIME: 11 am to 12.30 pm
AT: Arts in Motion, 57, Rajdoot, Khar (W).
CALL: 65533333
COST: Rs 1,000

Droning on
Sat, mar 18 Learn to make drones and quadcopters. You will learn about each component and how they work together, and get to fly the drone you create.
TIME: 10 am to 1 pm
AT: Todi Mill Social, 242, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
CALL: 65110361
COST: Rs 2,500

SHOP

Bridal stop
Till mar 31 Upgrade your wardrobe, especially your wedding collections, at Payal Singhal’s annual sale. On offer is a 50 per cent to 70 per cent discount on all outfits at the store.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Shop No.3, Raj Mahal Building, Altamount Road.
CALL: 65656121

PLAY

The Juhu life
Sun, mar 19 Take a peek into the lives of Balvinder aka Bubbles, brother Goldie Siddhu and sisters Pammi and Smiley, a dysfunctional family living on the 14th floor of a high-rise, Sea View Towers. Despite the location, there are problems in the building and within the family. These issues form the basis of the play, The Siddhus of Upper Juhu.
TIME: 7 pm
AT: TATA Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
COST: Rs 975

Diplomatic treaty
Sat, mar 18 Motley production, A Walk in the Woods, is about two diplomats who take a walk in the woods to achieve a breakthrough in negotiations between their countries. Rajit Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah play the lead roles.
TIME: 7.30 pm
AT: Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Bandra (W).
CALL: 9892585856
COST: Rs 200 onwards

FOOD & DRINK

British brunching
Sun, mar 19 Join this Sunday brunch and enjoy dishes such as Grilled Ham and Salami, Stuffed Omelettes, French Toast, Chicken Tikka, Pepperoni Pizza, Shepherd’s Pie, and Bread Butter Pudding. Sip on craft beer or apple cider.
TIME: 12 pm to 4 pm
AT: The British Brewing Company, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel.
CALL: 65656121
COST: Rs 600 to Rs 1,200

EVENT

Jenga fun
Sat, mar 18 Unwind this weekend over UNO and Jenga contests. UNO will be knockout style while the Jenga games will be one
on one or team-based. Winners get free beers.
TIME: 3 pm to 8 pm AT Reise All Day Bar & Kitchen, Andheri (E).
CALL: 33836086
COST: Rs 300 to Rs 500

Deal with the weekend

Pocket friendly
Today Now, enjoy your favourite cocktails and other drinks at prices starting at just '70. Premium drinks are available for an additional '70.
TIME: 4 pm to 8 pm
AT: All Hoppipola outlets, except Todi Mills.
CALL: 8286089737 (Khar)

Jim Beam day
Sat, mar 18 Groove to the beats of DJ Nikhil while sipping on Jim Beam for just '150, this Saturday. There will be cocktails like Sunrise, Bourbon House, House Side Car and Big Booty available as well.
TIME: 8 pm onwards
AT: The House Gastropub, Bungalow 1, JP Road, Aram Nagar, Versova, Andheri (W).
CALL: 39652955

Happiest hours
Till mar 19 Drink unlimited beer (till your bladder bursts) for only R420 or unlimited Sangria for R899. You can also munch on Chicken Faffa and Caribbean Chicken Strips while you drink.
TIME: 5 pm to 8 pm
AT: Raasta Bombay, Rohan Plaza, 5th Road, SV Road, Khar (W).
CALL: 8655000811

DANCE

Celebrate Kathak
Sat, Mar 25 Watch dancers from Kadamb Performing Unit present Vivarta, a Kathak performance based on Ni-ra-tata-dhang, a composition that narrates the actual bols of the Kathak vocabulary and highlights its classical techniques. It has been choreographed by Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia.
TIME: 7 pm
AT: Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
COST: Rs 200 onwards
CALL: 66223724

EVENT

Take a walk
Sun, Mar 26 Attend a two-hour walk where underprivileged children from the non-profit Angel Xpress Foundation will take you around the Bandstand neighbourhood and offer a glimpse into their lives. The kindness-themed walk has been organised by EverytingOnAPlate and Yash Rane as part of World Insta Meet.
TIME: 3.30 pm
MEETING POINT: Opposite Mannat, Bandra (W).
CALL: 9820246669

EXHIBITION

Trace different strokes
Till Mar 27 Check out a group show titled, Three Visions, showcasing mixed media sculptures by Vishal Rajas, along with paintings by Nilesh Nikam and Shivaji Mhaske. Nikam plays with textures and motifs while Mhaske's works offer a glimpse of ethereal landscapes of Maharashtra.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Jehangir Art Gallery, MG Road, Kala Ghoda.
CALL: 9967440683

MUSIC

Soothe your soul
Tonight Catch a performance by singer-songwriter Shanay Shah to add a soothing touch to your weekend. Apart from Western music, the versatile singer is also known for his renditions of Bollywood tracks and traditional Sufi songs.
TIME: 9.30 pm onwards
AT: Fat Man's Café & Grill, Tian Building, Gulmohar Road, JVPD, Juhu.
CALL: 26254446

Meet Jan Jaani
Sat, Mar 25 Swing to the tunes of singer-songwriter Jan Graveson, also known as Jan Jaani. Her set will be a blend of Alternative, Pop and Rock classics. Howard Pereira will accompany her on the guitar.
TIME: 8 pm onwards
AT: Thalassa, 21st Street, off Carter Road, Khar (W).
CALL: 9820004019

Find your FOMO fix
Sun, Mar 26 Attend the first edition of FOMO Fest and groove to diverse sounds by experimental outfit Bombay Black, singer-songwriter Monica Dogra (in pic) and Electro-Rock group Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator. Meanwhile, Electronic artistes Zokhuma, Chhabb, DJ Beat2, Twisted Bass and Shivani Sawant will spin
Trance beats.
TIME: 12 pm onwards
AT: Razzberry Rhinoceros, Juhu Hotel.
CALL: 7400402604
ENTRY: Rs 500 (12 pm to 4 pm); Rs 1,000 (4 pm onwards)

WORKSHOP

Get a taste of Singapore
Today Learn to make Flat Rice Noodles with Fresh Herbs, Forest Mushroom Rice Spaghetti with Fried Shallot and Chinese-Style Pak Choy and Rice Vermicelli Soup at a Singaporean cuisine demo.
TIME: 5.30 pm
AT: Foodhall, Palladium, Lower Parel.
CALL: 30264581

FOOD & DRINK

Dine in the dark
Sat, Mar 25 If you're keen to do your bit for the planet, participate in Earth Hour celebrations, which also make for a great way to bond with your partner. Enjoy a candle-lit dinner and sip on glow-in-the-dark cocktails.
TIME: 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm
AT: Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, Powai.
CALL: 66927491

COMEDY

Laugh away the stress
Tonight Stand-up comedians Amogh Ranadive, Sonali Thakkar and Abhishek Upmanyu will pull out new jokes from their bag at a special comedy gig. They are best known for their observational and anecdotal comedy.
TIME: 10 pm onwards
AT: Andheri Base, Whistling Woods Sharyans Audeus, Andheri (W)
CALL: 30916003
COST: Rs 200 onwards

WORK

Enter an open house
Today If you're a freelancer, head to the Open House at Todi Mill Social to avail of high-speed Wi-Fi, on-demand printing, office stationery and a 10 per cent discount on membership if you sign up on the spot. You can also participate in networking sessions planned by the team.
TIME: 9 am to 6 pm
AT: Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
CALL: 7045940448

Deal with the weekend

Cool off with hot stones
Ongoing Pamper yourself with spa therapies offered at 30 per cent discount. Opt for a 90-minute Hot Stones Therapy (Rs 4,500) done using volcanic basalt stones, or a 75-minute Rope Massage (Rs 3,500).
TIME: 11 am to 10 pm
AT: Caressaa Day Spa, Peninsula Grand Hotel, Andheri (E).
CALL: 28519191

Enjoy a girl's drunch out
Ongoing Catch up with your gal pals over a lunch, brunch or drunch and avail of 10 per cent discount on the entire bill. Enjoy eats like Rosemary Cottage Cheese Kebab and Salmon In Labb Sauce and sip on Orange Basil Mojito and Sunday Sangria.
TIME: 11 am to 3 pm
AT: Terttulia, Hotel Parkway, Ranade Road Extension, Dadar (W).
CALL: 24468833

Get high on beer
Till Sun, Mar 26 If you love beer, especially Bira, don't miss this offer. For every 330 ml bottle that you buy, you get a 500 ml can free.
TIME: 12.30 pm to 1 am
AT: Reise – All Day Bar & Kitchen, Tarun Bharat Society, Dr Karanjia Marg, near Cigarette Factory, Chakala, Andheri (E).
CALL: 33836086

April 23, 5 PM: Do you believe you have the coolest dog on the planet? Maybe it's time to let the world know that too. Vile Parle's ZooBar is organising Dog's Got Talent, where your mutt can show off his skills right from his obedience levels, fetching ability, turning tricks, love for food, loudest bark or even for simply looking the cutest. The Applausometer will reward the swaggiest waggers in multiple categories, because we all believe every dog's got a talent."

Humans have had enough fun, it's now time for our paw friends to enjoy. This event will see dogs indulging in a lot of games, competitions and delicious canine goodies. It gives pet owners the time and opportunity to take their dogs out and spend some quality time with them and be a great change and source of entertainment for dogs," says owner Nishant Joshi. The highlight of the event will be some summer treats for y our furry friends by K9 professionals, a nice grub by Mutt Hutt, a photo-op and accessories sale.

Go funky with Benny
Dance to the tunes of Benny Dayal and Funktuation this weekend. The band, formed in 2011, has the Bollywood singer on vocals, Joshua Satya on guitar, Carl Fernandez on bass, Alok Merwin on keys and David Joseph on drums. Dayal's popular songs include Badtameez Dil and Daru Desi. He is mostly known for his work with AR Rahman in both Hindi and Tamil.
TIME: 9 pm onwards
AT: Todi Mill Social, Lower Parel.
CALL: 65110361
ENTRY: Rs 500 (includes a beer)

Friday

Catch a tribute gig
Catch the band, The Big If, at a Pearl Jam tribute gig. Relive the early '90s classics like Alive and Jeremy. They also draw inspiration from Alter Bridge and Nirvana. The band comprises Sumeet Menon (vocals), Rohit Murugan (guitar), Kartik Gopalkrishnan (guitar), Aaron (bass) and Chirag Vachcha (drums).
TIME: 10 pm
AT: Tuning Fork, Hotel Unicontinental, 3rd Road, Khar (W).
CALL: 9833358490
ENTRY: Rs 500

Get your Bawa facts right
Ever wondered how the Parsis arrived in India? Do you know the story of Zarathushtra and his disciples? Learn more about the community at a three-day exhibition conceptualised by Cyrus Dastoor. There will be cultural activities, and stalls featuring Zoroastrian books, artefacts and cuisine.
TIME: 6.30 pm
AT: All Bless Baug, opposite Charni Road Station.
CALL: 65069313

The flavour of mint
On the occasion of the first anniversary of Mintageworld.com (an online museum of coins, stamps and currency notes), you can gift them a currency note from your collection, which is not in circulation, and it will be clicked for you professionally.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Stall 69, Numismatics Fair, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade.
CALL: 8976001704

Saturday

Of marriage and bride
Catch the play, Beewion Ka Madarsa, which is about a character named Haneef Mohammed. He did not marry thinking all women are dishonest and they cheat on their husbands but then, life takes a turn. He decides to customise his bride.
TIME: 7 pm at NCPA, Nariman Point.
CALL: 39895050
ENTRY: Rs 300 onwards

Keep it stylish
Attend a fashion styling and design and trends workshop organised by Mod'Art. Popular designer Babita Malkani (in pic), who has been in the field for over a decade will helm the workshop.
TIME: 2.30 pm to 4.30pm
AT: Mod'Art International, Rama Gulab Apts, Subash Road, Vile Parle (E).
RSVP: 9619777841

Revel in poetry
Add a poetic touch to your weekend as award-winning poets including Adil Jussawalla, Jayanta Mahapatra, Keki Daruwalla, K Satchidanandan and Eunice de Souza read from their work alongside prominent Gujarati and Marathi poets. The two-day poetry festival has been organised by Paperwall Media & Publishing.
TIME: 10 am to 5.30 pm
AT: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Chembur.
CALL: 49235008

Sunday

Flavours with a twist
Tuck into a new menu at a restaurant that celebrates the legacy of Irani cafés. The offerings include staples like Boil Egg Sandwich and Bhuna Chicken Sandwich, Bacon Vada Pav, Persian Soup, Crispy Corn Bhel, Khattu Meethu Pumpkin, and innovative desserts and cocktails.
TIME: 12 pm to 1.30 am
AT: SodaBottleOpenerWala, BKC.
CALL: 9892841456

Listen to the expert
Attend a talk by Amol Palekar as the veteran actor, director and producer discusses a new wave in Marathi cinema. He will explore a paradigm shift in the last decade.
TIME: 11 am
AT: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, Byculla.
CALL: 23731234

Soak in art by kids
Landscapes, portraits, still life, flora and fauna and social issues are only some of the many themes you will find at Yellow Canvas 2017, a group exhibition of artworks created by 71 students from across schools in Mumbai. The canvases have been created in various media like water colours, acrylic, mix media among others.
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Cymroza Art Gallery, Breach Candy.
CALL: 23671983

Deal with the weekend

Sip and munch to glory
Ongoing Avail a flat 20 per cent discount on all food and beverages at a newly launched restaurant. The menu includes appetizers, juicy burgers and sandwiches. You can also dance to the beats of the in-house DJ.
TIME: 12 pm to 1 am
AT: Nerve, Hill Road, opposite Le Reve (Globus), Bandra (W).
CALL: 9930008049

Add to your collectibles
till april 23 Replenish your wardrobe at a thrift shop for a cause by Back Alley. There will be pre-loved products including crockery, home décor, gift items, western and ethnic wear up for grabs. The initiative is by Radhika Dhawan and Maya Bhogilal Goyel.
TIME: 11 am to 3 pm
AT: Ave 29, Kohinoor Mansion, 29 Hughes Road.
CALL: 23804981

Grab a meal between work
ongoing Taste the 'Working Lunch Menu' at a five-star by chef Shadab Qureshi. The planned luxury meal will feature the chef's delicacies from the North West Frontier.
TIME: 12 pm to 3 pm
AT: Jyran-Tandoor & Dining Lounge, Sofitel, BKC.
CALL: 8268152597
COST: Rs 1,500 (veg), Rs 1,700 (non veg)

Friday

Laugh out loud
Kick-start your weekend with a stand-up special by Jeeveshu Ahluwalia. His jokes sway between the amusing life of chubby people, and his failed attempts at pleasing his over-optimistic mother.
Time: 8 pm at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chowpatty, KM Munshi Road, Grant Road West
Log on to: bookmyshow.com
Entry: '540 onwards

Shop till you drop
Get ready for the festive season as 17 designers and brands showcase apparel made from khadi, silk using ikat, jamdani, shibori and other techniques. You can also find accessories and home décor items at this two-day event.
Time: 11 am to 7 pm
AT: Tranceforme Designs, Laxmi Mills Estate, off Dr E Moses Road, Mahalaxmi
Call: 24939916

Groove to live performances
Listen to Arunaja aka Ammu, a gospel-inspired vocalist from Kochi, who is currently on the TV show The Stage 2, singer/songwriter Vedant Joshi and Vikram Nathwani aka DJ Mark IV.
Time: 8.30 pm
AT: Luca, Todi Mills, Lower Parel
Call: 49714450

Saturday

Watch the story of Gandhi
How did Gandhi become the Mahatma? What impact did his days as a barrister in South Africa have on his philosophy of peace and non-violence? Gandhi — The Musical, about the journey of the Father of the Nation, has the answers.
Till: August 15, 7.30 pm
AT: Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA
Cost: '500 onwards
Call: 22824567

Craft your own rakhi
Instead of store-bought rakhis, how about giving your brother a sweet surprise this Rakshabandhan with a handmade creation? Take inspiration by exploring the colours, patterns and designs at this museum's permanent collection. Pay for the entry ticket, while the activity and all materials come free.
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
AT: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, Byculla East
Call: 23731234

Start clicking
Sign your little ones up for The Secrets of Still Lives, an art-cum-photography workshop. It will begin with an interaction with artist Shahid Datawala (whose works are on display), followed by a photography exercise on capturing everyday objects in a surreal way.
Time: 11 am to 1 pm age group Eight to 11 years
AT: TARQ, Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Colaba
Call: 66150424
Cost: '1,000

Sunday

Go for Lalbaugcha tour
Explore the history, culture and secrets of Lalbaug including a hidden agiary, temple of the buffalo god, the oldest dargah in Mumbai and more at a walk by Khaki Tours.
Time: 8 am
Starting point: Gundecha Gardens Gate, Godrej Gas Compound, Lalbaug
Call: 8828100111
Entry: '644

Dine with your bestie
This Friendship Day, spend a laid-back Sunday with your best friend by sharing punch bowls and comfort food such as Chocolate Gluten-Free Pancake and Waffles and Rocky Road Waffle (in pic).
Time: 7 pm to 1.30 am
AT: One Street Over ground floor, 35th Street, off Linking Road,Khar West
Call: 26002224

Raft through Kundalika
Pack your bags for a river rafting trip on the river Kundalika in Kolad. The organisers have also added archery and Burma bridge to the agenda.
Time: 6.30 am (meet at Kala Nagar junction, Bandra East)
At: Kolad
Call: 9867952811
Cost: '2,350 (includes transportation and tea and snacks)

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
U/A: Animation, Action, Adventure
Director: Dean DeBlois
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Rating: 

The much-awaited Hiccup and Toothless' return to the big screen may not be as scintillating and effortless as the first two editions but it's certainly no slouch in terms of form and technique. The cutesy appeal of the ameliorating animation craft adds to the poignancy developed on the unlikely pairing of a rare Night Fury dragon with a brave young Viking. This CG animated feature that finds its inspiration in Cressida Cowell's children's books, is as vividly artistic as its predecessors and culminates in an emotionally resonant finale that apparently puts the cap on any further sequels in the offing.

The storyline finds Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Chieftain of the tribe, having taken over the title from his late father, Stoick (Gerard Butler) - alongside the fearless Astrid (America Ferrera) and his newly found mother Vulcan (Cate Blanchett), engaged in the noble pursuit of freeing caged dragons and bringing them to the Isle of Berk. But the villainous Grimmel (F, Murray Abraham) is hell-bent on destroying their new-found tranquillity – so the tribe agree to leave in search of their Hidden kingdom, with Grimmel hot-on-their-heels, in pursuit. Amidst this hullabaloo, enters a new pure white lioness known as the Light Fury and she catches Toothless eye, and they engage in a hide-n-seek courtship that forces Hiccup to reassess his own abilities and his relationship with his favourite dragon.

Check out the trailer of How To Train Your Dragon:

Returning director-screenwriter Dean DeBlois, with able help from visual consultant Roger Deakins, presents an opulent harvest of computer-generated visuals – exquisite in details, bathed in a light and shadow so dramatic as to look almost heavenly. The eye-pleasing look of the Light Fury, the mating dance sequence between Toothless and his new love, the flickering flames, the resplendent panoramic and scenic views from the skies are all rendered with an unerring artfulness that is simply splendid to behold. Forget the ennui borne from a repetitive and familiar plotting. This one has the power to give flight to your imagination!

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Five Feet Apart
U/A: Drama romance
Director: Justin Baldoni
Cast: Cole Sprouse, Haley Lu Richardson
Ratings: 

Justin Baldoni's film latches on to cystic fibrosis (CF) for its cause, and makes two teens go through the motions of suffering from the disease to develop its romance and effect. CF is a disease that makes its victim struggle for every breath. Those suffering from it rarely survive beyond the age of 10. So, of course, go ahead and blame advances in modern medicine for allowing the two protagonists to live on as teenagers.

They obviously can't risk any infection, and more so from the disease's fellow-sufferers, who are considered high-risk. At all times, they are meant to be separated by latex gloves; no touching, and six feet between them, at all times. The villain here is the disease; not parents or society.

The first rule to be violated is that of the distance. It conveniently becomes five feet, at the heroine's suggestion. Though the film's main premise is about keeping the protagonists interested and engaged in each other, despite their restrictions, it takes plenty of liberties while trying to establish their connect. They even break away from the hospital's restrictions and risking death when heading on a freakish date in snowy conditions. While they cavort in the snow with no care, viewers hold their breath watching their tragedy unfold amidst compulsive melodrama.

Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) treats the hospital as her second home. She is aware of her disease, stays strictly within her regimen, and looks forward to extending her life (through a lung transplant that offers her five years) while carrying the hope that a new cure may be developed. Her best friend Poe (Moises Arias) is back in the hospital and has his own relationship problems to grapple with. Will (Cole Sprouse), another teenage CF patient, receives an experimental drug to take care of his B-cepacia infection. While Stella is hyper-cooperative with those treating her, Poe and Will cope differently. Will, a cynic and rebel, is persuaded by Stella to keep up with his regimen. Of course, you know where this is going to end, but Baldoni lays on a few surprises along the way.

The director may have gotten his inspiration for this film from his documentary titled My Last Days, about the terminally ill. Reportedly, screenwriters Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis developed it further while Rachel Lippincott churned it into a best-selling novel later. Baldoni kick-starts the narrative with no-nonsense flair, zooming in on Stella and her friends as they party before she must return to her dreaded hospital routine.

Baldoni and cinematographer Frank G DeMarco keep the narrative bright and cosy, straying away from medical restrictions to chart a course that has the young hopefuls straining at every bit. The production design makes the setting look luxurious; unlike regular hospital set-ups. The actors are amiable; able enough to gather empathy without going heavy-duty about their woes. This is a genre flick meant to ply on your sympathies and does the job efficiently.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

To increase efficiency, effectiveness of patrolling and to give the city's foot soldiers some much-needed rest, the Mumbai police department has decided to adopt a new duty pattern.

Under the new pattern, the constabulary and officers will have to work 12 hours post which they will get a 24-hour break. Apart from doctors and health workers, cops too have been busy fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline. However, after constables (three already) started losing their lives to COVID-19, the top brass decided to set up a new duty pattern.

Accordingly, a new 12-hour shift has been introduced in the force. In this, personnel at police stations will be divided into three units, each working a 12-hour shift. "Duty will start at 8 am and end at 8 pm, when the next batch will come for night duty," a senior police officer said. "Whichever cop finishes his/her 12-hour duty at night, they will go home and come back to work the next day at 8 pm," added the officer.

This duty pattern will give each officer rest of a good 24 hours. "Even if this duty looks like 12 hours, a lot of multitasking is expected on this job as it includes patrolling, nakabandi and other activities. This makes cops new duty timings doable in such tough situations. As there are hardly any crimes happening in the area, the duty load has reduced," another a senior police officer said.

"Also, when an officer or constable gets more than 12 hours off, they can look after the families and their own health which will improve their immunity," the officer added.

Out of 94 police stations, 74 have adopted the new duty pattern and the rest will follow. "This duty pattern does leave me with a smaller force, but it reduces their exposure to the virus. As a frontline worker, we can't think about avoiding crowded places, but we can be well prepared for it," a senior Inspector from Eastern Region said.

"We have given instructions to all Zonal DCPs to chalk out a plan which will give a 12-hour duty and 24-hour rest to cops. We have to take care of our men, too. Currently, feedback from cops is good," Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh said.

Third cop succumbs to COVID-19

A third cop has died from COVID-19, taking the casualty toll among city cops to three. Head Constable Shivaji Sonawane, 56, attached to Kurla Traffic division, died on Monday. He was turned down by four hospitals on April 21, when his 25-year-old son tried tp get him admitted. Sonawane, a resident of Kurla's Kamani area, had a fever since April 20. The GP gave him medication and advised him to visit a hospital if he did not get relief. His fever did not subside and he started to feel breathless.

Sharad, Sonawane's son, took him to Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, on April 21, to get him admitted, but was told to take him to Kasturba. He was turned out at Kasturba, over no beds and at Nair and KEM too. Finally, it was after Kurla traffic division in-charge spoke to the Bhoiwada senior inspector that Sonawane was admitted at KEM Hospital.

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