Mumbai: Compound wall collapses near Kurla railway station; 4 injured
The compound wall collapsed at Kurla railway station near platform no 1 at 9.45 am on Friday. The Central Railway is not affected and trains are running as per schedule. According to Dr. Poonam, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bhabha hospital, 4 people suffered minor injuries.
The injured identified as Siraj (30), Lakhan Khatal (29), Laxman Patil (40) and Amir Kasin (58) are all stable.
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
BJP MLA Ram Kadam on 'elope' remark: Being quoted out of context
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ram Kadam has issued a clarification on his 'elope' remark and said that his statement was quoted out of context.
The BJP MLA from Ghatkopar constituency faced a backlash after a video of him where he can be reportedly heard saying that he would kidnap a girl even if she refuses a proposal from a boy and help him elope with her, surfaced on media.
Clarifying his stance on the issue, Kadam told ANI, "A 40-second incomplete video is being circulated by opposition leaders. I would only request them to listen to my complete statement. If my statement has hurt anyone, I won¿t mind expressing regret for the same."
"My statement is being quoted out of context. At that event, I said that all youngsters whether it be a boy or girl should take their parents" in confidence before marrying. If they elope without taking their permission, the parents feel disheartened and it is very wrong to disappoint your parents. After saying so I took a long pause and someone from the audience said something which I repeated on the mike. I also kept speaking after that as well but it was not reported. If I had said anything objectionable, it was being live telecasted and there were a number of journalists present at the venue and someone would have pointed it out. But no one raised an objection because they had heard me completely. To find the true meaning of an address one must listen to it completely," he added.
The BJP MLA made the statement during a 'Dahi Handi' festival organised in Mumbai on the auspicious occasion of 'Janmashtami' on Monday.
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
R.K. Studios sale: Rishi Kapoor reveals why they took the decision
The iconic R.K. Studios set in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, Chembur is up for sale. The Studios was built by the late filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, the scion of the Kapoor family. Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, her father Randhir Kapoor and uncle Rishi Kapoor have spoken about this huge "emotional loss". R.K. Studios was gutted in fire on September 16, 2017, which burnt the living memories of the late Raj Kapoor and films made under that banner.
Talking about the Studios's sale, Rishi Kapoor spoke to Mumbai Mirror about the strength they had to gather before taking this descision of letting go of their memories. "For a while, we did juggle with the idea of renovating the place with state-of-the-art technology. However, in reality it isn't always possible for a phoenix to rise from the ashes. We Kapoors are very emotional lot but then..."
"The investment in rebuilding the Studios would just not have yielded sufficient revenue to keep it going. Believe me, we had to take the larger picture into account and take a level-headed decision. Even before the fire, for years R. K. Studios had become a huge white elephant, toting up losses. The few bookings we would get from films, TV serials and ad shoots would expect free paR.K.ing space, air-conditioning and discounts," told Rishi Kapoor to the publication.
The report also states that the main reason behind selling the Studios is that it is located in Chembur and no longer favoured by the filmmakers, who mostly build their sets at Studios in Andheri and Goregaon's Film City.
"We brothers are strongly bonded. But who knows about our children and grand-children? What if differences crop up in the next generation? The Studios would only end up in litigation as so many industrial and textile estates have. There would be family differences and only lawyers would end up charging heavy sums of fee. Do you think my father would have liked to see his labour of love becoming the subject of courtroom proceedings?" elaborated Rishi Kapoor.
Reminiscing the memories of the famous R.K. omelette sandwich and ginger tea from the Studios, he said, "True, there are so many wonderful memories there. So much film history, but that would be like clutching on to straws in the wind."
When asked by the tabloid if there were any mixed feelings, he said "Not really. We had to place a stone on our hearts (Chhati pe patthar rakkhar, soch samajh kar decision liya hai)."
Films like Awara, Mera Naam Joker, Aa Ab Laut Chalein, Henna, Bobby, Boot Polish and many other films have been shot at the iconic R.K. Studios.
Also Read: Bollywood Celebs 'Heartbroken' Over Sale Of RK Studios
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
Bollywood celebs 'heartbroken' over sale of RK Studios
The Kapoor family's decision to sell off the iconic R.K Studios set in Chembur, Mumbai has left Bollywood 'heartbroken'. The sprawling landmark was built 70 years ago by veteran actor Raj Kapoor. It was reported that the family has collectively decided to let go of the property.
Reacting to the same, veteran actor Annu Kapoor, who shot 'two important films there' said, "It's very heartbreaking since it's an iconic place." Another yesteryear actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, opened up about the same and said, "I am sure there must have been some reason why they have decided to take this step. I cannot say if the decision is right or not since I am not at their position. I would just like to say that the places and studios with which numerous memories are attached should not be touched."
Paltan star Arjun Rampal said he felt lucky to have shot there multiple times. "It's up to the family to take the decision. It was an iconic studio, it still is, and I hope it remains," he added.
Bollywood producer Mukesh Bhatt, on the other hand, welcomed the Kapoor family's decision. "Change is a part of life. We should welcome it. Let the old go, let the new come," he noted. Many hit films including Barsaat, Awaara, Jagte Raho, Shree 420, Sangam, Bobby and Prem Rog were shot at the RK Studios. Last year in September, a massive fire broke out at the studio, leaving a part gutted.
In September last year, a major fire broke out on the sets of a dance reality show, leaving a section of the studio gutted. The Kapoor family has taken the tough decision of selling the two acres RK Studio 70 years after it was established as it was not economically viable to rebuild it after it was gutted down in a fire last year.
Also read: Kapoor family to sell iconic RK Studio, Kareena Kapoor Khan nostalgic
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
Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from ANI
Mumbai Food: New eatery in Ghatkopar is a delight for vegetarians
Ghatkopar has some great food destinations for vegetarian patrons. So when Vedge XPRS, a new Quick-Service-Restaurant (QSR) opened its shutters at Ghatkopar's R-City Mall, we decided to check it out.
The Vedge XPRS offered a vast menu comprising the best of vegan food, including options for Jain guests.
Vedge XPRS serves some delicious quick bites ranging from soups, street food, pizzas, combos, shakes and much more
Humble beginnings…
We tucked ourselves into one corner of the food court and ordered some fries and signature nachos on the recommendation of manager Prathamesh. The Fully Loaded Nachos (Rs 265), their signature dish was crunchy with a generous amount of cheese topping, which made the dish a delight, especially for a nachos fan. The animal style fries (Rs 199) came next with five types of toppings - Peri Peri, Sriracha Mayo, Orange Garlic to name a few. Spoilt for choice, we opted for Jalapeño cheese. The potato fries were fried until lightly golden to make them crispy and topped with finely chopped Jalapenos.
Off coolers and pizzas
Next up, we tried our hands at Con Le Verdure Arrosto (Rs 285), a thin crust pizza. The piping hot 9-inch thin crust pizza was laden with loads of veggies and cheese. With every bite, the pizza just got crunchier and tastier. We surely recommend this one! The chilled coolers we ordered to compliment the pizzas arrived on our table. The Raw Mango (Rs 105) cooler was a soothing experience after our tryst with the fiery fries and nachos, while the Peach Ice Tea (Rs 185) was a refreshing twist.
Choose from different combos on offer or opt for some authentic Indian street food, Chinese dumplings, and more to satiate one's hunger pangs
Dealing ‘In’ combos and pasta's
It was time for the main course and we opted for a Soup Noodle Combo (Rs 510) that consisted of Man chow soup and wok tossed noodles cooked in burnt chilli basil sauce. The generous portion good enough for two average eaters was served piping hot. We mopped up the dish quickly and went for a Penne Pasta (Rs 255) in a pink sauce. Along with the pink sauce twist, the outlet also offers two other funky options in pasta, cooked in white and red sauce.
We were put away by the colour of the dish and the taste of the pasta also did not meet up to our expectations. We would not recommend this variation of the Italian pasta.
Shaking with ‘Shakes’
We finished our meal on a 'sweet' note by going for their signature shake, the Chocolate Hazelnut (Rs 190) and an Oreo Cookies (Rs 185) shake from their ‘Shake It Up - Shakes’ section of the menu.
You can even choose to have some chilled coolers and shakes as you shop till you drop at R City Mall in Ghatkopar (W)
Our view
The restaurant offers mouth-watering quick bites at affordable prices with a variety of choices ranging from soups, street food, pizzas, combos, shakes and other popular food items. If you are a foodie and love delicious vegetarian cuisines, then Vedge Xprs is a fabulous place to be.
Where: 3rd Floor, Food Court, R City Mall, LBS Marg, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai
Meal for two: Rs 600 to Rs 1,000
Alcohol served: No
Contact: 022 25175500
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
16 Bhandup schoolkids vomit their way to hospital after mid-day meal
The civic body just can't seem to get its mid-day meals right. It turned out to be a poisonous Thursday at Bhandup's Sahyadri Vidyamandir, after 16 students and a teacher landed in hospital with complaints of stomach ache and vomiting on eating the dal rice served in the school yesterday. While all are stable now, it has once again raised serious concerns over the meal scheme.
The trigger
Though Sumit Dongarkar's mum packs a tiffin for him every day, he looks forward to the brunch served in school, and Thursday was no different, said his mother Sonali, as he loves dal rice.
The 13-year-old and his friends ate the meal with relish during the recess at 9.50 am, but shortly after, trouble started. At first, a Std VII student began vomiting, but soon, more complained of stomach ache and nausea. After other students began throwing up, the school authorities rushed 16 of them, and a teacher, Vidya Lad, who'd tasted the food as per protocol, to Mulund Agarwal Hospital. Sonali Dongarkar said, "Sumit is doing fine now and is under observation."
Who's responsible?
School authorities said that for the last one and a half year, around 700 students have been eating the meals prepared by Lingeshwar Mahila Bachat Gat. Parents told mid-day that VII-C is the first to receive the food every day, and while 16 from the class of 40 took ill, others remained unaffected. "Everybody is stable now. But this has shaken the kids and our trust. Who will take the responsibility for it?" asked Aruna Poojari, a parent.
Another, Aditi Naik, said, "My son, Krish, had a nasal tube attached for a while. He is okay now, but I am going to tell him not to have the meal again." Several parents complained of being kept in the dark about the incident. "The school finishes at 12.30 am. When I went to receive my daughter, she never came out. Then, a friend of hers told me what had happened. I felt dizzy on finding out, but I rushed to the hospital," said Lalita Shinde.
Hospital dean Dr Usha Mohprekar said, "All are stable now. We have moved them to the general ward for observation. Prima facie, it looks like food poisoning. An inquiry will be conducted."
Sampling the fare
Principal Narsingh Mane told mid-day, "The staff were prompt in giving required care to the sick children, all from one division. The food had come from Lingeshwar Mahila Bachat Gat, which has been providing it to us for a while now. So, we are not sure what went wrong. Samples of the food have been submitted to authorities for testing."
BMC education officer Mahesh Palkar said, "We have collected raw as well as cooked food samples from the kitchen of the organisation. The kitchen looked neat and tidy; nonetheless, experts will test the samples to end the inquiry conclusively. Until the investigation report is out, we have ordered the organisation to not supply food; its contract with the civic body will be subject to the probe report.
"The organisation provides mid-day meals to 25 other schools in the vicinity. So, while the investigation is on, all these schools will have to make alternative arrangements."
Also read: 25 students fall ill after consuming mid-day meal at Delhi school, hospitalised
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
Mumbai's banker-turned-singer Ameya Dabli performs for Indian Army jawans
Earlier this year, while performing at a military training centre in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, singer Ameya Dabli recalls receiving a disturbing piece of news from the army chief Lt Ranbir Singh. Four terror attacks had taken place at a nearby hillock on the same day. The hill, as he soon learnt, was located less than a kilometre away from the centre.
"The chief said to me, 'Don't worry. We will protect you'. This one reassuring line was enough to allay our fears in that high tension zone," he says. Dabli and his team of musicians went on to deliver a power-packed two-hour performance regaling the audience with musical compositions of poems penned by Kabirdas, Guru Nanak, Amir Khusro and Tulsidas. "We didn't realise how those two hours flew by. You see, that's the power of music," he says. Since then, Dabli has performed at several other conflict regions of the country, including eight districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and four in the Northeast.
Singing for peace
It was three years ago that Dabli, a Bhandup resident, conceptualised Ekam Satt, which are essentially pro bono concerts curated for the Indian Armed Forces and civilians, in order to not just motivate jawans, but also bring peace. Born in a family of music lovers - his mother Anuradha Dabli is a trained classical and light music exponent - the 38-year-old was inducted into singing from the age of seven. "But, the idea to use music as a peace building tool was something that took shape during my last stint as the marketing head of Ronny and Zarina Screvwala's Swades Foundation. Here, I got the opportunity to interact with a lot of non-profits," he says.
Dabli, who holds a robust 15 years of corporate experience as marketing head with the Tata Group, HSBC and Citibank, now straddles a music career along with a venture where he mentors start-ups and NGOs to start their businesses. Till date, he has performed over 1,500 concerts across 15 countries. "Initially, it took us a good six months to curate the songs for Ekam Satt, because we wanted it to be a good blend of sufi, folk and contemporary music. We even got RS Mani, the music arranger of Veer Zaara to help us. But now, it's seamless," he says.
While Dable's pieces comprise the works of legendary poets such as Mirabai, Narsinh Mehta, Khwaja Garib Nawab and Tukaram, the songs are infused with peppy global music styles like hip hop, reggae and opera to make it livelier. "When we approached the Army headquarters in New Delhi with the concept, they loved it and immediately asked us to come on board," he says.
On the shaadi front
Interestingly, Dabli is also a sought-after name when it comes to weddings and sangeet and has performed at the glitzy wedding of Sasha Rawal - sister of Bollywood's leading fashion designer Kunal Rawal - and Samarth Bajaj, and very recently, the engagement of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal. He has also organised gigs for Kumar Mangalam Birla, David and Lali Dhawan, Aditya Birla and Adi Godrej. "It's not the typical shaadi scene. My forte is the pheras, something that most people don't pay much attention to," he laughs. "I perform something called the signature wedding chants, where I don't just recite mantras, but also provide explanation of the vidhis or rituals," adds Dabli, who perfected his Sanskrit under the tutelage of his father, Professor PV Dabli, a scholar in the language.
Dabli says juggling his entrepreneurial venture with his musical endeavours does test his ability to multi-task. "Sometimes, I don't know which one to focus on more. But that's what happens when you love whatever you do equally," he smiles.
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
Mumbai: As Bhandup turns crime hub, senior cop sacked
With eight murders in seven months, 10 attempt to murder cases and hundreds of incidents of assault, gangland has taken over Bhandup. Fed up with Bhandup police's inefficiency, the top brass shunted out Senior Police Inspector Shrinivas Panhale to the Local Arms division on Tuesday. Ramesh Khade has been posted as the new senior Inspector of the police station.
A week ago, Bhandup was rocked by the brutal murder of 17-year-old Sushil Verma. The Std XII student was killed by a group of teens right outside his college in broad daylight on July 26. While the cops arrested three suspects, the murder sparked a debate about inefficient policing.
Senior Police Inspector Shrinivas Panhale
"We consistently told the cops about the situation turning from bad to worst in Bhandup, but they didn't pay any attention. This resulted in the murder of a 17-year-old, which could have avoided by increasing patrolling," said Ramesh Khanvilkar, Director of RK BEd College, Bhandup. "Due to the police's lethargy, addiction among youngsters in on the rise," he added.
A public meeting was organised on August 2 to discuss the rising crime. Politicians across parties urged the police to take action against Matka rackets active in Bhandup. Residents urged that rigorous policing is key to reducing the crime rate. Sanjay Dina Patil, ex-MP from the NCP, said, "Bhandup is becoming a den for drug peddlers; the police must act to prevent any future incidents."
More money and 'bhais'
The new senior PI now faces the challenge of cleaning up crime in the growing suburb. There are 15 lakh residents in this jurisdiction, a majority of whom live in illegal hutments. Two year ago, the police had started a special drive against gangsters, and found three gunny bags of swords in the forest on the hillside.
A policeman who had earlier served as a senior police at the Bhandup police station, said, "In Bhandup, there is a lot of SRA work, which has brought money to the area. This has become a catalyst for youngsters to turn gangsters. Increasing hutments on the hills makes it more difficult for cops to enter as well." "In such a situation, the police have to physically start patrolling the area, which will curb crime to some extent, and reduce the flow of narcotics — mainly ganja — in the pipeline area," the officer added.
Since last year…
Shrinivas Panhale had taken charge of the Bhandup police station on May 20, 2017, but couldn't manage to curb crime or drug flow. According to police statistics, last year, till August, not a single murder had been reported, while three cases of attempt to murder were filed. But this year, eight murders and 10 attempts to murder have been registered in the same period.
Murder central
July 26: Sushil Verma was killed by teen over an affair with a girl.
May 3: Birbal Gupta killed his wife Neha in front of their kids after an altercation over attending a wedding
April 24: Ganesh Padekar, 45, murdered a 30-year-old who had thrown garbage on him
March 25: Naresh Shetty, 27, out on bail, was murdered over a love affair
March 24: A 17-year-old stabbed Ramji Rajbhar, 27, when he objected to the minor blowing cigarette smoke on him
March 18: A vegetable vendor and his two sons were killed after a fight or where to set up their stall
Also Read: Sacked cop posed as policeman to extort money from couples at Aksa
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
Mumbai: Man lies on railway track in suicide attempt at Kurla
A 54-year-old man on Monday attempted to commit suicide at Mumbai's Kurla railway station. The incident took place at around 1:30 pm when the man suddenly jumped off and lied on the railway track.
The man was saved by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and other co-passengers.
The man said that he was fed up with family issues and which is why he tried to commit suicide. Later on, the man was handed over to his family after police verification.
Watch Video here
#WATCH: A man was saved by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel & other passengers after he attempted to commit suicide at #Mumbai's Kurla railway station. (30.07.2018) (Source: CCTV) pic.twitter.com/6Yz5WB2Tsw
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2018
Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from ANI
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
Mumbai: Man tries to save dog, gets attacked by leopard in Mulund
It was the dead of night, but when Suraj Gavai, 28, heard his dog growling and whining outside the house, he couldn't resist checking on his pet. But when he opened the door, he found an entirely different animal staring at him — a leopard. The big cat sprang at Suraj and gouged his eye.
Suraj was rushed to hospital, where his condition is stable. Experts are calling the incident an 'accidental attack', as the leopard likely pounced out of fright. A camera trap was put up in the area and patrolling was boosted following the incident.
Suraj was found in a pool of blood by his mother, Baby. Pics/Datta Kumbhar
The incident took place at 2 am on Sunday, when the Gavai family was fast asleep in their room at Mulund's Rahul Nagar slum pocket. The area falls under the Tulsi Range of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), which is home to several leopards.
The spot outside the house where the dog was chained
Blood everywhere
Suraj woke up when he heard his Rottweiler yapping desperately outside the house, where it had been chained. Second after he opened the door to check on the dog, the leopard swiped at his face at him. His parents woke up to see him in pain and blood. They instantly raised the alarm and called Suraj's elder brother Jayesh, who lives nearby. "My wife and I quickly rushed there to see the doorsteps covered with blood. Suraj was in pain. We rushed him to the local hospital. While we are praying for his quick recovery, we are also frightened since the incident," said Jayesh.
Suraj was moved to KEM hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries. Having undergone a surgery on his right eye at the Parel hospital late on Sunday morning, he is currently under observation. The dog suffered a minor injury too, and was taken to a local vet hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.
Hospital report
"The patient was evaluated by ophthalmology, general surgery and plastic surgery departments. He has contused lacerated wounds (CLW) over the right lower eyelid and scalp. The plastic surgeon sutured the CLW in the plastic operation theatre; the wound was sutured too. In the wake of the patient feeling giddy after taking scalp sutures, we have admitted him. His condition is currently stable," said Dr Avinash Supe, dean, KEM hospital.
High leopard activity
Wildlife and human-leopard conflict experts told mid-day that a combination of factors contributed to Sunday's incident. Krishna Tiwari, founder of the Forest and Wildlife Conservation Society (FWCS), said that the area, with its proximity to SGNP, is prone to leopard activity.
"The area is often unkempt and leopards in search for food are frequent visitors. Upon hearing the dog bark, the man should not have opened the door to begin with," Tiwari added.
Nikit Surve, a leopard researcher from Mumbai said, "The leopard and the man caught each other by surprise. In distress and panic, the leopard attacked the man."
Pawan Sharma, honorary wildlife warden with the Forest Department, said, "Just last week, locals had reported a leopard sighting in the area. Citizens need to be vigilant and abide by the dos and don'ts listed by the authorities.
He added that following Sunday's incident, camera traps were installed in the area to track leopard movements. Patrolling is also going to be increased. Despite repeated attempts to contact Jitendra Ramgaonkar, deputy conservator of forest, he remained unavailable for comment.
Also Read: Mumbai: Forest department trains people from Thane society to deal with leopards
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
Mumbai: Ghatkopar elderly couple cries foul over Rs 27,000 power bill
The Lodhs of Ghatkopar loathe Tata Power, because they received a Rs 27,000 power bill from the company in May. This was shocking for the family because the only people who reside in the 1BHK flat in Amrut Nagar are Kalidas Lodh, 76, and his wife Gopa, both of whom make use of only basic electrical appliances.
Kalidas, the owner of the flat, is a Navy veteran and has been following up the issue with the service provider since May with the help of his son Kaushik, who is visiting him from the USA. The family alleges their complaint of electricity theft has been ignored. They've switched to another service provider after the incident and were stunned to see their electricity bill for the month of June, which was only Rs 2,000.
Meter is fine
The Lodhs had been receiving odd electricity bills since June 2016. However, the May bill this year shocked the family, after which they finally complained to the service provider. "Their technical team visited our house to check the problem. But they kept saying that the meter is working fine and if there is any tampering done beyond the main meter, it is out of their control to check and verify it. They kept insisting that we should check it ourselves with help from another electrician.
Isn't it the responsibility of the electricity service providers to verify the theft?" asked Kaushik, who said their former electricity service provider completely shrugged off their responsibility.
Kaushik added, "In one of the visits, even their technician saw how the meter showed units being consumed even when the main electricity supply switch of the house was off. It only made our doubts of theft stronger. But shockingly, in their written report, there was no mention of this observation as they kept insisting the service provider has no control over tampering beyond the main supply point of the building." Kaushik also approached the police to complain about the theft, "But officers at the Parksite police station told me that the right platform for me to complain is the consumer forum and not the police." Vilas Jadhav, senior police inspector of Parksite police station remained unavailable for comment.
Tata Power says
Ranjit Ganguly, group head of customer relationship management, Tata Power said, "For the excess billing, we'd checked the functionality of the meter, which was intact. He'd installed a separate meter in his house; we checked that one as well and found it to be in sync with the main meter. The complainant suspected tampering through the wires going from the main meter to his house. Regulatory guidelines for service providers clearly state that any wiring beyond the point of supply, which is the main meter box, is in the purview of the consumer... So...Tata Power as a utility service provider is unable to help."
Also read: Mumbai: Inflated power bills continue to haunt 61-year-old widow
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
Mumbai: Clinic forgets needle in two-day-old baby's bottom
Like all responsible parents, Aastha Pashte, 28, took her two-day-old baby to a clinic for vaccinations, never imagining that the life-saving injections could turn life-threatening. It was only three weeks later, when the infant developed a mysterious fever, that Aastha discovered that the clinic had forgotten a 2-cm needle inside her child's bottom.
It took a two-hour surgery to remove the foreign body at the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children. Once the child is discharged, the family is planning to sue the clinic that forgot the needle.
X-ray shows the needle dangerously close to the hip joint
Scans show needle
The baby boy, who is Aastha's first child, was born in perfect health on June 17. A couple of days later, the Chembur resident's family took the child to a local clinic for vaccination. Everything was normal until the 21st day after birth, when the infant became feverish. "When we took him to a private doctor, she thought it was the flu and prescribed some medicines. But when the baby didn't show any relief, we took him to Wadia hospital, where we were shocked to learn that there was a needle inside his buttock. Suddenly we realised why he cried every time we massaged oil on his buttocks," recalled Aastha, while talking to mid-day from the NICU.
Dr Minnie B
At first, the baby was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone. But X-rays and CT scan showed a persistent shadow, indicating a foreign body. The parents then realised that it was the vaccination needle still stuck in their child's bottom, almost deep enough to graze the hip joint. On July 10, a surgery was performed to remove the needle. The baby is now stable and recovering in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) at Wadia hospital.
Rare case
This was a first-of-its-kind case for the hospital. Dr Pradnya Bendre, paediatric surgeon at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital, Parel, said, "The baby was taken for intra-operative surgery for removal of the foreign body. It was difficult to find the exact location; hence, multiple X-rays were taken. It took two hours to remove the needle under C-arm guidance localisations. The 2-cm needle was found embedded in the capsule of the left hip joint and the baby has recovered uneventfully without any complications."
"The needle had gone deep inside, and it was extremely challenging to perform the surgery on a newborn without making a big incision. Thankfully, the child was diagnosed without much delay. We want to highlight the issue so that such a blunder is not repeated in the future," said Dr Minnie Bodhanwala CEO Wadia Hospitals.
Also read: Mumbai: 1-month-old baby has narrow escape as maternity ward ceiling crumbles
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
Mumbai: Portion of building declared dilapidated by BMC crashes in Kurla
The balcony portion of a ground-plus-three storey residential building came crashing down amid the heavy downpour in Kurla West on Sunday afternoon.
Although the building had been declared dilapidated by the BMC, a few residents continued to stay in it. While it was evacuated immediately, and no one was hurt, the incident sparked panic in the vicinity.
Around 2 pm, the balcony portion of Bhushan Bhavan on New Hall Road collapsed. "We received a call at 2:45pm and rushed two engines there. The debris was cleared and the building evacuated by our officials," said an official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade.
"The building was constructed in 1958. Till today, 14 to 15 tenants were residing in the building. The city civil court had issued a stay till the Technical Advisory Committee's (TAC) decision. An undertaking had been taken by court from the occupiers that they will stay at their risk and that the BMC and police will not be held responsible for any untoward incident," said Ajit Kumar Ambi, L ward officer.
There was also a scare of an abandoned under construction building collapsing in Thane. The ground-plus-four structure is at Panama Quarters near Bhagwati School in Thane West. According to the Thane Fire Brigade, they received a call from locals about the building coming down. "The construction had stopped some years back. For now, we have put up a caution notice in the compound. The security guard there has told us that he has informed the owners and some action will be taken tomorrow," said an official from the Thane Fire Brigade.
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
Ghatkopar residents: Reroute Metro Line 4, or else we'll move court
On Sunday, hundreds of Ghatkopar residents staged a silent protest march against a proposed route of the Metro Line 4. The residents alleged that the route planned by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) would block a narrow stretch in the area, adding to the woes of the residents. They have already written to the authorities concerned in this regard, but if the matter isn’t taken seriously, they plan to move court.
Backed by former corporator, Pravin Chheda, the residents raised slogans and marched along the stretch starting from Amar Mahal Junction and passing through Pant Nagar and Laxmi Nagar areas. The proposed Metro line would also pass through the same route connecting Wadala with Kasarvadavli in Thane. The residents have requested the MMRDA to reroute the line to the Eastern Express Highway, which was the initial plan, as it would not only be convenient but would also help in avoiding traffic congestions.
Jitubhai Mehta, who resides on M G Road, said, "As the route is already congested, the Metro will add to the mess. If the line goes towards the Eastern Express Highway, more people will benefit from it."
"We are not against the project, but all we are asking for is that the line be rerouted. The road is very narrow and it's extremely difficult to find parking space. If the Metro comes up there then problems will increase," said Sunilbhai Joisar, a Goradia Nagar resident.
Speaking to mid-day, Pravin Chheda, former corporator of the area, said, “We have already submitted letters to the authorities concerned. We are also trying to meet the chief minister to take our request forward. If the matter isn’t resolved soon, we’ll move court."
While MMRDA Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Pravin Darade remained unavailable for comment, local BJP corporator Parag Shah also could not be reached.
The proposed Metro line 4
Length of the belt: 32.32 km
Number of stations: 32
Nature: Fully elevated
Depots: Owale and Godrej Land
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
Ghatkopar plane crash: Aircraft was 10 miles away when it went off radar
The last recorded conversation between ATC Mumbai and the King C90 pilots that crashed in Ghatkopar on Thursday was 'We are breaking off, we will report to Juhu ATC'. The air space where the call was recorded was the spot for an official switchover from ATC Mumbai to ATC Juhu. ATC Juhu then tried to reach out to the pilots and when there was no reply, they waited for some time before alerting ATC Mumbai, who found the plane had gone off their radar. They quickly alerted all agencies concerned. Highly-placed officials attached to the ATC Juhu said, "The last conversation was recorded when the aircraft was in the air approximate 10 miles [16km] away from Juhu Aerodrome and almost preparing for landing. Therefore, as routine practice, from Mumbai ATC, the pilot was being switched over to Juhu ATC at the technical point [where the accident happened]."
Juhu Aerodrome Director Ashok Kumar Verma confirmed the same and said, "The charter plane took off as per the schedule and was in the air for nearly 47 minutes. It covered the air test route flying from Juhu airport and headed towards Surat airspace and after successfully completing the circuit was returning to Juhu aerodrome when it met with the accident."
The wreckage at the crash site. Pic/Sameer Markande
When asked if visibility was an issue at the time of take-off from Juhu Aerodrome, Verma replied in the negative, stating, "Visibility was over 2,000 feet. We have allowed charters and helicopters to take off and land even at a visibility of 1,000 feet."
When asked if the DGCA had issued any fresh guidelines post the accident on Thursday, the official replied in the negative.
Meanwhile, Captain MRSK Vinod, a former Indian Air force pilot, who is the Chief of Flight Safety at UY Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, arrived in Mumbai on Thursday night and visited the crash site at Ghatkopar along with two members from the Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). They inspected the site and collected some material for investigation purposes.
Technical snag to blame?
Captain Vinod said, "We have got the required evidence, and whatever was collected by the police and other rescue teams, including the black box, has already been handed over to the AAIB team. We have also taken photographs, videographs and have also recorded statements of witnesses." Aviation experts have hinted that the aircraft may have developed a sudden technical snag in its engine or as the plane was in Instrument Landing System (ILS) mode, which allows the aircraft to continue operations in low visibility, it might have developed an issue, due to which the pilot may have lost direction or both, which could have led to the accident. Charter planes fly at a height of 4,000 to 5,000 feet and there is no parachute on board for any emergency. Captain Vinod preferred not to comment on the reason for the accident, saying investigation was underway.
Were pilots reluctant to fly?
On the allegation by family members of the deceased pilots that they were reluctant to fly the plane because of poor visibility, Captain Vinod said, "We are professionals and must understand that a DGCA-Approved Maintenance Organisation has cleared the plane for testing, which is why the pilots agreed to fly. If they had refused, the testing would immediately have been aborted as per procedure." An officer at Ghatkopar police station said, "We have cordoned off the area. As far as investigations are concerned, we are only completing the paper work by recording statements and ensuring that the right claimant gets the body for the last rituals. We have no role in the investigation."
Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Lunch turns into a lucky hunch for other labourers on site
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
Ghatkopar plane crash: Fifth victim identified; family is assured compensation
There's no doubt that the fifth victim of the Ghatkopar plane crash, architect Govind Dubey, 32, was in the place at the wrong time. But his family is not willing to accept mere bad luck as explanation for his death — they want to know whom to blame. After the family embarked on a sit-in at Rajawadi hospital, refusing to take Govind's body, MLA Jitendra Awhad assured them of compensation and investigation in the matter. With these assurances, the Dubeys finally claimed the body last evening.
Govind was merely passing by when the plane came hurtling down on him. He died on the spot with 100 per cent burns. Due to the extent of his injuries, he was identified only yesterday with the help of his half-burnt wallet. The last location update on his phone also confirms that he was at the spot. The architect hailed from Uttar Pradesh, from where his family has come to collect his body. To his brother's surprise, though, not a single government official has contacted them to assure compensation or action against the culprits.
Arvind Dubey, Govind's brother
“It has been over 24 hours since I lost my brother in the incident. It was my brother's bad luck that he at the spot when it happened. But isn't it the responsibility of the government to come forward to give us justice?” said Arvind Dubey, Govind's brother. He added, “We have decided to file a police complaint against the aircraft company for the accident. The government must conduct an inquiry and imprison the person at fault.”
MLAspeak
“The victim comes from an economically weaker section. Hence, I have requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to consider his case for compensation,” MLA Awhad told mid-day.
Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Aircraft was 10 miles away when it went off radar
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
Mumbai: Ghatkopar 'plane crash galli' turns into a selfie-spot
It was a case of so near and yet not near enough for people at the disaster venue, a day after a plane crash shook the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar. An MTNL building at the mouth of this lane gives it its name — MTNL Galli. But now it has been temporarily rechristened as the 'plane crash galli' by the stream of curious visitors that poured in last afternoon.
A cop at the now-barricaded scene good-naturedly asked people to "get into a line and I will allow you to peek through the barricades. Only one minute per person," he grinned. Overhead, planes seemed to skim the buildings. "One day after the crash, every plane we see sends a jolt of fear through us," said someone, as Kalyan resident Jitendra Jaiswal, who works in Ghatkopar, made his way to the crash site. Jaiswal explained, "I keep coming back here, wondering how this could happen. There is still a sense of disbelief." Shakhawat Khan and Dinesh Yadav, both drivers (the latter drives a rickshaw), said, "The sound keeps echoing in our ears. We were eating snacks at a nearby restaurant and heard at least two-three blasts. The sound literally blew us off our chairs."
Policemen keep curious crowds at bay at the crash site. Pic/Sameer Markande
Thank God
A resident ambled to the site to see the progress of the clean-up. "I was in the car with my son at the wheel when we heard at least three blasts. Shaken, my son parked the car a few metres from this site. Everything was covered in black smoke. The smell of that smoke still lingers in my nostrils. No disrespect to the dead, but I cannot stop thanking God for sparing me," finished Pravin Shah.
Wing clip
Conversations in Gujarati dominated as one walked down the lane. Ankita Shah who lives nearby said, "I will never forget the thick, black smoke rising into the sky. It's my most enduring memory of this disaster." A number of people who claimed they witnessed the crash, insisted they saw the wing of the plane clip the pedestrian who died. A woman said dramatically, while others concurred, "one second the wing had clipped him and the next a charred body lay on the ground. It was the man," she stressed, while others agreed that they too saw a "wing clip the man. It was a wing," they shouted as some onlookers snorted in disbelief. Through the drama, an idli seller arrived putting down his wares and joining the queue to peer through the barricades. People shouted "idli, idli" while the cops shooed him off.
Mother-daughter duo of Naina (right) and Tanisha Gala point to an aircraft above them. Pics/Sameer Markande
Terrifying images
Naina Gala, MTNL lane resident, said, "I witnessed the blast and last night, the terrifying images — burnt bodies, fire, smoke and the wreckage came back to haunt me." Her daughter Tanisha said there were tons of questions from her classmates. Naina added, "I feel the pain of the pilots, the crew. They knew they were going to die, they sacrificed their lives to save all of us." Naina and Tanisha said the fire brigade, police and everyone was at the site within minutes. A local informed this reporter, "The birds in the sky were faster though. There were a huge number circling the crash site within minutes. They had smelt death in the air…" Yet another gent walked down the lane wearing a T-shirt with the prophetic lines: 'Your life is your story. Write well. Edit often'. As one exited the lane, one could not help thinking, this must rate as a very surprising twist in Ghatkopar's story.
5
No. of people dead in the plane crash
Pravin Shah (left) tells his story
Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Doctors to use teeth to ID victims
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
BMC to appoint special body for structural audit of Wadala towers
Following an outcry from the residents of Dosti Blossom and Dosti Daffodil, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to appoint IIT-Bombay or VJTI engineers for a structural audit of the buildings, to ascertain damage to them due to excavation on the adjoining Krishna Steel plot.
On Monday, a huge landslide at the neighbouring Lloyds Estate raised serious questions about the construction going on Krishna Steel plot, which is being developed by the builder Dosti Realty Ltd. After the accident, residents of Lloyds Estate, Dosti Blossom and Dosti Daffodil alleged that the builder was doing excess excavation at Krishna Steel plot and weak shore piling has been damaging their buildings for the past year. They also claimed no action was taken by BMC and the developer to avert a mishap.
Commissioner's approval needed
Speaking to mid-day, deputy chief engineer of the Building Proposal (BP) Department (city), R S Potdar said, "We have prepared a proposal to appoint experts like IIT-Bombay or VJTI for a structural audit of these buildings. Since we don't do structural audits of private buildings, we will have to take approval from the municipal commissioner. After that we will decide the further course of action." However, residents of Dosti Blossom said that they don't know anything about BMC's plan of appointing IIT-Bombay or VJTI experts. "We met officials from the building proposal department on Wednesday but there was no word about any such plan," said a resident.
'BMC harassed us'
Residents of Dosti Blossom and Dosti Daffodil buildings have alleged that last year when they raised an alarm over the sinking portions of their compound and cracks in their buildings due to excess excavation done at Krishna Steel plot, the BMC harassed them instead of taking action against builder. On Thursday, committee members of Dosti Blossom and Dosti Daffodil showed their letters to different civic departments regarding the dangerous condition of their buildings.
Manoj Gurav of Dosti Blossom said, "Last year after April we observed cracks on the building columns and sinking in the parking area which is adjoining the plot where excavation is going on. A huge portion of our parking area had sunk about a foot. Following this we had sent letters to the builder and the BMC to take action and make the premises safe." He added, "Instead of taking action against the builder, the F-North ward of the BMC sent us a letter, and held us liable for the damage done to the building. BMC officials told us to carry out a structural audit otherwise action would be initiated against us."
Also Read: Lloyd estate wall collapse: BMC bars Dosti Realty from construction at Wadala site
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
Ghatkopar plane crash: Neighbours of co-pilot unable to believe she is no more
Captain Maria Zuberi was at the controls along with Captain P S Rajput, the pilot, with an engineer, identified as Surbhi, and a technician, identified as Manish, onboard when the chartered plane crashed.
One of the deceased brought into Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar
When mid-day reached Zuberi's home in Mira Road, there was no one at home and the area wore a sombre look. Ivy Sarkar, a neighbour, said, "I can't believe she is no more. She was a wonderful woman, always ready with a helping hand. She had thrown a party at her home recently after her 17-year-old daughter cleared her HSC exams with excellent marks. "I am incredibly proud of her for using her presence of mind and manoeuvering the plane away from residential buildings, saving so many lives. I salute her."
The bungalow in Mira Road where Maria Zuberi staye
Zuberi stayed with her husband Prabhat Kasturia and daughter Charvi. Kasturia had messaged her around 1 pm for her whereabouts, but got no reply. Then he saw the crash on TV. He told the media, "My wife, along with Rajput, had earlier informed the company that the weather was not right for flying. The company insisted on the test flight."âÂÂÂÂ
Her domestic help, Aarti Waghmare. Pics/Atul Kamble, Hanif Patel
The domestic help who worked at Zuberi's home, Aarti Waghmare, said, "I have been working there for three months now. Her husband is an advocate, who is in Delhi most of the time. She always addressed and spoke to me like a friend, never made me feel like a servant. I am unable to come to terms with the fact that she is no more. I keep thinking she will be back home in some time."
Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Pilot's presence of mind saves hundreds
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
Ghatkopar plane crash: Aircraft was on first test flight after repairs
The eight-seater charter King C90 was on its first airworthiness test profile when it suddenly developed a major technical snag and crashed at an under-construction building in Ghatkopar West on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft was owned by the UP government and after it was involved in an accident some time ago, it was bought by UY Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, a three-year-old company, which rents out aircraft to ferry patients from all over the country, an insider told mid-day. The company had got the King C90 repaired by Indamer Aviation Private Ltd and, on Thursday, it was being taken on its first test flight.
"Around 1.08 pm, the ATC towers at Mumbai and Juhu both lost contact with the pilot and suddenly an SOS alert was sent out by the Air Traffic Control. Finally, it was learnt that the plane had crashed," said Juhu Aerodrome Director Ashok Kumar Verma. Verma said the aircraft took off from the Juhu runway a little after 12.20 pm as per ATC Juhu records. Pilot, Captain Pradeep Rajput, and co-pilot, Maria Zuberi (who had joined UY Aviation barely a month ago), were in constant touch with the Juhu ATC and later with the Mumbai main ATC as it passed through their radar. The charter was barely a mile from Juhu aerodrome, on its way back after completing the test flight, when it crashed. When asked if the aircraft was on a wrong flying line, as usually passenger flights pass through the airway used by the charter, Verma replied in the negative, stating that there was no air space violation and that the charter was on its own scheduled air space."
The investigating team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will be recording the statements of the ATC officers who were in dialogue with the pilots of the charter, which will be compared with the black box that has been recovered. Speaking to mid-day soon after landing in Mumbai from Delhi on Thursday evening, Captain Vinod MRSK, a former air force pilot, who is the Chief of Flight Safety at UY Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, clarified that the charter was still with Indamer Aviation Private Ltd (an aviation repair and maintenance organisation), and two of their engineers Manish Pandey and Surbhi, along with Rajput and Zuberi were to conduct the airworthiness test profile and had obtained necessary permissions from DGCA.
"The air profile testing was crucial as only then could UY Aviation have approached DGCA to complete other formalities to officially take the charter into its inventory. The charter was flying on a Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit (NSOP) for testing. At present UY Aviation has four charters, two in Mumbai and two in Delhi, and this eight-seater King C90, would have made it to its inventory in Mumbai," the insider said. Captain Vinod said, "I am here to assist Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team under DGCA to understand the circumstances under which the accident happened. It is learnt that the crew was insured."
Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Pilot's presence of mind saves hundreds
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
Ghatkopar plane crash: Pilot's presence of mind saves hundreds
The Ghatkopar plane crash, which killed five, yesterday would have ended up becoming a mammoth disaster, considering it crashed in a densely populated residential area, had it not been for the pilot's presence of mind. Several residents from the area and eyewitnesses said the pilot did a good thing by ensuring the aircraft crashed at an under-construction site, avoiding the residential buildings in the vicinity.
Emergency response
The accident took place when the plane was about to land at Mumbai airport. The four onboard — pilot, co-pilot and maintenance engineers — and a passer-by on whom the wreckage fell have been identified as the deceased. Immediately after the incident, the fire brigade and police reached the spot, and within minutes pictures and videos of the crashed plane and a charred body near the crash site went viral on social media.
Afternoon happenings
mid-day spoke to residents from the area to find out what exactly happened, and most said it all started in the afternoon when they heard a deafening explosion, followed by thick smoke and a tree on fire. Locals said the situation would have been worse had the aircraft crashed on a residential building or the busy LBS Marg, which is adjacent, or the Versova-Andheri Ghatokpar Metro corridor, which, too, is just a few hundred metres away.
A paan shop owner from the area said, "I was sitting in my shop when I heard a loud noise. At first I thought a tyre of some truck busted, but then, a person from the MTNL lane came running to my shop and said a plane had crashed. "We should all be thankful to the pilot, as by crashing it at an under-construction site, he saved hundreds of lives."
Also Read: Mumbai: Chartered plane crashes in Ghatkopar; five killed
mid-day's 39th anniversary: Chembur ki Ashwiny
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, 38
Filmmaker
Hyphenated identity is Ashwini Iyer Tiwari's pet peeve. "Why is a woman always someone's someone?" she rightly asks. Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari and wife Ashwiny, as she's often referred to, for instance. Rather than Ashwiny, hit director of Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), and the critically acclaimed Nil Battey Sannata (2016), sitting on a two-film deal with Ekta Kapoor's studio, whose next is a comedy-drama with Alia Bhatt.
This could also be because she and her husband, both former advertising professionals, burst into the mainstream movie-scene almost simultaneously — Nitesh (Chillar Party; 2011 and Bhootnath; 2008) picked up a best director Filmfare for India's biggest blockbuster, Dangal (2016) the same year that Ashwiny bagged the black lady as best debutant director for Nil Battey Sannata.
They're also working partners — he's a "quintessential writer," she has an "arts background"; it's a "team." That said, they go about filmmaking like surgeons: "You can discuss surgery forever. But you have to perform it on your own."
They first met at Ghetto, the legendary resto-bar at Mahalaxmi. This warms our hearts already. He was with Lowe. She worked with Leo Burnett, the agency she had joined right after her commercial-arts degree from Sophia Polytechnic, and where she remained for a decade — until turning 30! By then, most of the world's work-force is deep into a monthly addiction stronger than heroin — the phone's beep announcing the salary-deposit.
Instead, Ashwiny picked up "her savings, gratuity, provident fund" to go freelance, and write her first film. She couldn't afford this luxury earlier, as an only child, growing up in Mulund, with middle-class parents, both of them teachers (mother, a school principal; father, a professor in plant-pathology). "I once told them I wanted to be a painter. They said that's for 'business people' [to pursue]! [Job] security was paramount."
What changed her life? A 45-second promo on the girl-child for Kaun Banega Crorepati that she worked on for her client, Sony Television: "The film's tag-line was, 'Badhai ho, ladki hui hai'. It was extremely powerful. I thought if a promo can do this; imagine the impact a feature on the subject could have."
She wrote Nil Battey Sannata, about the mother-daughter relationship, having only recently turned mom (of twins: a boy and girl) herself. To test her skills as director, she attempted a short film, What's For Breakfast Mom, that picked up a National Award, no less. At Delhi airport, returning from Nil Battey's tiring shoot, she chanced upon Nicolas Barreau's novel The Ingredients Of Love, and simply couldn't put it down. That led to Bareilly Ki Barfi.
The secret to her back-to-back success though, is possibly her grounding in advertising: "It teaches you to balance the left and right brain, creativity and commerce — the client in films being the producer, who puts in the money."
Also she keeps safe distance from Bollywood's hustle to remain creatively sane: "Much before a hundred people join the process, and you reach millions, eventually filmmaking, to start with, is a lonesome exercise."
This explains her lovely bungalow in a leafy, quiet, gated colony, close to RK Studio in the central suburb, where Raj Kapoor cemented his career in the '50s, while the rest of the film industry grew north-westwards — almost kissing Ahmedabad now. Which isn't to say Ashwini doesn't encounter that quizzical look from filmies over where she lives: "Chembur?" Yup.
Mumbai: Chartered plane crashes in Ghatkopar; five killed
At least five persons including a pedestrian were killed when a small chartered plane crashed in the thickly populated suburb of Ghatkopar in north-east Mumbai, officials said.
Eyewitnesses said the plane was seen hurtling down and crashed with a deafening roar before bursting into flames around 1.15 p.m. There were four people on board.
Rescue officials who rushed to the site said five bodies had been recovered from the crashed plane's wreckage. Out of five dead in chartered plane crash at under construction building in Ghatkopar charred bodies of 1 pilot, 1 female and 3 male have been recovered from the site. Some workers or pedestrians are also said to be dead, state BMC disaster cell.
A passerby in the vicinity of the crash was burnt fatally when some burning fuel from the aircraft fell on him, said an eyewitness who was among the first to reach the spot.
As per preliminary information, the aircraft was on a test flight and had taken off from the Juhu Airport minutes before it crashed.
The cause of the crash is not known. It occurred in an under construction building premises, averting what could have been a major disaster.
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
With inputs from agencies
Mumbai: UN Women India launches video campaign 'Mujhe Haq Hai'
UN Women India launched a video campaign called #MujheHaqHai on Wednesday which emphasises the power and potential of women in today's world.
The video features a host of independent and courageous women, who have excelled in their respective spheres and mapped India globally. The video sends out a strong message for female empowerment to women all over India with the belief that they have an equal participation in all walks of life.
Apurva Purohit, the President of Jagran Group, is one of the prominent personalities featured in the video alongside the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mithali Raj and Sania Mirza, to name a few.
Apurva Purohit, President, Jagran Group
Apurva Purohit said, "It’s an absolute honour to be a part of this initiative by UN Women India. Any and every small step towards the empowerment of women and giving them their rightful place under the sun is the need of the hour today. We need more examples of women who are breaking barriers every day so that the girls tomorrow can rise and shine. While there is enough discourse on everything that is not right, this initiative is a beacon of hope, one that celebrates the struggles, dreams and aspirations of women who have emerged as winners. #MujheHaqHai is an ode to the undying spirit and grit of the woman of today."
At the launch event, mid-day online caught up with Nishtha Satyam (Deputy Representative UN Women India MCO), who stated that, "Through this event, we are trying to create a movement that is based on Human Rights, a movement that recognises women rights as Human Rights, where women exercise their voice and make choices without any fear or judgement, and shape their careers and lives. We are trying to create a movement based on women understanding their own rights as individuals."
Talking about the outcome, she added, "Women should realise their own potential and rights and be able to pursue their dreams without any inhibitions or fear of repercussions. That would be the grandest outcome from a movement like this."
Mumbai plastic ban: BMC collects Rs 3.35 lakh in fines from 72 shops on day two
It was a buzzing Sunday on Day 2 of the plastic ban for shops across the state - not in terms of business, but with respect to the flurry of activity from the relentless raids by the respective civic bodies and the fines slapped on establishments found in possession of banned items.
On Day 2 of the ban on single-use plastic, BMC fined 72 shops of the 867 inspected establishments. Also, inspection report was issued to five shops for not paying fine. Most of this happened in Chembur and surrounding areas.
Vendors cover their carts with plastic sheets
On Sunday's action, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (special) Nidhi Choudhary tweeted, "Squads visited 867 establishments so far Banned Plastic found at 72 shops IR given to 5 (for not paying fine) Total plastic seized 591.67 kg Best thing is less than 10% were found with products under #PlasticBan. Most have complied to #PlasticBan Kudos to Mumbaikars (sic)".
Others use it for veggies, ban notwithstanding
In Pune, locals seemed to have made peace with the ban, as no protests were reported. While small-scale businesses did use plastic on the sly for rangoli and cut vegetables, most citizens were seen carrying cloth bags for shopping.
Fish sellers abandon their thermocol boxes in Dadar after the plastic ban comes into effect. Pics/Ashish Raje
Sunday saw no civic action in Pune, leading to a few, mainly meat shops, using plastic bags. Deputy chief of PMC Suresh Jagtap said, "Today [Sunday] being a holiday, we didn't conduct any raid; but tomorrow, we will go full throttle. We've appealed to citizens to hand over plastic in their homes to the respective ward office."
Inputs by Chaitraly Deshmukh
Piling numbers
Mumbai: Man dies after falling into open drain in Kurla
A man died after he fell into an uncovered drain near Kurla signal at Eastern Express Highway in Mumbai. The incident took place last night. The identity of the man is yet to be ascertained.
The locals in the area said that they had been facing problems because of the open drain since past few days.
One of the locals told ANI, "There are several uncovered manholes in the area. We had been complaining about this for a year."
The body has been shifted to the hospital for autopsy and probe has been initiated.
Maharashtra: Man died after falling in an uncovered manhole near Kurla signal at Eastern Express Highway last night. Identity of the man is yet to be ascertained. Locals say 'There are several uncovered manholes in the area. We had been complaining about this since a yr.' #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/Ak63VI2nNQ
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2018
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 kitchen without borders
The kitchen is her playground. She glides around the sprawling set-up inside Magazine Street Kitchen with ease born out of familiarity, and stripped off all paraphernalia — aprons, gloves or a cap — elegant in her flow-ysnakeskin-print dress.
Ravinder Bhogal's foray into cooking began in a manner she calls "unorthodox." "I trained as a journalist. First and foremost, I think of myself as a writer, and cooking was a deep passion. That, combined with destiny brought me here," the popular Indian-origin British chef, award-winning restaurateur and author tells us ahead of a special dinner she will be serving at the Byculla venue tonight. But her love for food stems from a deeper place.
It began rather unpleasantly with a revolting five-year-old Bhogal being dragged into the kitchen by her mother, "a petite and beautiful woman who was stern and not the kind of person who taught you lovingly." At the time, Bhogal, who was a tomboy, would have rather climbed trees or ridden her tricycle, but was instead handed a rolling pin and asked to make round rotis. "I found it very boring," she says, adding that her view eventually changed when her grandfather bought her a little aluminium stove.
"It had such a lasting impact on how and why I cook. I would serve him burnt chapatis and terrible things that he ate with such love, praising me and often, putting cents in my hands to go and buy toffees. He would say to my mother, 'She's so good. Why can't you cook like her?' It was then that I realised that the currency of love can be exchanged for food," she recalls, elaborating on her tendency of approaching food with a motherly instinct that is driven by the need to nourish, not perform. Thereafter, the chef has donned many hats, from being called the new-age Fanny Cradock by acclaimed chef Gordon Ramsay, hosting a television show, supper clubs and pop-ups, to starting her own restaurant Jikoni in Marylebone in 2016, which opened to rave reviews. The accolades keep coming.
Bhogal takes a whiff of a Moroccan spice
But Bhogal's truest virtue lies not only in journeying through an unpredictable road, speckled with hurdles, scepticism and serendipity in equal measure, but in her ability to cook food that defies the confines of cuisines and territories. The result is a spread that pays homage to many heritages — East African (she lived in Kenya till the age of seven before moving to London), North Indian (since she hails from Punjab) and British. Growing up as an immigrant in a country like Britain meant that Bhogal lived in migrant-dominant neighbourhoods. She would often shop in Chinese markets or Polish shops.
"You are exposed to this wealth of ingredients, influences and culinary traditions that you somehow adopt and mix together. That's what immigrant food is: it's about people who have the ache and longing for what they've left behind, but also the wonder for their new landscape. It is when you reconcile these two things that you actually create a completely new cuisine," she elaborates, as she calls for some za'atar, delicately rolling beetroot and goat cheese croquetas inside a container full of the Middle Eastern herb. The fried ball explodes into a flavoursome and gooey goodness on our palate, leaving us pining for more.
Carrots, cashew nut pesto, goats curd, savoury granola
This synergy of culinary traditions shines through in the potato and paneer pierogi. A Polish ravioli comprising a hearty filling of paneer, drizzled with a hot yoghurt sauce and a piquant pul biber (an export from the Turkish spice shelf) butter and hazelnuts. The plated carrots, too, adhere to the sensibilities of no one cuisine in particular, and is instead a heartfelt celebration of the simple vegetable's many avatars — baby, yellow and purple — sitting on a bed of cashew nut pesto, with a singing freshness from the basil and carrot heads, a hint of acidity from the goat's curd and crunch from savoury granola.
Potato and paneer pierogi
Bhogal's food is worthy of the accolades because it's ingenious and not accidentally; it conveys a purposefulness and a conscientious effort towards defying these boundaries. As she says, "You often think of immigrants as the other, but as soon as you're sitting with a bowl of hummus and a puff of pita bread, that changes. If you can understand someone's food, you can understand their culture and that's where the beauty of food lies. It translates very easily into people's lives and turns strangers into friends."
Beetroot and goat cheese croquetas
AT Magazine Street Kitchen, Gupta Mills Estate, Byculla East.
ON April 27, 8 pm onwards
CALL 23726708
COST Rs 4,000
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
No last page here
Perhaps the saddest part of reading books is that at some point, they won't have any more pages to read. However, that isn't true at this art workshop where kids above five years of age will be introduced to the concept of never-ending books.
The session will discuss An Indian Beach, a book by French linocut artist Joelle Jolivet that depicts the changes that go through a day's routine at a beach on a South Indian Coast. Kids will also be taught to create their own never-ending book.
The workshop will be conducted by National Institute of Design alum Dhwani Shah, a regular with kids art workshops, who is also a designer at Chennai-based Tara Books, the organisation behind the event.
ON April 27, 11 am to 12.30 am
AT Kahani Tree, A Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi
CALL 24306780 Register info@kahanitree.com
Cost R650
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
It's what's on the outside
The next time you pack your loved ones a gift, how about doing it in a way that brings a smile to their face even before they open it?
In a gift-wrapping workshop on Friday, participants will learn to wrap presents in attractive and efficient ways using Japanese techniques that cover box making, box wrapping, and ribbon handling. There will also be a discussion on the choice of materials.
A tousseau packaging workshop on Saturday will cover techniques on the wrapping and presentation of bridal paraphernalia including sarees, cosmetics, footwear and flowers. The workshop also covers hamper making and basket decoration.
While both workshops by Vesture will provide relevant materials for the respective sessions, participants must carry their own tool-kit consisting of scissors, glue guns, tape, boxes and the items to be wrapped. All participants leave with a certificate, goodies and their very own wrapping project.
AT The Sahil Hotel, 292, Bellasis Road, RBI Staff Colony, Mumbai Central.
ON April 27, 10 am to 1.30 pm; April 28, 11 am to 6 pm
CALL 9818442805
COST Rs 5,500; Rs 8,999
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 orchestra enables walls to crumble'
As musicians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and India stream out of the assembly hall of the Alexandra Girls' English Institution in Fort for a tea break, the mirth and camaraderie that fills the room over plates of samosas and chai is a picture of utopia. One that instantly puts out of focus the strained relationship among several of these countries, and instead, instills hope that one day, when we rise above all differences, this is what South Asia could look like.
It was perhaps this picture that Nirupama Rao, India's former Ambassador to the United States, and husband Sudhakar Rao, who retired as Chief Secretary of Karnataka, had envisioned when they started The South Asian Symphony Foundation (SASF) in July 2018. After months of work involving fine-tuning the artistic vision, logistic coordination of 80 musicians from across the region and those belonging to South Asian diasporas, and galvanising funds, the foundation will present the maiden concert of The South Asian Symphony Orchestra (SASO) in Mumbai.
Taking a break from the five-hour long rehearsals she has been sitting through since last Saturday, Rao tells us about her dream project. "It is something I have had on my mind for the last six to seven years. I am interested in music of all kinds, including symphonic music and the great philharmonic orchestras of the world. When Zubin Mehta conducts the LA or Israel philharmonic, you realise what a powerful expression it is of mankind's ability to transcend the pettiness that may sometimes envelopes our lives. The expression of humanity's will to overcome these small divisions — that's what an orchestra is to me," she shares.
When asked why the Bengaluru-based couple chose Mumbai for the concert, she tells us it was an easy decision. "Mumbai is very much the Maximum City when it comes to creative expression. There is a certain exuberance it has that one identifies with. Also, it is a city that has always looked outward as much as it has encompassed the hinterland of India. That's what makes it special."
After the SASF was founded, Rao went off to teach at the Columbia University in fall last year. There, she got in touch with some prominent names from the world of music including the Carnegie Hall, who mentioned some South Asian musicians from the diasporas there. "The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka [SOSL] have been hugely helpful in building this concert. The chairperson of the SOSL, Sharmini Wettimuny, identified players who could join us in the effort," she says, adding that the Indian Navy happily let its musicians join the orchestra as did the Sri Lankan police force. Sri Lankan-born Tharanga Goonetilleke of New York will be the vocal soloist.
The concert will feature classical compositions and also see the premiere of two commissioned works. Houston-based conductor Viswa Subbaraman, who Rao was in talks with since 2013 before he became the SASO conductor recently says, "The repertoire was an evolving discussion. We wanted it to represent a window to the West but not be dominated by it," he says.
Were the diverse backgrounds of the musicians a challenge? "True musicians are never strangers. The language of music may be different but the musical language is the same. . The goal is for them to transcend the differences of age, country and culture. And that's what you see here, a Bangladeshi musician speaking to his Afghan counterpart about where they will have dinner. That's the normalcy you are trying to create," he says.
Cultural diplomacy through music, in fact, is how Rao contextualises the formation of the SASO. "The orchestra enables walls to crumble. Since you get to know the person sitting next to you, the prejudice evaporates, even if he or she is from a country, with which you may not normally be friends," she says, "When I compare South Asia with regions like South East Asia or Europe until Brexit happened, there is a lot more integration over there. Take countries like Germany and France; they have overcome the challenges of history, through economic integration, people to people contact, and the discovery of common interests. It's that process that we have to set in motion in our region," she says.
And that may have begun in a small way if the contribution of public and private institutions and individuals from India to the SASO is to be considered. "This initiative really belongs to the people of India. And that should encourage us in these times when you hear the talk of war and badla in public spaces. Young people in our region are growing up with a sense of belligerence. But war is a wild thing," Rao says. "My dream is — and people may see this as totally madcap — to get this orchestra to perform at Wagah."
ON Today, 11.30 am to 1 pm (discussion and performance) at YB Chavan Centre, Nariman Point
CALL 9819830575
Email hello@sayencore.com
LOG ON TO www.insider.in
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
Milling about in Lower Parel
Homeless people sleeping under flyovers with BMWs on top. Urchins laying their palms out before corporate workers. Fancy high-rises looking down on slums with families of six living in shanties. And defunct mills transformed into glitzy malls. That, in a nutshell, is what the Lower Parel area resembles today. It's a place that epitomises the disparate economic standing of Mumbai's citizens. But that wasn't always the case. Back in the late '80s, when the area's mill culture still hadn't bitten the dust, there were hardly any skyscrapers. Kingston Towers, for instance, is one of the many swanky residential properties that came up later. And it's partly the setting for a play that seeks to highlight the class conflict prevalent in the area ever since real estate companies turned the place into their private playground, displacing poorer families from chawls to zopadpattis (Marathi: slums), or to places like Dombivali and Panvel instead.
The play is called Todi Mill Fantasy, written by Sujay Jadhav. The plot revolves around three friends — Ghyanta, Shirish and Ameya — with stars in their eyes. There is also a girl, Isha. And an assortment of other characters, such as a money-hungry broker named Gawde Bai, help the audience gauge how the changing milieu of the mill district has entrapped succeeding generations in a vicious cycle of corruption.
Director Vinayak Kolwankar gives us a brief sketch of the storyline, which is part reality and part fantasy. It goes like this: Ghyanta encounters Isha one night while cleaning the toilet at Todi Mill Social, where he works. She's a rich girl on the run from cops who want to book her for drunken-driving. So, the boy helps her hide in the loo. They strike up a conversation and Ghyanta tells Isha about his plans to get rich. He says that he wants to set up a Dharavi-like slum tourism start-up with Ameya and Shirish. For that, they had planned to build a ropeway from the roof of Kingston Towers to Kalachowkie, the area where their slum is located. So, they had approached Gawde Bai for logistical help. But she told them, "Why do you want to set up a slum tourism business when Kalachowkie itself will be razed in two years? I have a better idea. Why don't you join me in evicting people from the slum instead and get paid a bomb for it?"
(From left) Jaydeep Marathe, playing Shirish; Kapil Redekar, or Ameya; and Shubhankar Ekbote, or Ghyanta
Kolwankar tells us, "Meanwhile, while Ghyanta is telling Isha this story, Ameya and Shirish are waiting for him with alcohol on the roof of a public toilet within Kingston Towers, to discuss whether they will go ahead with their start-up or join Gawde Bai. But they end up drinking too much. And Shirish, in his stupor, throws a rock that breaks a glass in the complex, for which he's caught and sent to jail. That's the point where the interval begins."
The play then enters the realm of fantasy once the curtains reopen. Now, Ghyanta and Isha are standing on the roof of Kingston Towers, on their wedding day. In this dreamland, Ghyanta is a well-off person after having helped Gawde Bai empty 200 shanties in Kalachowkie. But then, from the rooftop, he sees an identical BMW being parked next to the one he's bought with his new-found wealth. "Who dares buy the same car as you?"
Isha asks him. And that's when they turn around to see Shirish. It's his car. He, too, is wealthy now, having acquired the 300 remaining dwellings in their sum. But Isha is the ultimate prize he is eyeing. And the play ends on a note of how the present-day class conflict in the Lower Parel area affects not just romantic relationships, but friendship as well.
ON March 2, 8.30 pm AT Yashwant Natyamandir, Matunga West.
Call 24333225
Cost Rs 200
The play ends on a note of how the class conflict in the Lower Parel area affects not just romantic relationships, but friendship, too.
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
Delicious five course meal to celebrate final season of GOT
Winter is finally here, and the wait for Game Of Thrones (GoT) has been long enough to test everyone’s patience. To commemorate the launch of the final season, Star World organised an eventful, five-course Westerosi meal fit for the ruler of Seven Kingdoms earlier this week. With expectations riding high, we ventured into what looked like an inspiration from the red wedding — the dining arena.
As we sat down to ravish the interesting spread created by a culinary team at The A Club helmed by chef Amit Bharadwaj, five iconic scenes from the show were screened. Chef Bharadwaj explained how each dish was conceptualised. For the first course, we tasted sumac chicken tostada, which is soft melted grilled chicken on a tortilla chip with a lace of tangy-spicy red sauce pressed on mayonnaise with fenugreek used as garnishing. It was unanimously one of the better dishes, but who can have just three portions? This one was actually inspired by the red wedding when — spoiler alert — Walder Frey kills the Stark family.
Seared tuna with curry leaf, lemon ice
For the second course, the chef drew inspiration from the scene when the Night King slays Daenerys’ dragon Viserion and turns him into the undead. As envisioned by the scene, the chef laid the next dish and called it seared tuna with curry leaf and lemon ice. While the seared tuna was to indicate the dragon, he used lemon ice to mirror the spear of the Night King. The pan-seared tuna not only looked appetising but was also rich in flavour. The minty feel of the lemon ice on the thin slices of fish left us wanting more.
The third course, eggs in a pyre of root vegetables, looked interesting but didn’t match our palate’s expectations. Interestingly, the dish came served with two different sauces that were shaped like eggs in a basket made of vermicelli along with olives placed on the heap of veggies. As for the main course, the chef tried his own variation on spaghetti and meatballs. Of course, it initially reminded us of Frey’s pie, but the taste didn’t seem any different. The chef got the inspiration from the skull-crushing The Mountain vs Oberyn Martell scene. Called snake spaghetti with mountain goat polpette, this dish was just about average.
And as a fitting finale, gold-crusted coconut panna cotta, heart of dark chocolate olive dust and Verbena glass, was the perfect finish to this meal. Chefs tend to increase the coconut flavour in panna cotta, but this version was well-balanced, with melting chocolate (although not dark) inside and a sprinkle of gold not only making it visually appealing but also delightful to eat.
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 dinner was a one-off event at A Club, Lower Parel.
Mumbai: CSMVS to host first ever guided tour of its space
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (CSMVS) will host the first-ever guided tour of its space and precincts led by eminent conservation architect Vikas Dilawari, who is also involved in the conservation of the museum, a Grade 1 building in the UNESCO World Heritage Precinct. Later in the evening, a panel discussion will be held on The Craft of Architecture.
Vikas Dilawari
Pop quiz
1) Originally called the Church of St John the Evangelist, its steeple was used as a landmark for ships entering Bombay harbour. Name this church.
2) Inside which building in Fort can you spot a splendid stained glass design of the 12 zodiac signs?
3) From which famous landmark did the last British troops leave India after Independence, in 1948?
Answers:
1) Afghan Church;
2) Convocation Hall inside University Library;
3) Gateway of India
ON Today, 11 am (guided tour); 6.15 pm (panel discussion)
AT Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda.
CALL 22844484
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
Khar eatery to host a pre-launch party for Avengers fans
The Endgame is near, and we are talking quite literally here about the latest instalment in the Avengers series of superhero movies, which releases on April 26. After this week's brouhaha over Game of Thrones Season 8, it's the next big visual experience that has sent fans in a tizzy. And a pub in Khar is now hosting a pre-launch party of sorts for them, with various activities and F&B offers themed around the film.
"We have collaborated with digital community Things2doinMumbai, and brought ticket sponsors on board for the event. In terms of the activities, there are Avenger- related games and trivia, winners for which will get free tickets and discounted ones when the movie releases. We also have an array of themed cocktails in store," says Pragnesh Rai, owner of SamBar, which will host the evening, adding that there are a number of discounts on the existing menu, too, with drinks starting at Rs 39.
The cocktails include a beer-based one called black wid'wow; iron anna, which has whisky; tha end, which is vodka-based; and a super-potent Long Island iced tea that's aptly named hammered by Thor.
As for the games, these include Ant Man, where a player will be given three soda bottles and raisins. The aim is to drop these raisins from eye level into all three bottles, without bending down. Then there's Black Widow. For this, one person will hold a hula-hoop and another will have a fake spider placed on his head. The latter has to go through the hoop in the shortest possible time, without dropping the spider. All in all, it sounds like an event perfectly suited for fans of the Avengers. And even if you aren't one, you can still gain from the cheap booze, meaning it's a win-win.
ON April 18, 6.30 pm
AT SamBar Pub & Kitchen, Vora Building, 3rd Road, Khar West
Log on to 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
Mumbai: Shop under CSMT's footover bridge staircase is illegal
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation seized four cylinders on Monday which were kept illegally in the eatery below the staircase of CSMT's FOB which collapsed last month.
The civic officials have said that all other items in the shop were also seized because the place was not granted permission from the health department.
The CSMT FOB had collapsed partly on March 14 but the entire bridge was razed post that. The staircase was spared hence the eatery resumed operations in a few days.
Also read: BMC to re-audit 38 bridges in Mumbai
A routine inspection by the civic fire compliance cell on Monday morning revealed that the four gas cylinders in the shop were illegal. A senior BMC official said that the shop owner did not have licenses. An official told The Times of India, "We will have to demolish the shop, we will follow the due process."
Also read: Mumbai: BMC assistant engineer held in connection with CSMT bridge collapse
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 article has been sourced from third-party source and Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. All information provided on this article is for informational purposes only.
Shraddha Kapoor reminisces about her Chhichhore days
One of the most-loved actresses, Shraddha Kapoor, recently revisited Sophia College to shoot for a brand. The all-girls college in Mumbai is where she shot for the film Chhichhore. Shraddha Kapoor, who is playing a college girl in her upcoming film Chhichhore, reminisced about her Chhichhore days.
After wrapping up the shoot for Chhichhore alongside Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Kapoor visited Sophia College after a long time. Shraddha who shot most of the sequences in the college developed an attachment with the place.
The actress is also running a tight schedule hopping from one set to another and slipping into diverse characters to ace her roles. Shraddha Kapoor is playing several diverse characters this year and already has four films in her kitty.
Saaho will portray the actress in an action-packed avatar where Shraddha will be essaying a cop, while Chhichhore tests her versatility with dual roles of a college student as well as a middle-aged woman. The film also stars Prateik Babbar, Varun Sharma, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Tushar Pandey, Saharsh Shukla, and Naveen Polishetty. The film is helmed by Nitesh Tiwari, who is best known for his directorial venture Dangal, starring Aamir Khan. There's also Street Dancer 3D, which will showcase Shraddha in a completely new dance avatar. With multiple releases this year, Shraddha Kapoor also has an anticipated release with Baaghi 3.
Also read: Saaho: Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhas' still from a romantic track goes viral
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
Bombay Veterinary Hospital organises a blood donation camp for dogs
A blood donation camp organised at the government-run Bombay Veterinary College on Thursday, saw seven dog parents lining up to get their pets to donate blood. As the hospital does not have a blood bank yet, the plasma and blood cells were extracted from the donated blood to be preserved for treatment of sick dogs in emergency situations, doctors said.
When 23-year-old Anita Mehra had rushed an injured dog to the Bombay Veterinary College around a month ago, the canine was bleeding profusely owing to a road accident. Doctors said that he had suffered from internal bleeding and needed a blood transfusion. Now named Tony, the stray has recovered completely and is awaiting adoption.
Tony is just one of many such dogs falling prey to road accidents every year, losing litres of blood. This how the idea for a blood donation camp for dogs came to the hospital authorities.
More than 100 stray dogs have individually donated blood here in the past four years. This blood has not only been used for dogs who are victims of accidents but also for the ones suffering from blood-related disorders. On a daily basis, the animal hospital receives five to ten cases where blood transfusion is required for injured or sick dogs.
A donation camp was, however, organised for the very first time by the hospital. While around 20 dogs were registered for the donation, around 15 of them turned up. Seven of these were found suitable for donation.
Fit for donation
The donor pet needs to be on an empty stomach at the time of donation, weigh not less than 20 kg and be in the age group 1-9 years. Dogs can donate a bag of blood (350 ml) once in three months. "Seven such units were collected on Thursday. As we cannot store whole blood, we have extracted the plasma and blood cells which can be separately stored for a year. Whole blood, on the other hand, lasts only six months," said Dr J C Khanna, director of the hospital.
Universal donors ideal
After donation, the blood is separated into further components that help in the treatment of dogs suffering from liver diseases, anaemia, internal bleeding, etc. As per the Canine Health Foundation, dogs, much like humans, have types of blood classified into groups. Dogs have over a dozen different blood groups, six of which are fairly common.
Both humans and dogs can be classified as universal donors based on their type or group. Roughly 40 per cent of dogs belong to the universal donor group. Blood from dogs belonging to the universal donor group is compatible with any recipient's blood. Dogs, too, can suffer adverse reactions to transfused blood that is of a different type than theirs, the hospital stated.
Criteria for a donor dog
* Weigh more than 20 kg
* Be in the 1-9 years age group
* Must be on an empty stomach
* Must not have donated blood in the past three months
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
Cambodia's mysterious architecture in Mumbai
Think of Cambodia, and the first thing that comes to mind are the famed ruins of Angkor Wat — it's even emblazoned on the national flag. But for French architect Olivier Cunin, it was a different temple that sparked his over-two-decade-old love affair with Khmer architecture.
Unlike the Angkor Wat, which has been widely studied and written about, there's a lot more mystery surrounding Cunin's favourite: the Bayon temple site. "Angkor Wat, whose architectural design is considered to be of the 'classical style', is very symmetrical and easy to understand. The design of Bayon seems chaotic and mysterious, as there are more structures linked to each other with several galleries and pavilions to create a complex space. There is no clearly stated path to access the Bayon temple, as in the case of Angkor Wat," said Cunin, who is in Mumbai to conduct a lecture series on ancient Khmer monuments and iconography.
Ravana relief from the temple of Banteay Srei
Among the more intriguing temple icons are the "face towers" at Bayon, which remain an enigma in architectural and archaeological circles. These are 59 towers in the temple complex with massive faces carved into them. "Researchers still argue fiercely about the deity represented on the face tower. Even if the question of identity is not yet resolved, the 59 face towers of the Bayon function both as icon and architecture. By incorporating this unique feature, the Bayon itself became an icon," said Cunin, whose research aims to both solve the puzzle of these temples and also preserve the heritage with the help of digital reconstruction.
Olivier Cunin and Swati Chemburkar
"To understand a temple, we first need to know its original design, and digital reconstruction is a very useful tool. It's not always possible to restore every temple physically but even if we could construct it virtually, it would be a huge help in our understanding of the Khmer monuments," he explains.
It's also interesting to note the Indian link with Khmer temples — some of which are Buddhist while others are dedicated to Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva — despite the thousands of miles between the two countries. Cunin's colleague Swati Chemburkar, who directs a course on Southeast Asian art and architecture at Jnanapravaha, Fort, said,
"There was no India or Cambodia in the period we discuss. People crossing the Bay of Bengal in either direction a 1,000 years ago would have found enough linguistic and cultural connections between the regions of India and Cambodia to considered all to be the members of a large and varied but coherent community. The Khmer inscriptions mention the marriages of Indian Brahmins to Khmer princesses."
So what temples should visitors not miss during their visit? "The Bayon for its sheer complexity," he says, while also recommending Ta Prohm (being restored by the Archaeological Survey of India) and another favourite, Banteay Srei, which replicates Mount Kailasa, Shiva's heavenly abode.
AT Jnanapravaha, Talwatkar Marg, Fort
TILL April 12, 6 pm to 8 pm
COST Rs 3,000 per head
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 many shades of Amrita Sher-Gil
In her short but eventful life of 28 years, Amrita Sher-Gil soaked in a gamut of experiences, which she then suffused her canvas with. From her early years in Hungary, her family's move to Shimla when she was eight, her training in art in Paris, and her return to India, each phase of her life left its impression on her oeuvre. A rare solo show of Sher-Gil's artworks in the city now stitches together these chapters of her life with her brush strokes.
Amrita Sher-Gil — Perhaps it will fly away if I get up, which opens next Tuesday, kicks off the 10th-anniversary celebrations of Akara Art, founded by art dealer and consultant Puneet Shah. "We wanted to enter our 10th year with a spectacular show. Given the sheer stature of the artist and her contribution to modern Indian art, it was an obvious choice," says Shah, who has dealt in Sher-Gil's works for many years.
The sketch, Untitled, Pencil on paper, 10 x 7 inches, 1930, will be displayed at the gallery
The exhibition, titled after a poem she wrote in 1934, features an essay by Skye Arundhati Thomas, who has also written the wall text. Conceived of and curated in-house, the show includes a self-portrait in oil, seven watercolours, and six works in charcoal.
Untitled, Watercolor on paper, 14 x 10 inches, 1926 -28
"The idea was to show a large range and body of her work, and how versatile she was in different media," informs Shah. During the curatorial process, the gallery also discovered a picture of Sher-Gil at a young age in her study in Shimla, sketching a model. That drawing in charcoal is part of the show.
"With Amrita, the context gets reinvented every time her work is shown," Shah shares. "Her story will keep evolving because the character is so strong."
FROM April 9 to May 8, 11 am to 6.30 pm
AT Akara Art, 4/5 Churchill Chambers, Colaba
CALL 22025550
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 woman rider takes to the streets of Mumbai every Gudi Padwa
In Mumbai and all over India, today 6th April marks the traditional New Year for Maharashtrians which signifies the welcoming of the spring. As people welcome the New Year with much fervour and enthusiasm, thousands of men and women in Mumbai take to the streets and participate in Shobha Yatras. One such yatra is that of Girgaon Padwa Shobha Yatra, one of the biggest and oldest Shobha Yatras in Mumbai. Every year, the highlight of this Shobha yatra is Dr. Aparna Bandodkar, and her bike 'Bijli; together they have become the face of the Girgaon Padwa Shobha Yatra. Since 2013, Bandodkar has been actively participating in the Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra and riding her motorcycle with varied themes, thereby promoting the Maharashtrian culture and ringing in the New Year in style.
Also Read: Gudi Padwa 2019: All you need to know about the festival
Just as the people welcome the New Year across Mumbai, Maharashtra, we had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Aparna Bandodkar who in a candid conversation talks about the Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra and more.
Aparna Bandodkar and other women ride motorcycles during the Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Since how long have you been taking part in the Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra. How has the journey been so far?
I have been taking part in the Girgaon Padwa Shobha Yatra since 2013. After I had my own bike, the very first thing that I wanted to do was ride inter-state and complete a part of my bucket list i.e. wearing a nine-yard sari and going to Girgaon. The Girgaon padava celebration started in 2002 and back then I used to see pictures of ladies who used to take part in the yatra. That's how I went to girgaon and they wholeheartedly welcomed me with my bullet. Post that, it became a ritual and this will be my eight year at Girgaon padwa celebration.
I started riding bullet at the Girgaon Shobha yatra in 2013 but before me, there were other women with different types of scooters and bikes who took part in the rally. It was the media who hyped it as I was the first woman to ride a bullet at the Girgaon Shobha yatra. Back then, a woman on a bullet was something new and at the time there were very few women riders. Now, the number of women riders is ever increasing. Today women ride heavier and meaner machines.
How has the Girgaum Padwa Shobha yatra changed since the time you took part back in 2013?
At that time, the Girgaon padwa was not so glamorous as it is now. It was a very low key affair but today it is celebrated on a grander scale.
When I joined in 2013 there were about 15 women bikers and slowly and steadily the number has increased over the years. Today the majority of the women are on geared motorcycles and then there are scooters, vintage bikes and much more. Last year there were about 80-to 85 women taking part in the Shobha yatra on the bike. Women come far off from Vasai, Mulund, New Bombay to take part in the Gudi padwa celebrations. People are willing to travel and come and take part in the rally. There are a couple of women who even ride Harley Davidson bikes for the rally", says Bandodkar when asked how the Girgaon Shobha yatra has evolved over the years.
Aparna Bandodkar dons biking shoes on her traditional attire during the Girgaon Shobha yatra
Can you share a funny incident that took place with you during one of the Shobha yatras?
The very first day I took part my slippers broke when I tried to kickstart the bike. I was left with no choice but to take out my biking shoes and wear them with the nine-yard sari.
What kind of impact do you feel the Girgaum Padava Shobha Yatra has created?
Once you take part in the Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra, you get confidence and you are not the same person anymore. Many more women come to the rally and then they realise their potential. Taking part in the yatra also boosts your confidence as you see more women taking part and breaking stereotypes.
Also Read: Urmila Matondkar spotted at Gudi Padwa bike rally in Mumbai
Such is the impact that, Aparna had seen a video where Indians who are staying abroad are seen celebrating Gudi padwa and had trained themselves in dhol Tasha Pathak and even replicated the whole parade in the western country.
What has been your fondest memory till of Girgaon Padwa Shobha yatra?
Recalling it quite vividly, Dr, Bandodkar says, "My fondest memory is that of a girl coming to me during the 2015 padwa rally and was all in tears. She started thanking me and said that 'You don't know what have you done'. She revealed that her parents never wanted her to ride a motorcycle but after the saw Dr. Aparna Bandodkar's Shobha yatra video on National television, they allowed her to ride her motorcycle to her workplace and that she was really happy about it. While speaking to me she was in tears and this brought tears into my eyes as well."
View Photos: Gudi Padwa: 10 authentic Maharashtrian dishes to try out
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 sustainable thing to do
What is the principle of recycling? You begin with raw material, create something out of it, bring it back to its original state and start over. "So, in a way it's like coming full circle; you start at one point and return to it," says multidisciplinary artist Sajid Wajid Shaikh about the theme of his paintings for Full Circle, an exhibition at the Kala Ghoda gallery, ARTISANS'.
A collaboration between Shaikh and Indigene, a sustainable fashion label, it will also feature re-purposed fabric from past seasons into a new collection of garments, accessories and stationery. The exhibition opens today and a walkthrough with the artists — Shaikh, and Ruchi Tripathi and Jaya Bhatt, founders of the label and textile design graduates from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi — has been scheduled for this evening.
Sajid Wajid Shaikh's artworks for the exhibition feature drawings in loops
"The conversation began a year ago," says Shaikh, who has employed reused garbage and found objects he's stumbled upon as his medium in the past, before moving on to drawing-based work. "I started developing these drawings as loops, letting the subconscious take over. So, in a way, the drawing unfolds before the artist's eyes," he explains, referring to surrealist automatism. The paintings have been done in the medium of ink on translucent paper. For the exhibition, they will be juxtaposed with re-purposed fabrics from the label.
The idea of loops was further substantiated when Shaikh read iconic poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's Rashmirathi. "In it, when Duryodhan tries to bind Krishna, he tells him, "Sab janm mujh hi se paate hain, fir laut mujh hi mein aate hain [All are born from me, and all return to me]. This applies to nature too," he shares.
FROM Today till March 30, 11 am to 7 pm; walkthrough today, 6.30 pm
AT ARTISANS', 52 – 56, Dr VB Gandhi Marg, Kala Ghoda.
CALL 9820145397
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 art of making paper at home
Learn the art of making paper from scratch at this workshop by Bengaluru-based artist Ravikumar Kashi, who expresses himself via mediums like paintings, sculptures and photography. Kashi learnt the art of making paper from the Glasgow School of Art, UK, before he moved on to learning Hanji, a traditional Korean papermaking form.
Participants will learn the history of hand-made papermaking and the difference between primary, secondary, tertiary and second-hand paper. "They will be taken through techniques of how to make recycled paper from discarded paper, how to shape it into different forms and make sculptures. They will also learn pulp painting, where coloured pulp is used to create art," Kashi shares.
ON March 30, 10 am
AT Piramal Museum of Art, Piramal Tower, Peninsula Corporate Park, Lower Parel
CALL 30466981
Email artfoundation@piramal.com
LOG ON TO insider.in
Cost Rs 2,500
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
.jpg)
Breakfast specialties for dinner at this Colaba restaurant
Breakfast is the most important meal, which many of us tend to skip due to hectic schedules, leaving only Sundays to indulge in a lazy brekkie. Ours consists of pork sausages, creamy and cheesy scrambled eggs made in the sausage fat, and toast, with of course, coffee.
Chef Pablo Naranjo Agular of Le 15 Cafe, has fond memories of waffles in the shape of Mickey Mouse, with a pair of sunny side ups, drizzled with sriracha and sesame oil sauce. And so, for this edition of the eatery's monthly Table 13 evening on Wednesday, they are serving breakfast for dinner so you can eat at leisure.
Chef Pablo Naranjo Agular
"Making breakfast was a family activity and a beautiful memory. My parents loved cycling, so they would go off on Sunday mornings for three hours, which gave me enough time to cook something for them, with my little sister. I loved how happy they were when they came back and we sat down to eat. We would listen to old Colombian salsa that my father would put on," chef Agular shares.
Pablo's waffles
While he is currently struggling to narrow down his list of 48 breakfast items, you can expect pancakes, waffles, bacon, and of course, eggs, along with some Indian options, all with a signature twist. "The menu will be inspired by what the French eat, which is on the sweeter side, as well as the not-so-sweet Colombian flavours," he says. And the idea too germinated when he was eating his favourite breakfast — waffles topped with egg and bacon — and owner Pooja Dhingra walked in and tried it. Book ahead because seats are limited.
Pooja Dhingra
ON March 27, 8 pm
AT Le 15 Cafe, shop number 18, Lansdowne House, MB Marg, Colaba
CALL 9769341994
LOG ON TO insider.in
COST Rs 2,800
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
.jpg)
Table booking
For the hungry reader, words have always been food for thought. That is why we are intrigued when Nirbhay Kanoria, who helms online literary magazine The Curious Reader along with Devanshi Jain, informs us of an event they're organising on a day dedicated to the intersection of food and literature. Edible Book Day is celebrated annually on April 1 — and no, it's not a joke considering it's also April Fools Day.
The agenda for the evening is simple. A dinner at Colaba's Miss T themed around Amitav Ghosh's The Glass Palace, a novel that centered around three families and three parts of the world — Burma, India and Malaya. "He is one of my favourite authors, and we wanted to pick a popular name. He shot to fame with this novel," Kanoria tells us, adding that Miss T was also an obvious choice, as their specialisation in Burmese cuisine will tie in well. Although it will take a few days for both parties to settle on a final menu, they have a clear idea of how they will incorporate the theme.
Nirbhay Kanoria
"Guests can expect a culinary journey through Burma, inspired by excerpts. We'll definitely be using ingredients traditionally associated with Burmese food such as pickled tea leaf or Shan tofu (from the Shan region)," Gauri Devidayal of Miss T reveals while Kanoria sheds light on the flow of events, "In the novel, the Burmese Royal Family is forced into exile and reach Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. So, you'll be seeing some Maharashtrian influences in the food as well. And we'll be giving a scroll to each guest telling them the underlying meaning behind each dish and providing details of the book."
The restaurant serves Burmese cuisine that is central to Ghosh's novel
The event will only accommodate 12 people, and everyone is welcome — even if you aren't familiar with the novel. Kanoria says, "Of course, it will excite anyone who has read it but Burmese food fans will love it, too!"
Save the date
Last year, The Curious Reader organised a delivery campaign for the occasion
Edible Food Day is a global event celebrated on April first to commemorate the birthday of French gastronomer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755–1826), who wrote Physiologie du goût. People cook dishes that resemble the image of a book or its cover. Book-themed dinners are also organised.
ON April 1, 8.30 pm onwards
AT Miss T, 4, Mandlik Road, Apollo Bunder, Colaba.
LOG ON TO insider.in COST R3,500 (including a cocktail)
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
Fifty shades of music at this eight-hour concert in Lower Parel
It was in March 2018 that we had first written in these pages about Awestrung, a monthly gig series held at a Lower Parel mall. But after that, all information about subsequent editions had dried up. The reason is that the organisers had temporarily shelved the property because they felt that they needed to refresh the format, and come back with something bigger and better. And that's exactly what's happening this weekend when Awestrung returns on an unprecedented scale, with 50 artistes from diverse genres sharing the stage.
This comeback was orchestrated after Artists Aloud — the indie wing of a major music company — approached the folks at High Street Phoenix, the mall where the concert is held, with a proposition. Soumini Sridhara Paul, VP of Artists Aloud, tells us, "When we started speaking [to the mall authorities], we told them that we have a format where, in 2012, we had brought in 50 artistes to perform together on stage. We said, 'Why not replicate that model for Awestrung?' They replied, 'Let's do this.' And that's how we came to be partners."
Soumini Sridhara Paul
She adds that the line-up is curated in such a way that the emphasis is on independent artistes making original music. So, you have a Hindi rock band like the Delhi-based Faridkot. There's local electro-rock act Laxmi Bomb. Manganiyar mainstay Mame Khan is on the bill, too, as is rapper ACE of the crew Mumbai's Finest. Then there are electronic producers, singer-songwriters and Sufi acts, among others who complete the list of performers. In short, name it and chances are that you will have an act playing a genre you like.
Each outfit will get a maximum of 10 minutes on stage so that things keep moving, with a compère, Mihir Joshi, keeping the audience entertained in the interim. Mame Khan is the penultimate performer, before Smokey, a Mumbai-based DJ, brings the show to an end. She tells us, "Imagine, I am closing the festival. So, all the focus will be on me and there's thus a bit of both, nervousness and excitement. But I'll keep my set chilled, so that it's a nice goodbye for everyone." Which is just as well, because after the gamut of music that will be on offer, a mellow note is possibly the best way to end this massive, eight-hour concert.
ON March 22, 2 pm
AT High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel
Log on to insider.in
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 price of valour
For God's sake don't come, don't come, don't come to this war in Europe... Cannons, machine guns, rifles and bombs going off day and night, just like the rains in the month of Sawan. Those who have escaped so far are like the few grains left uncooked in a pot," wrote Havildar Abdul Rahman (59th Rifles) to Naik Rajwali Khan (Baluchistan) on May 20, 1915, from France. The letter, originally in Urdu, was translated and censored for record-keeping and withheld from being posted. The war story, after all, had to tell, in the words of Wilfred Owen, "The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est, Pro patria mori" or, how sweet and honourable it is to die for one's country, in Latin.
Angeli Sowani
Fittingly enough, the letter finds itself right below another one — from the Buckingham Palace, signed by King George V, which conveys to the soldiers that the "Mother Country is proud of your splendid services characterised by unsurpassed devotion and courage." The exhibition Medals & Bullets, by British-Indian artist Angeli Sowani, is one interspersed with these stark contrasts. "Every medal comes at the cost of countless bullets," Sowani tells us, as she oversees letters, pictures, enlistment posters and songs of the Indian soldiers of World War I go up on the ivory walls of Jehangir Art Gallery, on the inaugural day.
The exhibition includes posters designed to enlist soldiers, translated letters, folk songs and paintings
The solo show is the culmination of the year-long research the London-based artist undertook on the forgotten Indian heroes of the war. The year 2018 marked the centenary of the Armistice Day, and several events commemorated the occasion across the UK. It was at one such documentary screening where Sowani heard a sound bite on the contribution of soldiers from colonial India — of the 10 lakh combatants and non-combatants drawn from the country, 70,000 were killed while 9,200 won gallantry awards.
Keen on finding out more, she began her journey at the war cemeteries in Flanders, Belgium, last year. "On one of the graves there are the words 'Om bhagwate namah'. It was heartrending to see that here lay a soldier — paid an average of '11 a month, most sepoys had never ventured beyond their villages — so far away from his motherland," she shares.
Laddie, a tribute to Indra Lal Roy, the sole Indian flying ace in the war
The visit to Flanders was followed up with several trips to the Imperial War Museum and British Library in London, where she accessed letters written, postcards exchanged and images circulated by Indian soldiers. In the process, she was also introduced to noted author and academic Santanu Das, whose book, 1914-1919, Indian Troops in Europe, helped her contextualise the letters. Before the National Institute of Design alumna picked up the brush, she also signed up for a course in World War I literature.
A recurring motif in her artworks is the gallantry medal itself. In one of the works, inspired by a soldier's depiction of the war as the warfare in Hindu mythology, she transforms the medals into butterflies, lifting into the sky — symbolic of lives flitting away.
A century and an enormous loss of lives later, two major countries of the Indian subcontinent were recently at the brink of war. Has man learnt his lessons at all? "This war was supposed to end all wars. Yet, we had the Second World War, and many more wars that followed," laments Sowani. "It seems like we can't stop fighting. The war never ends."
TILL March 24, 11 am to 7 pm
At Jehangir Art Gallery. Kala Ghoda
CALL 22843989
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 Guide Restaurant Awards 2019: Iranis win at mid-day awards
Every city has spaces that have, over the years, become more than just restaurants. They're like little museums of unwritten history, archiving the city's journey through old chinaware, faded signboards and staff that has probably been around for as long as the establishment. Spaces that leave regulars despondent when they shutter, almost as if they have lost one of their own.
Mumbai has its distinct culinary heritage, represented in part by corner-side cafés run by the Irani Zoroastrians and Muslims who made this city their home in the early 1900s. At this year's The Guide Restaurant Awards 2019 presented by mid-day, we celebrate the culinary contribution of this community by honouring 10 surviving cafés. Unique to Mumbai, these Irani cafés have fought inflation, the fast food invasion and a future generation that would rather pick a professional degree over manning a family establishment at low profits. Back in Iran, the Zoroastrians and Muslims, celebrate the onset of spring with the festival of Navroze (new day) on March 21. In Mumbai, it's a day typified by feasting around family.
Six of the 10 winners of this coveted award, discuss what Navroze means to them and the signature dishes to try at their cafes.
Byculla Restaurant and Bakery
Don't forget to try: Mutton pattice
"Since Navroze is a holiday, we keep the shop closed and enjoy ourselves at home. After offering prayers, we relish a feast of kheema and falooda," says Darius Ferzandi, owner. "At night, we have a glass of beer or a peg of whisky and then, off to sleep," he jokes. The best dish here is the mutton pattice (Rs 18).
At: Alexandra Terrace, Byculla Station, Byculla East.
Time: 8 am to 11 pm
Call: 23727375
Cafe Dela Paix
Gustad Dinshaw
Don't forget to try: Egg akuri
Gustad Dinshaw, owner of the 80-year-old café in Girgaum, tells us, "Navroze is the augment of spring and we worship fire, so it's mostly about getting together and offering prayers. We lay out the sofrah table each year and look forward to the rituals." The top selling dish at this café is the humble egg akuri (Rs 30).
At: 7, Shanker Seth Road, Avantikabai Gokhale Street, Opera House, Girgaum.
Time: 10 am to 10 pm
Call: 23824384
Cafe Colony
Don't forget to try: Mutton biryani
For Mirza Mohammed Nazariyan, owner Aga Nazariyan's son, Navroze is all about celebrating togetherness. "The festival is synonymous with happiness and a time for our family to come together," Mirza tells us, adding that while the mutton biryani (Rs 280) is a crowd pleaser, it's his personal favourite, too.
At: Road 1, Shrikanth Lodge, near Tilak Bridge, Hindu Colony, Dadar East.
Time: 6 am to 10.30 pm
Call: 24142321
Cafe Excelsior
Mutton cutlet gravy
Don't forget to try: Mutton cutlet
"A different animal or bird is associated with every new year. This year, it's white pig," explains Ardeshir Maskoori, owner of one of the most popular Irani cafés in the city, which completed a century last month. "It's very difficult for me to pick one favourite dish, but if I had to, I would suggest the mutton cutlet [Rs 300 dry; Rs 320 with gravy]," he says.
Ardeshir Maskoori
At: 23, AK Nayak Marg, opposite New Excelsior Cinema, Fort.
Time: 8 am to 11 pm
Call: 22074543
Ideal Corner
Don't forget to try: Salli boti
At this Fort eatery, Navroze beckons a special menu featuring all-time favourites like pulao dal, salli boti (Rs 180), and mutton dhansak (Rs 230). When asked what the festival means to the family, partner Parvez Patel says, "To drink and make merry."
At: 12 F/G, Hornby View, Gunbow Street, Fort.
Time: 12 pm to 10 pm
Call: 22621930
Koolar & Co
The sofrah at Irani's home last year
Don't forget to try: Irani delight
At Koolar & Co's owner Amir Koolar Irani's home, sofrah, the laying of the table with a mirror, fruits, nuts, alcohol and other goodies on Navroze, is a big affair. "My favourite festival here is Diwali, but Navroze takes us back to our roots," Irani shares, adding, "You must come and try the Irani delight [Rs 120]. It's a unique dish made with egg and honey."
Amir Koolar Irani
At: 541, Noor Mahal, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Adenwada Road, Matunga East.
Time: 7 am to 11 pm
Call: 24125062
Caramel custard
Winning Irani cafes
*Kyani & Co: AT JSS Road, Marine Lines. Call: 61229437
*Cosmopolitan: AT 133, Raja Rammohan Roy Road. Call: 23826737
*Sassanian Boulangerie: AT Dhobi Talao, Marine Lines. Call: 22006198
*Cafe Military: AT Tamarind Lane, Fort. Call: 22654181
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
Music that binds
Music knows no boundaries. That's perhaps why when Talisman, a world music group at Stanford University, California, found similarities in the way The Sound Space (TSS), a Mumbai-based initiative, approaches music, all it took was a few email exchanges to bridge the 8,500-mile distance. This Sunday marks the group's India debut, Mumbai being their first stop as part of a 10-day tour.
The Mumbai performance, called Naad, will be an a cappella one where 15 students of TSS will open the show, which will be followed by a collaborative performance between them and Talisman singers. For the finale, eight Stanford students will present their repertoire, which includes songs from their 2019 selection as well as classics.
A Sound Space session with kids
"Talisman had been following what we do, and they contacted us for a collaboration because they know that we reach out to a range of people," says Kamakshi Khurana, who founded TSS with her sister Vishala 13 years ago, about the philosophy that binds them. Trained in Indian classical music from Lucknow University, it was their bachelor's degree in psychology, which afforded them the ability to understand the human mind and take the help of music to affect it.
Kamakshi and Vishala Khurana
"Our aim is to spread music education and therapy and music from different cultures, and use it as a catalyst to get through to people from diverse sections of society," she adds, referring to their work in old age homes, cancer care centres as well as the corporate sector, and their music education programmes in schools, which often culminate in concerts where children from international and NGO schools perform together. Talisman, on the other hand, was founded in 1990, in solidarity with the anti-Apartheid movement, to bring to light under-represented music and stories on campus. Its musicality thus has roots in the South African tradition, but the repertoire now includes well-loved compositions from the world over. A multicultural group — it currently includes students from India, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the US — its selection for this year features Aye Mere Watan ke Logon and Dil Diya Gallan.
The initial talks began in December, and through email exchanges and watching a few videos, the Talisman and TSS students have prepared parts of a popular Indian song, which they will present together. "Vishala and I believe that all kinds of music need to be appreciated and we want our students to be exposed to it. Which is why we have elements of western classical music as well as African folk rhythms in our sessions, but a cappella is a different style of music, which hasn't been explored extensively in India," shares Khurana. She adds that the Talisman group will also conduct a workshop for the children. "This will help us teach our kids to think in a cappella style, as the voice application is so different. When they see a performance of this level, it is a nudge for them to take their art form more seriously."
ON March 24, 6 pm
AT Shantivan Gardens, Malabar Hill.
LOG ON TO bookmyshow.com
Entry Rs 400
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
64-year-old woman sustains injuries after roof collapses in Dadar chawl
A 64-year-old woman sustained serious injuries on Monday morning when a part of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roof collapsed in BDD chawl number 18-A in Dadar's Naigaon area. The victim identified as Chanchala Londe and her family were asleep when a huge part of the roof fell on her at around 4.30 am in the night.
Pic courtesy/ Suraj Ojha
Londe's son Vijay Londe told mid-day," This is not the first incident when something collapsed from the building. Several incidents have occurred before in other buildings this, however, this has happened for the first time in our home. My son was in the same room and immediately alerted other family members residing in other flats. We then rushed my mother to KEM hospital."
When asked the victim about the incident, she stated that a huge block of cement fell on her head and she was shocked to hear the loud noise followed by blood trickling down from her scalp. The doctors from KEM suggested for an X-ray and after a few medical check-ups, Londe was allowed to go home with 12 stitches. After the incident, PWD sent a few men at around 9:30 am to repair the RCC roof.
"I do not know when the redevelopment will start. We did not oppose to government plans but we do have certain demands and expectations from the government. Since they have been ignoring these demands, our redevelopment has been delayed and this is how such incidents take place at BDD colonies," Londe added.
Also Read: CST foot overbridge collapse: Victims yet to receive any official letter of compensation
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
Mumbai: Walk the old dock in Colaba
Take a trip to one of the oldest docks in the city. Named after Baghdadi Jewish trader David Sassoon, the 143-year-old Sassoon Dock is the first wet dock constructed in Mumbai. The site is a melting pot of cultures including the Kolis, Banjaras, Tamilians, Kannadigas, and North Indians. Witness fishing activities in the noisy market where you can find people selling rare and popular varieties of fish, crab and oysters.
"Another interesting aspect of the Docks that the walk covers is bits on the smuggling and Bollywood angle there," says Gajanan Khergamker, founder, DraftCraft International.
TILL May 19, 7 am to 8.30 am
MEETING POINT Sassoon Docks Clock Tower, Azad Nagar, Colaba
CALL 9323141593
COST Rs 499 per person
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