Food is art
Sweeping into the Upper Crust party’s opening coffee morning, I emerged directly from a fifteen-day Thai sojourn from Pattaya, Mumbai’s vibrant energy immediately enveloping me. December’s effervescent atmosphere was palpable, and I arrived just in time for an inauguration deeply significant to my journalistic landscape. Afternoon newspaper and Upper Crust magazine have been intrinsic to my Mumbai narrative since my post-collegiate days in Long Beach, California.
Years ago, I had orchestrated a seminal food and art inauguration with the inimitable Farzana Contractor, founder-editor of Upper Crust, and the renowned artist Vrindavan Solanki—an event that resonated through Mumbai’s cultural corridors. Vinod Nair whose son went on to marry Liz Hurley, bought the big six foot canvas painting of VT station – my favorite landmark in Mumbai. Vinod is no more with us but his wife Joanne Nair has hung the artwork beautifully!
As I navigated the venue for the food show, I encountered my special friend Rupa Naik, Chairperson of The World Trade Centre, Mumbai, momentarily en route to a meeting. Known for my brand of spontaneity, I intercepted her, drawing her back into the event’s vibrant energy, instantly elevating the morning’s ambiance by her presence!
Actor Isha Khoppikar was circulating with Fuzzy—my affectionate moniker for Farzana—and we – Shashi Bansal, Rupa Naik, Malti Jain and I seamlessly joined the guided tour by Fuzzy, capturing memorable moments through photographs.
I was particularly enchanted by the stall of Zianne and Zara—daughters of long time friend and bubbly actor Tanaaz Irani. They were a bit embarrassed as I squealed affectionately and hugged them- having seen them since they were born. I remember when my moms friends did this to me- pinching my cheeks- I’d cringe and here I am now- doing the same thing to my close friends kids!
Their nascent health food brand ‘Zianne Currim’ was a resounding triumph, with their proud Mumma masterfully orchestrating the bustling stall. She busily shoved some chocolate almonds and chocolate chip cookies into my hands generously.
A Zulu dance with South Africa
Mumbai continues its relentless, kaleidoscopic dance—a mere two days since my return, and the experiences cascade like a perpetual, exhilarating waterfall. Christmas fairs, diplomatic soirées, coffee mornings, food fairs and now this scintillating performance throngs a magnificent tapestry of my Mumbai life. Exhaustion barely registers against the city’s ceaseless rhythm. My nocturnal flight landed in those liminal pre-dawn hours, depositing me unceremoniously into the city’s legendary traffic labyrinth!
Mumbai indeed does not sleep! I’ve seen this since my school days!
The evening’s crescendo was undoubtedly the Zulu dancers—their performance a mesmerizing symphony of primal rhythms, whistles, hoots and yowls. Five extraordinary performers unleashed an electrifying tribal dance, leaping into the air squealing- their thunderous hoots and intricate drum beats celebrating 30 Years of South African Democracy and three decades of Indo-South African diplomatic relations.
The atmosphere transcended formal protocol, magically transporting us to the heart of South Africa. My only input being that they could have had some of the local South African cuisine instead of this Indo Continental cuisine we see everywhere and always?
Should one inquire about my ultimate holiday sanctuary, I’d unequivocally extol the majestic safaris of Phinda in Kwa Zulu Natal and the exquisite wine evenings of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek where my super indulgent partner and I have enjoyed magical evenings . And so this diplomatic evening held double the enchantment for me!
In poetic wonder
Poetry has been my primary linguistic expression since childhood. My inaugural three line poem ‘Who Am I’ emerged when sentence construction was still a nascent skill, and remarkably, Dom Moraes recognized my potential, publishing my verses in his esteemed Mirror magazine during my teenage years.
I then went on to writing and reading my poetry at The Delhi Public School which was published in the school magazine. My poems were later recognised in my American university and the Univ yearbook . Through these years I’ve continually written and hope to publish soon one day!
When the distinguished poet Smita Agarwal extended a birthday celebration invitation, I navigated through the political tumult of Devendra Fadnavis’ swearing-in ceremony to attend. Anything to be in poetic company! The afternoon promised literary magic. I was particularly thrilled to engage with Anand Thakore—a polymath whose credentials span poetry and Hindustani classical vocals including thumri and dance. He is celebrated for profound works like ‘Elephant Bathing’, ‘Waking In December’, and his latest celebrated exploration, ‘In Praise of Bone’. He read us a poem about the Koh-I-Noor diamond that had me spellbound! The Kohinoor had a voice and reflections and the poem is superbly evocative! Even the way he emoted the poem in theatrical mode lent to the magic.
Our conversation meandered through shared reminiscences of our beloved friend, the globally acclaimed Poet Laureate Imtiaz Dharker—a literary luminary who is equally a profound fine artist. She has, in fact, immortalized me through three cherished portraits.
Joined by poets Urna Bose, Jennifer Robertson, Anjali Purohit, Anju Makhija, Kiran Bhat and our host Smita, we created a lyrical tableau—reading four poems each, accompanied by sumptuous avocado sandwiches, piquant chilly cheese toasts, and steaming tea. The applause was as much a celebration of friendship as of artistic expression.
Ultimately, poetry transforms life’s mundane machinations into something transcendently sublime. To me poetry speaks of rising above and reaching for the stars- metaphorically speaking!
(Write to Nisha at [email protected])
