Starry evening
There are parties and there are parties, especially in the city that never sleeps — Aamchi Mumbai! But this one wins hands down as a favourite because of the two people who hosted it whom I have a special fondness for! A dinner heralding in the new year by my besties the Sanghi’s!
Little white tables, even more luminous under the stars and a full moon night dotted the verdant terrace garden alongside a never-ending sumptuous buffet. Mellifluous golden oldies belted out by a live singer — paradise enow? Film folk, ambassadors, literati (courtesy author Ashwin Sanghi), consul generals and ambassadors merged into one magnificent tapestry of celebrations. It was a blast.
High point of the evening — Kokilaben Ambani came and chatted and stayed enjoyed the evening. A personable and fun lady indeed!
Culinary artistry
I’ve already spoken to you about one of Mumbai’s most delectable tables — that of Zarine Khan — and this picture will prove it to you! Even a humble karela or baingan ki sabzi metamorphoses into culinary artistry on oversized silver salvers, presented and cooked to Zarine’s masterful recipes!
You do know she has written a cookbook interwoven with personal collections of family pictures and cherished anecdotes? The guest list was our predictable gang of friends — I’m open to new adventures always but one cannot deny the ineffable comfort in old beloved friendships nurtured over years, isn’t it?
Creative meet
An immersive interactive art music painting high tea at Gopika Dahanukar’s rambling bungalow at Altamount Road was not only special because of the evenings intrinsic magic but because everything took me back to my dear friend Prafulla Dahanukar who had been one of my first friends in Mumbai.
And because I was with two favourite friends and filmmaker’s Panchali Chakravarthy and Vinta Nanda. We were asked to let go of inhibitions and paint and that’s what I did! I enjoyed the experience of doing the thing I loved best — make art! The tea buffet looked like a work of art in its multi-layered tea Charlie’s adorned with colourful delectables. Pity that the three of us had gorged at a high tea meet before embarking upon this magnificent evening!
Musuem calling
Partition may be a long time ago but some of the ravages and wounds of those affected stay like indelible scars forever. And then the roads and paths that make for highways and ostensible connections that actually cut through pristine fields and ancestral farmlands of village folk, or that slice into urban homes, are indeed like fresh wounds.
It is a price we pay for progress, but the loss of trees and heritage and roads like gnashes on skin and barbed wire borders is something Reena Kallat addressed with profound insight at the recent show she opened at Bhau Daji Lal Museum. However much I eulogise the museum would be less because it’s a luminous jewel in our city — not as much celebrated as it deserves! It is for me as special as the Gateway of India (maybe more) or then the Taj Mahal Palace! We so desperately need more cultural sanctuaries in our Mumbai! Mr. Frick left his rambling home in New York to the city as a much-loved museum that the city treasures. I had entreated Jehangir Nicholson in his lifetime to do the same but I so hope someone does follow in the footsteps of Frick?
Philanthropists, are you listening to this cultural calling?
Write to Nisha JamVwal at nishjamwal@gmail.com
