Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Stranger danger

An Indian Pond Heron fishes for lunch at Bandra Talao, while a Red-eared Slider Turtle watches on. The turtle species is invasive to India, and can cause harm to the city’s ecology

Scots the word in Khar

Paul Goodwin performs Macbeth.  PIC COURTESY/THE SHAKEPSEARE EDIT

Amidst the buzzing crowds, sandos, and cute cats outside 3 Art House, this diarist found the ongoing Mumbai Fringe’s co-founder Steve Gove (right). The Scotsman seemed impressed with city folk showing up for the debut fringe pop-up.

“It has been quite a turnout. The idea is to use this as a springboard for something bigger in the next edition,” he revealed. The talk is that the Fringe will return next year with an extended showcase that will spread out across a week. “It is too early to say, though,” added Gove, before he joined this diarist to watch a solo performance of another famous Scot’s tale, Macbeth.

Queen’s welcome

Van Rani is back on track after a five-year hiatus. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

Nearly five years after it was discontinued, the crowd favourite Van Rani toy train is back on track at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. After an inauguration last Saturday, visitors can now head to the Krishnagiri Garden station inside the park — which had turned into a leisurely resting spot for visitors and resident monkeys in the train’s absence — to board the Van Rani. We learnt that the train will operate from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm with a frequency of 30 minutes. While the three-bogey train is aimed at introducing children to SGNP’s flora and fauna, we’ll happily hop on for a nostalgia trip.  

On-site conversations

Rahul Mehrotra, Kaiwan Mehta and Ranjit Hoskote

Architecture is the talk of the town at Site Lines: Talking Architecture in the Subcontinent, a series of themed talks, masterclasses, book releases and events that is underway at IFBE, Ballard Estate. Leading voices like Kaiwan Mehta, Rahul Mehrotra, and Ranjit Hoskote (right) will be present among others, at this gathering of like-minded experts from the fields of architecture, design and urban planning. Organised by the Architecture Foundation, it kicked off yesterday, and will continue till March 21. The project builds on a previous exhibition on the subject in 2016, curated by Mehrotra, Mehta, and Hoskote as well. Those keen to attend sessions can log on to @architecture-foundation to access registration forms. 

We’re over the Moon

A still from the film features the launch of Chandrayaan. PIC COURTESY/NEHRU PLANETARIUM

This week, we’re counting down to the launch of a new show at the Nehru Planetarium that puts us in the astronaut’s seat. Titled The Moon Mission – India’s Journey to the Moon, the immersive experience of India’s Moon missions will open to viewing tomorrow. Scripted by Dr Sudhir Kumar, former director of the Capacity Building Programme Office, ISRO, the show will play in English, Hindi and Marathi. “It is a reminder that bold dreams and effort can push the boundaries of knowledge, and inspire the next generation to reach for the stars,” shared Arvind Paranjpye (right), director of the planetarium. 

* This article was originally published here