August 30, 2017
On Stage September 2017 by Anil Dharker As I sit down to write this in mid-August, news has just come in that Pahlaj Nihalani has had his scissors taken away. To say that Nihalani was the most controversial Chairperson of CBFC would be an understatement. Why he was chosen in the first place will remain […]
Read more
August 23, 2017
Mumbai Notebook August 8, 2017 There are mentalists in many parts of the world. But for some reason, many of them are from Israel. This may have to do with the fact that the ‘father’ of mentalists, the man who started it all, is from that country. His name is Uri Geller, now 70, who […]
Read more
August 21, 2017
Profound transformation and extraordinary stories: India’s incredible journey from independence to modern nation by Shashi Tharoor As India turns 70 today, politician and acclaimed author Shashi Tharoor writes about its past and its present. As Independent India turns 70, it is time to look back and to look forward at where the country found itself […]
Read more
August 17, 2017
Article for The Independent August 15, 2017 Anil Dharker Mine is a family of hoarders. Nothing worth any money sadly, but perhaps full of precious memories? Yet what memories can old bank statements (in their original envelopes), electricity bills and thank you notes possibly hold? But age lends even scraps with an aura so […]
Read more
August 7, 2017
Mumbai Notebook July 26, 2017 by Anil Dharker Victorias may finally ride into the sunset. For outsiders that sentence will make no sense, but Mumbaikars will know what it means: that the familiar clip-clop of horses near the Gateway of India and at Nariman Point will no longer be heard. If you look at old […]
Read more
July 5, 2017
On Stage by Anil Dharker They don’t use the proverb ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ as a slogan for one obvious reason – the sun rarely shines at the Hay Festival. The sun could have made an exception for the festival’s 30th year, but it didn’t. No matter : the crowds came, rain or […]
Read more
July 3, 2017
London Notebook by Anil Dharker Not by design but by pure chance, I happened to be in Londonduring two important events – the Brexit vote, and now the general elections. The results of both were unexpected and caused much dismay everywhere. Incidentally, this is just an observation : I take no credit for the disruption. This […]
Read moreOh Romeo, Romeo by Keki N. Daruwalla What next for UP police? Keeping a headcount of legit butchers, and confiscating meat cleavers? I am told there is much excitement in Firenze, Milano and Roma over the pro-Juliet squads launched by our hardline ascetic newly-appointed chief minister. Instead of watching a Raphael Madonna or Botticelli’s “Birth […]
Read more
June 21, 2017
A dearth of designers by Quasar Thakore Padamsee Since theatre activity was sporadic and also cash-strapped, designers find it virtually impossible to make a living off of it. There is no question that theatre in Bombay is thriving; particularly in the traditionally less prolific areas of Hindi & English non-commercial theatre. The emergence of numerous […]
Read more
June 19, 2017
Garima and a Buried Fragrance by Keki Daruwalla Taken from Keki Daruwalla’s book ‘Daniell Comes to Judgement’ I wake up at four in the morning. Bad time to go to the loo. When you come back to bed you discover sleep has deserted you. Father, decent old man, fond of me though he could never bring […]
Read more
June 16, 2017
Mumbai Notebook by Anil Dharker Because of travel deadlines, this is being written before June 2 which is (or ’was’ when you read this), World Environment Day. I don`t think I am sticking my neck out too much by saying that the day will be commemorated by printing many special newspaper supplements, by holding a number […]
Read more