Mansi Multani

Halloween (1). A first for her, a first for me.

Our little baby penguin.
Mama is the protective block of ice.
And I am their shadow.

Thanks for making my first so special chotu.
Can I always shadow you around?
Especially when the days are long, so I get you for longer?

Exactly a year ago, on the 15th of December 2023, my first time hosting the serendipity arts festival in goa, our grand opening night was the inimitable Zakir Hussain and his comrades. I remember feeling nervous to approach him before the show but what I remember more, is the immediacy with which his warmth and smile, took my nerves away.
Opening the evening to over 10000 people in the audience, I remember him looking at me and mentioning on stage that he was sad not to be performing 'Raag Multani' that night. I was so taken by that gesture, all I could do was giggle in surprise! He didn't need to include me or say anything like that at all. And yet, he made me a part of it, in his own way and made my shoulders drop, most unexpectedly.
My takeaway that night was not just his sheer relentless genius (because my god what a genius) but also his ability to be so utterly relaxed, easy, full of levity, banter and most importantly, love.
What we do with the art we practice matters a lot but who we are makes it all the more precious and forever memorable. I know that I will never ever forget.
Thank you for giving me the honour of experiencing your magic that night, in so many ways. This loss is inexplicable and bears too heavily on the world of music and the arts.

Rest in peace, maestro. This feels surreal.

Halloween (2) Getting wiggy jiggy with it.
Dressing up the wounds and dancing, anyway.
And, and, trusting my knees. Thanks for saving me with your strong landings this year.

Also, is it just me who thought the idiom 'weak in the knees' was only to do with love all along?

Thanks for the lessons and reminders, spook season.

Bringing an out-take back in.

Captured by

Instant vibe and heart check with this stunning woman. Sometimes within seconds you just know what needs to be known.

❤️

Pour overs and peeled covers.

📷

Halloween (1). A first for her, a first for me.

Our little baby penguin.
Mama is the protective block of ice.
And I am their shadow.

Thanks for making my first so special chotu.
Can I always shadow you around?
Especially when the days are long, so I get you for longer?

Do not block.
Do not block smiles.
Do not block, smile.

💌

What a privilege. To watch Cactus Pears and Shadowbox at surrounded by such a keen and warm audience. Such tender films with so much heart. They both left me feeling like a leaf in the wind - shaking and floating, in equal measure.
Congratulations to both teams. I had been looking forward to these two with much anticipation. Feels fitting that they both fit over the same weekend in such an unexpectedly beautiful way.
What heartbreakingly delicate performances
jayshri_jagtap31 in Cactus Pears and to see my dearest jaan captivate with every move and every act of stillness, in Baksho Bondi. Thank you for such quiet illumination.

And to the phenomenal torchbearers and creators behind these pearls, kudos
.pendurty .bagchi

Also, breathing in an aqi of 20 whilst frolicking on an actual pavement in the californian sun to both these theatres, for my Saturday and Sunday afternoon watch had me grinning stupidly the whole way.
Thanks for the delicious curation 🌞

Poison. A still.
Swipe for imaginings by

The first image in this series by was used to share the announcement of the commencement for the shooting period of Bokshi in 2021. Four years later, tonight, the film is having its world premiere at the prestigious International Film Festival of Rotterdam
A slow burn, a long wait, new questions, old answers, reminders, patience, ploughing, finding stead.
This work takes so long and asks for so much. And finally, with the forces that be, if you're lucky, you arrive at a release - in every sense of the term, pun very much intended.
To .vaibhav and the entire cast and crew behind this untamed beast.
Let's go.