SAHIL MANE on ART
Erwin Olaf’s work has had me captivated since I first discovered it. A Dutch photographer, Olaf is best known for his intricate, witty style of commercial photography. What I love about his style is the incredible attention to detail, gorgeous skin tones and the grand cinematic scale of his pictures. I also admire how his commercial work is an extension of his personal vision, not a watered down selling of a ‘style’. The emotion explored in all his series and the multiple layers in each picture add to the sexual undertone to most of his pictures.

MANE IS A MUMBAI-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER

VISHWAJYOTI GHOSH on BOOKS
I just finished Vijay Prashad’s The Darker Nations. It’s a fascinating account of the making of the Third World as we knew it during the Cold War days and its associated power camps across the globe. The author builds the narrative like case studies from different cities, standing at curious moments when the nations of the club believed that another world was possible.

GHOSH IS THE AUTHOR OF DELHI CALM

STEVE PETER on MUSIC
With its funk and rhythm ‘n’ blues numbers, Average White Band reminds one of a time when these traditionally black genres made it big in the music industry. They have mastered their soul influences and play around with the refrains. Their use of saxophone, guitar and congos, with smooth lyrics, is fantastic. Their music was pathbreaking and has continued to influence jam bands till today.

PETER IS THE BASSIST IN THE DELHI-BASED BAND FIVE8

ANJALI MONTEIRO on FILM
Eric Pauwels’ documentary Dreaming Films has impressed me a lot. The filmmaker takes the viewer on an unusual journey through the world of films he dreamt of making but never could. The documentary draws one into a web of associations, memories and journeys that question the very act of filmmaking. One flows along these compelling stream of stories set in unexpected places. A spider’s web, a little frog at the window, ships, railway tracks, Magellan, Odysseus, even butterflies, all come together in this haunting map of dreams.

MONTEIRO IS A MUMBAI-BASED FILMMAKER

GIR BAHADUR AGRI on FOOD
Many things make for a complete dining experience — the food, the service and the ambience. In that respect, I’d recommend Mainland China as one of the finest places for an eating out experience. The restaurant specialises in Chinese cuisine and offers wide variety of dishes. The dim sums remain my favourite. The staff in the kitchen has also mastered the art of translating Chinese tastes to Indian palate, which is evident in its widespread popularity. The innovation it employs in the presentation of its dishes has impressed me.

AGRI IS THE CORPORATE CHEF OF NEAR EAST, DELHI