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| The Prithvi Theatre book store |
Irish Coffee memories
One of the things to do in Mumbai, when I
moved in here in the late 1990s, was to have the Irish coffee at Juhu’s Prithvi
Café. It was an integral part of the Bombay experience then.
moved in here in the late 1990s, was to have the Irish coffee at Juhu’s Prithvi
Café. It was an integral part of the Bombay experience then.
I’d ticked it off my list fairly early on in my stint in the city. I hadn’t gone back to Prithvi Café since then even though we’d dropped in to see a
play or two at the Prithvi Theatre.
play or two at the Prithvi Theatre.
Paratha plans
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| The Instagram picture behind my paratha dreams |
Prithvi Cafe came back in my radar recently
thanks to Vernika Awal who is on social media as ‘Delectable Reveries’, which is the name of her blog and Instagram handles.
thanks to Vernika Awal who is on social media as ‘Delectable Reveries’, which is the name of her blog and Instagram handles.
Prithvi to her, it seems, is what Candies is
to me. She’s been going here for the last 12 years or so. She lovingly puts up
pictures of the parathas at the Prithvi Cafe every second day on Instagram and those parathas
called out to me.
to me. She’s been going here for the last 12 years or so. She lovingly puts up
pictures of the parathas at the Prithvi Cafe every second day on Instagram and those parathas
called out to me.
Vernika invited K and me to join her
for breakfast at Prithvi for parathas someday. That plan stayed in limbo for a
while till last Sunday evening when K and I found ourselves in Juhu.
for breakfast at Prithvi for parathas someday. That plan stayed in limbo for a
while till last Sunday evening when K and I found ourselves in Juhu.
I suggested checking out Prithvi to K and then messaged Vernika to see if she could join us there.
“I am there right now” Vernika replied. “I often go to Prithvi in the evenings to see the sun set while I read a book.”
Then she warned us and said, “Sunday
evening is a bad idea but come. I will try to hold a table.”
evening is a bad idea but come. I will try to hold a table.”
We reached an hour later. I had visions of
young Vernika switching from chair to chair all this while, alternately putting on a wig and a
moustache, pretending to be three people at a table.
young Vernika switching from chair to chair all this while, alternately putting on a wig and a
moustache, pretending to be three people at a table.
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| Kumbh Mela at Prithvi Cafe |
After we reached the Prithvi Theatre, I
realised why Vernika was so concerned. The café is located in the compound
outside the theatre. There was a sea of people waiting there and it looked like the proverbial Kumbh Mela.
realised why Vernika was so concerned. The café is located in the compound
outside the theatre. There was a sea of people waiting there and it looked like the proverbial Kumbh Mela.
Vernika was waiting for us at the entrance.
She told us that the café was packed. She said that many of the people at the cafe were waiting to go in to watch a play.
She told us that the café was packed. She said that many of the people at the cafe were waiting to go in to watch a play.
‘Evenings are packed these days,’ she
said. “Weekends are the busiest.”
said. “Weekends are the busiest.”
She also pointed to a row of people sitting in a queue ahead of the cafe by the entry to the theatre.
“It’s free seating in the theatre. Unlike those in the cafe, these people are keen to get front row seats,” explained our Prithvi expert.
Vernika said that we had to wait for about another 15 minutes for a table according to the reservation system app on her phone. She then suggested that we go
to the book shop.
to the book shop.
Once upon a time in a bookshop
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| Plum was waiting for me |
I had no idea that the Prithvi Theatre had
a book shop till Vernika told me about it.
a book shop till Vernika told me about it.
I wondered if it would contain books on theatre at the most or just books on Prithvi. The way a museum gift shop would. Turned out that this was not the case.
The book shop was a small place. Looked similar from outside to a bookshop we had seen near San Gines, The popular chocolate and churros place in Madrid.
The first book to catch my eye in the Prithvi store was a Bertie
and Wooster PG Wodehouse one.
and Wooster PG Wodehouse one.
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| Arguably Mumbai’s biggest Woody Allen Fan |
Then I looked up and saw a Woody Allen omnibus. I
immediately picked it up for K.
immediately picked it up for K.
I had introduced her to Woody Allen through
my copy of Side Effects when we were dating. It was my aunt’s book which I had borrowed and never returned as she didn’t live in Kolkata anymore.
my copy of Side Effects when we were dating. It was my aunt’s book which I had borrowed and never returned as she didn’t live in Kolkata anymore.
Since then K has become a huge Woody Allen fan. The Woody Allen DVDs and
posters on display in our house make this amply clear. These are largely gifts
from me to her. When I see anything to do with Woody Allen, I pick it up for
her. Makes for a bankable gift and one which is never exchanged!
posters on display in our house make this amply clear. These are largely gifts
from me to her. When I see anything to do with Woody Allen, I pick it up for
her. Makes for a bankable gift and one which is never exchanged!
Meanwhile Vernika picked up a copy of Em
and the Big Hoon by Jerry Pinto. This is one of the best examples of an Indian author writing in English that I have come across in a while. The
writing is so fluid. The command over the language so masterful.
and the Big Hoon by Jerry Pinto. This is one of the best examples of an Indian author writing in English that I have come across in a while. The
writing is so fluid. The command over the language so masterful.
Vernika then spotted a copy of Alex Hailey’s
Roots. K saw that too and decided to gift a copy to young Vernika just
as K’s mama had gifted one to her (K) years back. I had read Roots in college when my
neighbour in Kolkata, Rana da, had lent it to me.
Roots. K saw that too and decided to gift a copy to young Vernika just
as K’s mama had gifted one to her (K) years back. I had read Roots in college when my
neighbour in Kolkata, Rana da, had lent it to me.
Book lovers look out for each
other you see and I think we had decided to adopt Vernika by the end of the evening.
other you see and I think we had decided to adopt Vernika by the end of the evening.
Then I saw Fahrenheit 451, a book we had
discussed in my Sociology days in Presidency College. K picked that up for me seeing my
excitement.
discussed in my Sociology days in Presidency College. K picked that up for me seeing my
excitement.
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| Each shelf contained gems I have not seen a copy of Trainspotting in any book shop in Mumbai yet |
I saw that the shop is divided into two sections. English and Hindi.
In English, I saw at least a dozen books
that I wanted to pick. So different from the Crossword book shop near our house
in Bandra. When I go there, I look blankly at the books on display and come
back without buying anything. None of the books talk to me there while at the Prithvi bookshop every second book seemed jump at me asking me to take them home. It seemed like the personal collection of someone who loves to read.
that I wanted to pick. So different from the Crossword book shop near our house
in Bandra. When I go there, I look blankly at the books on display and come
back without buying anything. None of the books talk to me there while at the Prithvi bookshop every second book seemed jump at me asking me to take them home. It seemed like the personal collection of someone who loves to read.
I could see that the effect was the same on
K and Vernika.
K and Vernika.
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| Happy shopping to us |
Managing the store was Raju who moved in to Mumbai from Darbhanga in Bihar. A cheerful
young man who loves to read books. Specifically Hindi literature. Apparently he has long chats on Hindi
literature with Vernika’s dad when the latter drops in at the shop.
Raju strongly
recommended Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha to Vernika. Another book from my aunt’s
collection that I read in college.
My late grandpa, who infused the love of
reading in me, used to read this often in the afternoons before he fell asleep.
recommended Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha to Vernika. Another book from my aunt’s
collection that I read in college.
My late grandpa, who infused the love of
reading in me, used to read this often in the afternoons before he fell asleep.
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| The only time Raju didn’t smile! He clarified to me that he and Makarand Deshpande Don’t influence each others hair styles |
Vernika then led us on to another secret. Next
to the main shop was a small section where they sell second hand books. Not any
second hand book though. The titles on display were carefully chosen by the
owner and that showed in the quality of what was on offer.
There is a coconut tree inside the
section. Vernika told me that she often brought her own books over to sit there
and read.
section. Vernika told me that she often brought her own books over to sit there
and read.
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| He’s sitting at the spot where Vernika often sits She says that she loves stumbling upon hand written notes in second hand books |
The reader
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| From K’s Insta profile. For me that person would be dadu. My late grandfather Can’t imagine kissing him. More a handshake person Maybe I should have |
I used to be like K and Vernika till recently when it came to books. I was a
voracious reader right from my childhood days. At times I’d finish reading a book a day when I was in school. From
detective stories and war thrillers of the Leon Uris and Forsythe kind to the comic relief of PG Wodehouse and
Sue Townsend and the Yes Minister series to heavier stuff such as Rushdie, D H Lawrence, Somerset maughma and
Iris Murdoch and what not. Ulysses is the only book that I had taken up then and
couldn’t finish. I used to love reading so much that my mother put up an
embargo on me during exam weeks and books were not allowed at home. I used to
smuggle story books in still, and if not caught, read them in the privacy of my
room.
voracious reader right from my childhood days. At times I’d finish reading a book a day when I was in school. From
detective stories and war thrillers of the Leon Uris and Forsythe kind to the comic relief of PG Wodehouse and
Sue Townsend and the Yes Minister series to heavier stuff such as Rushdie, D H Lawrence, Somerset maughma and
Iris Murdoch and what not. Ulysses is the only book that I had taken up then and
couldn’t finish. I used to love reading so much that my mother put up an
embargo on me during exam weeks and books were not allowed at home. I used to
smuggle story books in still, and if not caught, read them in the privacy of my
room.
I must confess that I have lost a bit of my love for reading of late. I don’t seem to have the patience to go through a book these days. I would blame it on my low
attention span. When I do read a book, I turn a few pages, and then go back to my
phone and click to see what’s happening. Links on the internet are what I read he most and then Travelogues and occasionally Buddhist books.
attention span. When I do read a book, I turn a few pages, and then go back to my
phone and click to see what’s happening. Links on the internet are what I read he most and then Travelogues and occasionally Buddhist books.
I am trying to change that of late. Reading
is the best way to open one’s mind after all and to improve as a writer too.
is the best way to open one’s mind after all and to improve as a writer too.
Standing at the Prithvi Book Shop, I
resolved to consciously make an effort to read more. I have finished a magical reality book recently and am in the middle of Jerry Pinto’s Murder in Mahim now.
resolved to consciously make an effort to read more. I have finished a magical reality book recently and am in the middle of Jerry Pinto’s Murder in Mahim now.
I am sure I can get back to it again.
It might take some work but I will give it a shot. Just as I am doing with
‘conscious’ eating. After years of having a meal while watching TV or reading a
book, I am trying not to do either while having my lunch. Focusing on my food
instead just as they teach us in yoga class. It’s tough to eat and not do anything else, but I am not giving up.
It might take some work but I will give it a shot. Just as I am doing with
‘conscious’ eating. After years of having a meal while watching TV or reading a
book, I am trying not to do either while having my lunch. Focusing on my food
instead just as they teach us in yoga class. It’s tough to eat and not do anything else, but I am not giving up.
After having discovered the Prithvi Book Shop, I now know
where to come to buy my books.
where to come to buy my books.
Parathas lost
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| Chaos at the reservation counter at Prithvi Cafe |
How were the parathas you ask? That’s a story for another day as they eluded us this time. No parathas were eaten in the making of this post as they say.
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| I saw someone having parathas at this table If I knew better I’d have clicked a picture of it for you |
We tried our luck going the Prithvi Café after waiting
for an hour at the bookshop. The promised ‘fifteen minutes’ had stretched on evidently. We were finally told at the chaotic reservation stand that we had a ‘table’. We
walked through the maze of people sitting there. They seemed to be primarily students, thanks to the economic prices of the food here, than theatre goers said Vernika.
for an hour at the bookshop. The promised ‘fifteen minutes’ had stretched on evidently. We were finally told at the chaotic reservation stand that we had a ‘table’. We
walked through the maze of people sitting there. They seemed to be primarily students, thanks to the economic prices of the food here, than theatre goers said Vernika.
I noticed people having pizzas, waffles and
then at one table, parathas which smelt great.
then at one table, parathas which smelt great.
We were pointed to a corner where people
were sitting.
were sitting.
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| Somewhere on the other side were three spots for us to sit |
“You share tables here,” explained Vernika.
Some young folks got up to make way for us and the three of us squeezed in like
one would in a college canteen.
Some young folks got up to make way for us and the three of us squeezed in like
one would in a college canteen.
It was 8 pm and we were famished. I opened
the menu and ordered.
the menu and ordered.
“One cheese chili paratha,” I said
excitedly.
excitedly.
“Plain masala paratha with chhole for me,”
said K.
said K.
“Sure, cancel the cheese and make it one
masala paratha and one alu,” I said.
masala paratha and one alu,” I said.
“The mixed paratha is better than the alu
(potato) here and I would recommend that,” said Vernika.
(potato) here and I would recommend that,” said Vernika.
“OK, whatever the ladies are saying,” I told
our waiter and then thought of ordering an Irish coffee for old times sake. Vernika ordered for a masala chai and K a Coke Zero.
The Irish Coffee was priced at Rs 130 so I doubt
if it had any whiskey in it. I wonder if it did earlier. Do any of you know more about this as I don’t remember?
our waiter and then thought of ordering an Irish coffee for old times sake. Vernika ordered for a masala chai and K a Coke Zero.
The Irish Coffee was priced at Rs 130 so I doubt
if it had any whiskey in it. I wonder if it did earlier. Do any of you know more about this as I don’t remember?
I was in a happy place. We had found a great book
shop. Parathas were on the way or so I thought. Good books had been bought. La dolce vita as they say.
shop. Parathas were on the way or so I thought. Good books had been bought. La dolce vita as they say.
“Parathas will take 40 minutes sir,” said
the waiter with a smile cutting into my dreamy state.
the waiter with a smile cutting into my dreamy state.
“What?”
“The chefs told us that only one tava is
working and there are a lot of orders,” said the waiter.
working and there are a lot of orders,” said the waiter.
“Why didn’t you tell us all this while?” I
asked. “Can’t it be a bit faster?”
asked. “Can’t it be a bit faster?”
“No,” he replied firmly with a smile like George
in Peppa Pig when asked to share his chocolates.
in Peppa Pig when asked to share his chocolates.
I was hungry and felt almost as murderous
as Roose Bolton (GOT) on a bad day.
as Roose Bolton (GOT) on a bad day.
We got up, left and went to Cafe Moshe’s next
door, subjected ourselves to hummus and over heated and chewy pita (that was what they could get us the fastest) and then ran
back to Bandra where my mom in law and Banu had kept dhansak and kebabs ready
for the two of us.
Vernika went home where her mother had made alu tikkas
for her.
Finally it all came down to good home cooked food to save the day.
door, subjected ourselves to hummus and over heated and chewy pita (that was what they could get us the fastest) and then ran
back to Bandra where my mom in law and Banu had kept dhansak and kebabs ready
for the two of us.
Vernika went home where her mother had made alu tikkas
for her.
Finally it all came down to good home cooked food to save the day.
Vernika’s words of advice to us when was we left were, “come over
one morning to Prithvi to have the parathas. That’s when it is not crowded.”
one morning to Prithvi to have the parathas. That’s when it is not crowded.”
I do plan to come back to the Prithvi Book Shop for more books.
This time, however, I will have the
excellent parathas at Lassi te Parrothe or at Lashkara in Bandra, or our cook Banu’s alu parathas at home, before heading out to Prithvi!
excellent parathas at Lassi te Parrothe or at Lashkara in Bandra, or our cook Banu’s alu parathas at home, before heading out to Prithvi!
Even the lure of Padma Lakshmi making the
parathas herself at Prithvi Cafe would not change my mind. Nor the promise of Nigella Lawson doing so and slipping in some bacon bits
in the process.
parathas herself at Prithvi Cafe would not change my mind. Nor the promise of Nigella Lawson doing so and slipping in some bacon bits
in the process.
That’s how deeply I was scarred by the experience. Some things should best remain as urban
legends I guess.
legends I guess.
Tip: As said earlier, try the cafe in the morning. I can’t vouch for this
The bookshop accepts cards as well as cash.
Also check:
1. Link to where you can buy my book, The Travelling Belly, on Amazon.
2. Check out this link on Kainaz’s Instagram page to see a video of the second hand section of the bookshop
2. Check out this link on Kainaz’s Instagram page to see a video of the second hand section of the bookshop
Hi! I'm Tejashree. I love Prithvi theatre a lot. And ever since the lockdown was imposed, I haven't been able to go there and experience the magic of theatre and books. Today was one of those many afternoons when I just can't resist the urge to be there. So I googled anf found this blog. Thank you so much for writing this. It transported me to prithvi theatre.
Hi! I'm Tejashree. I love Prithvi theatre a lot. And ever since the lockdown was imposed, I haven't been able to go there and experience the magic of theatre and books. Today was one of those many afternoons when I just can't resist the urge to be there. So I googled anf found this blog. Thank you so much for writing this. It transported me to prithvi theatre.