“But it just so happens that between Anil and I, we seem to know some of the most interesting people around.” However, in addition to being friends, he says that they also make an outstanding list of performers. “I think the bands would hold their own in any music festival and the writers in any writing festival,” Thayil points out. 

“These are not the usual suspects,” admits Kably. He says that while some, like journalists Supriya Nair and Genesia Alves—who he jokingly calls ‘the Patti Smith of Bandra’—are known names, there are first timers like writer and comedian Kamal Trilok Singh and media entrepreneur Mandovi Menon. “It’s a coming-together of people who may not have otherwise come together or had the opportunity to. It’s [presenting] another viewpoint, another lens, another expression in terms of conversations or opinions or points of view or music that’s not really mainstream. And generally, I think that is what it is.” Kably likens the festival to a genre of music known as Shoegaze. 

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“It’s famously said that Shoegaze is a scene that celebrates itself. I don’t mean that we are celebrating ourselves, but in a sense, if you had to laugh at yourself a little, we’re just bringing together people who we know and we feel have something different to say.”

WHAT: Five Oh: A festival of Music and Literature
WHERE: Pioneer Hall, Bandra
WHEN: November 18, 4 PM onwards
COST: Rs 499