On the day we meet Dr Pheroza J Godrej in her sixth-floor office at Godrej Bhavan, her excitement over a Kathakali performance by the Museum Society of Mumbai (MSM) to be held that same evening is hard to miss. “I am not carrying a Kerala saree, but an Assamese saree. I will be asked about it,” she chuckles. Proceeding to give us a peek into the show flow, she locates the same listing among the pages of Celebrating a Diamond, the commemorative coffee table book that was recently released at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) to honour six decades of this prestigious organisation. “These lecture-demonstrations are a great education. For this one, make-up, jewellery and the dress will be discussed. One of the two male dancers is going to be fully made-up to perform, while the other will offer the explanation.”

Children engrossed in paper mache activity during the workshop, 1981. The Museum Society was ahead of its time in realising that children were important stakeholders to its activities. Within two years of its registration, in consultation with The Prince of Wales Museum (todays CSMVS), they raised funds for a Children’s Creative Centre on its lawns

Though we’re equipped with our questions, we soon realise that this conversation about Mumbai’s cultural evolution over six decades, will organically steer its own path. With this series as a starting point, Godrej divulges a fond reminiscence about MSM’s association with its collaborators and well-wishers. “Last year, after attending a Sattriya performance at Cymroza Gallery, the late Kishore Mariwala suggested that MSM host the same show on a larger scale at NCPA’s Experimental Theatre. He pledged full support,” she recalls with gratitude. “It was Arti Mehta’s [MSM member] idea to invite people to sponsor events.” For the next few minutes, Godrej reveals how premier city institutions like CSMVS, the National Centre for the Performing  Arts (NCPA) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) have supported MSM events for decades. “It’s all about good equations,” she reminds us.