Artist Ruchin Soni made a photo-realistic mural of Pandit Birju Maharaj in Delhi's Lodhi Colony. The mural celebrates the magnificent persona of Pandit Birju Maharaj, a leading exponent and torch-bearer of the Kathak dance form in India and an outstanding vocalist and a singer par excellence. He was adept at playing a number of musical instruments. A superb drummer, he was especially fond of playing the Tablo and Nool. He was also a talented painter and gifted poet. Artist Soni, who conceptualised this mural, hails from a family of traditional painters in Gujarat. The execution of this mural has been made possible by Trivendra Prasad.
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Artist Yip Yew creates interactive sections in the painting which invite viewers to become a part of the mural - from having a cup of tea to becoming a part of the barber shop.
Yip Yew uses his semi-realistic style to paint a mural inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of Lodhi Colony.
Yip Yew upon his arrival took a stroll across the bustling neighbourhood market and the nearby Lodhi Garden where he saw colorful shawls and smelled the aroma of sweet masala chai (tea) and ymithaaiz (sweets).
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Through this mural, the artist triggers a sense of nostalgia for the passersby. The simplicity that is still part of Lodhi's landscape, from the sound of a flute seller to the ubiquitous sights of cows and children studying on open terraces, has disappeared from many neighbourhoods in New Delhi. Therefore, this mural is Yip Yew's way of offering a moment frozen in time in which everyone can reminisce on their own memories. It also celebrates Lodhi Colony as a heartwarming neighbourhood in which community living is still a big part of life, something that is to be admired. and preserved.
