Vintage Colaba

One of the seven islands of Mumbai, the old town hasalways fascinated me for its sheer European style architecture. Surprisingly itwas also known as Candil or Colio till late 17^th-18^thcentury.

Not anymore, but it used to have horse-drawn-tram-carsintroduced in 1873. How exciting!!!

It’s so much entertaining to visit this part of Mumbai onany day, but I like it better on Sundays as its less packed and dirt free.

The Gateway OfIndia, the art deco style Regal theatre (I make it a point to watch a Bollywoodfilm in dress circle), the cafes (Mondegar, Royal and Leopold, Olympia (do notmiss caramel custard at this Irani café), and then of course TheTaj Mahal Hotel, all add to the charisma and makes it your favorite place to hang out.

And then you have Colaba Causeway or just Causeway as it is known, a place that has best buys in everything; from bracelets to perfumes; clothes to watches;clocks, DVDs and CDs. You name it, you get it.

It has an old English charm and a very modern feel as well. Colaba is also the artcentre of Mumbai, with all the major galleries and museums located in and around this area.

Here’s presenting South Mumbai in my Indo-European style, which I wanted to do for so long.

Photograph-Style: Myself

Models: Inderjit Nagi and Aditi Bhagwat.

Magical Robin

Robin Rhode is a South African artist, born 1976 in Cape Town South Africa, now based in Berlin, Germany. In 1998, he obtained a diploma in Fine Art from Technikon Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by a postgraduate program at the South African School of Film, Television and Dramatic Art in Johannesburg.

Working predominantly with everyday material like charcoal, chalk and paint, Rhode started out creating performances that are based on his own drawings of objects that he interacts with. He expanded and refined this practice into creating photography sequences and digital animations. These works are characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that brings aspects of performance, happening, drawing, film and photography together. Rhode often returns to his native South Africa, creating work in the streets of Johannesburg and continuously registering the traces of poverty and social inequality. An outstanding characteristic of his works is his addressing of social concerns in a playful and productive manner, incorporating these issues into his practice without simplifying or judging them.

Kathakali Shadows

My first-ever trip to Allepey, Kerala in 2008 had more to offer than just being a mere vacation. I was fortunate enough to witness an exclusive & personal Kathakali dance performance, whereby I was exposed to their tedious & intricate art of face-painting. I was rapt by their absolute hard-work and the face painting session almost lasted for over an hour! The mesmerizing act itself was of 2 hours duration.

And to pay respect to this wonderful facial art I decided to paint a series, aptly titled, KATHAKALI SHADOWS.

Why the word 'Shadows'? Well, since the series is more about the 'backstage' feel—the make-up application, the relaxed body language and the casual postures—and not so much about the actual dance-form

It was very well-received and happens to be the only lengthy series I have worked on till date, having begun the same in 2008.

Hope you like the works as much as I have loved painting them.

Please leave your valuable comments.

For more works go to: https://www.facebook.com/artbyarif

My Studio

The man who made me fall in love with Nudes...

Lucian Michael Freud was a British painter. Known chiefly for his thickly impacted portrait and figure paintings, he was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of his time. His works are noted for their psychological penetration, and for their often discomforting examination of the relationship between artist and model. He died on 20^th July 2011 at the age of 88.

The best thing about his nudes, despite being very realistic, is not offensive or dirty. It is creativity at its peak. And I owe a lot to him as an artist myself.

May your soul rest in peace.

Jama Masjid Iqbal-ud-Dowla

Although am not biased at judging against a Masjid to another because in the end its the house of Allah, but this particular one has to have a special mention. The Spanish Mosque (Jama Masjid Iqbal-ud-Dowla) on the Paradise-Old Begumpet Airport Road, and very close to my house in Hyderabad, is a striking mosque with unique plan elevation; it was built by Sir Vikhar-ul-Umra Iqbal-ud-Dowla, the Paigah noble, in 1906.

It is believed to be the only one of its kind in India, with pointed arches, a pointed main roof composed of two truncated octagonal pyramids placed one above the other intervened by octagonal domes. The minarets aesthetically placed at corners of the parapet are in the same style, very unusual from those seen in other mosques in the city and elsewhere. And it is difficult to miss them as you climb on (from Paradise side) to the flyover opposite the Airport.

A lot of debate has been done for its semblance to the architectural look and feel of a church!

The other notable features are Moorish arches inside the prayer hall, Quranic verses in exquisite calligraphy inscribed on the inside walls, the absence of an ablution tank and a courtyard. In plan, the mosque comprises a main prayer hall, two rooms in front of it and a central corridor for entering the hall. It is over this central corridor or the entrance porch that the octagonal dome stands.

The Spanish Mosque here formed part of the sprawling 340 acres of wooded estate of the Paigah nobles studded with seven palaces, all built in European and Indo-European styles. Some of them are the Paigah Palace or the Iqbal-ud-Dowla palace that has now become the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority's office, the Devdi Nazir Nawaz Jung, part of which has been leased to Chiraan Fort Club and the Vikhar Manzil, overlooking the Hussain Sagar Lake.

It is listed for conservation as a Grade II A structure, comprising buildings of regional or local importance possessing special architectural or aesthetic merit, cultural or historical value. They are the local landmarks contributing to the image and identity of the city deserving intelligent conservation and the regulation governing them allows adaptive reuse internally but external changes are subject to scrutiny. Yet the colour scheme of the mosque has been changed from pure white to pastel green in recent years.

Hyderabad-E-Haleem!

Haleem is synonymous with Ramadan as it’s with Hyderabad. Originally considered to be an Arabic dish, made of meat, wheat flour, spices and ghee, it is said to have come to Hyderabad during the Mughal period via Iran and Afghanistan. It remained an integral part of Hyderabad due to the Nizam rule.

Over a period of time local influence brought in modifications and changes in the original recipe and made Hyderabadi Haleem distinct from other types of Haleem available today.

Although it is prepared in other cities of India (I had it in Mumbai and its just ok ok) as well during Ramadan but by and large the Hyderabadi Haleem remains the preeminent!

The conventional method of cooking Haleem is to cook on a low flame of firewood for 12 hours in a bhatti (a cauldron covered with brick & mud kiln). One or two men, usually, mix it thoroughly with large wooden sticks throughout its preparation, until it gets to a sticky-smooth consistency, similar to mashed mince.

Hyderabadi Hallem is a type of meat stew made from pounded wheat and mutton made into thick paste and served freshly hot with crispy fried onions and lemon juice. is equally popular with everyone just like its other dish, the Hyderabadi Biryani. It’s usually eaten during Iftaar.

Look out for the bhattis across the city, especially near/next to a masjid, besides accessible at assorted irani hotels.

The ones to look out for are: hotel 555, Sarvi, Pista House, Shah Ghouse and Shadab

Remember it’s AVAILABLE and CHERISHED in Hyderabad only during Ramadan.

Over a period of time the Haleem has gained its prominence as starters at Muslim weddings and other celebrations.

It is estimated that during Ramadan, Hyderabad eateries sell 1 billion worth of haleem.

This is because Hyderabadis cannot survive Ramzan without Haleem. It is a matter of habit.

Magical Chowmahallah!

Since my childhood I used to question what lies at the back of those massive walls and a mammoth wooden gate. Chowmohala Palace was lock up for the longest time and somewhere down there I knew I will fall in love with this place once I see it.

And it happened in 2006. I was spellbound by its beauty. Enthralled by the huge courtyard. Dumbfounded by its construction. And I surely was in love. The palace is smartly filled with photographs of Nizam and his families (some very personal and rare pictures of him with his wives and childrens) including weapons they owned/used, books, kitchen ware, letters, coins, manuscripts, slothes, furniture and vehicles.

Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat (4 Palaces), was a palace belonging to the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizam.

Northern courtyard

This part has Bara Imam, A long corridor of rooms on the east side face the central fountain and pool that, once housed the administrative wing. and Shishe-Alat meaning mirror image.

It has Mughal domes and arches and many Persian elements like the ornate stucco work that adorn the Khilwat Mubarak. These were characteristic of buildings built in Hyderabad at the time.

Opposite to the Bara Imam is a building that is its shishe or mirror image. The rooms were once the used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries.

Khilwat Mubarak

This is heart of Chowmahalla Palace. It is held in high esteem by the people of Hyderabad, as it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid. Here the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies. The 19 spectacular Chandeliers of Belgian crystal recently reinstalled to recreate the lost splendor of this regal hall.

Clock Tower

The clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace is affectionately called as Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for around 250 years. An expert family of clock repairers winds the mechanical clock every week.

Council Hall

This building housed a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books.The Nizam often met important officials and dignitaries here.Today it is venue for temporary exhibitions from the treasures of the Chowmahalla Palace Collection that of a bygone era.

Roshan Bangla

The sixth Nizam is believed to have lived here and the building was named after his mother Roshan Begum.

The present Nizam (Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Pretender) and his family decided to restore the Chowmahalla Palace and open it to the public in January 2005. It took over 5 years to document and restore the palaces of the first courtyard to its former glory.

I robustly suggest people visiting Hyderabad to pay a visit to this magic called, Chowmahalla Palace.

Regular Palace Timings for viewing: 10am -5pm

(Closed on Fridays and National Holidays)

Tickets: Indian Visitor - Rs. 30 and / International Visitor - Rs. 150

Sacred Spaces

These are the focal devotion places of some of the main religions in the world.

1. Kaaba: Muslim. Saudi.

2. Golden Temple: Sikh. India.

3. Wailing Wall. Jews. Jerusalem.

4. St Peters. Christian. Rome.