The weekend ended on a grand scale for the guests at the Design Showcase by Sabyasachi Mukherjee organised by The Hindu at Taj Falaknuma on Sunday evening.
The event featured a collection of Mukherjee and was accompanied by Carnatic vocal by Oscar nominee Bombay Jayashri. The opulence of the setting more than complemented the elaborate design that was showcased.
The Darbar Hall, a narrow dining hall originally intended to host Mehboob Ali Pasha’s guests, was transformed into a stage, keeping the original decor of the hall intact. The collection was a mix of minimalism and maximalism, as announced at the beginning of the show. Inspired by the opulence of the 1920s, the garments, with rich baroque detailing and dark undertones took one back to the golden era.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to the guests before the show, Sabyasachi quoted Rabindranath Tagore saying, “I travelled the world looking for beauty, but little did I know it was in a dew drop on a blade of grass growing outside my doorstep. Real beauty started here in India. If you embrace the Indian design aesthetic, you stand to become global.”
Mr. Mukherjee’s address was preceded by that of Arun Anant, CEO of The Hindu .
“Yesterday, we held a discussion on Telangana and the future of Hyderabad itself. Today, I was to rededicate the city to fusion and harmony through music and design,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The show also included a silent auction of Mukherjee’s signature garments, the proceeds of which will go to The Mahesh Memorial Paediatric Oncology Centre set up by the Mahesh Memorial Trust at the Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai. The trust was started in memory of music director Mahesh Mahadevan, who succumbed to cancer in 2002. The event was sponsored by BMW India and Kun Exclusive - BMW Authorized partner in Hyderabad, RADO, BOSE, Unitech and Taj Falaknuma Palace.