27 October,2026 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin Fernandes
Wedding reception invite of Anirudh Ravichander and Kaviya Maran
All eyes are on music composer Anirudh Ravichander and CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad Kaviya Maran, as the two are set to tie the knot in November. When it comes to high-profile celebrity weddings, over-the-top invitations always draw buzz. In an exclusive interaction with designer Ranjani Iyengar of Pink Whistle Man, we uncover the creative vision, painstaking craftsmanship, and behind-the-scenes production challenges that went into conceptualising the white-and-blue custom keepsake box designed for Anirudh and Kaviya's Chennai wedding reception.
Moving away from loud, fleeting trends, Ranjani chose an understated, heirloom-quality wooden box, hand-carved, individually hand-painted, and built to last. She says, "We wanted to do a box with 3D elements, but also something people will keep because Anirudh and Kaviya were sure their guests got a lot of boxes day in and day out. At the same time we wanted it to be understated and not go overboard with colours."
Speaking of the colours white and blue, Ranjani maintains it was completely by fluke and unplanned, and it had nothing to do with their wedding in Greece. She says, "We were toying between certain colours, but they liked white and blue. It also correlated with Greece later. Initially we didn't want to because it had nothing to do with the location. But it does have significance to them, so in the end it made sense."
Recalling her conversations with the couple as they approached her 4-5 months ago, Ranjani asserts that they're very aligned despite coming from different walks of life, which helped in making the process seamless. She says, "This experience was extremely wholesome because they came with a lot of trust. It's a huge process when you're working with customisation. We would speak almost 3-4 times a day, going back and forth sending options. They were very involved and also very clear about their likes and dislikes. They're both in tandem with each other. Since they're creative, they understand the importance of giving that flexibility to the people they're working with because it makes a massive difference."
Ranjani states that watching the invite come to life was a pinchable moment indeed, but it wasn't a cakewalk. "My first draft was so ugly I almost had tears. There were times in this process when I faced production challenges, and I would just cry for days. But I wouldn't take it to them because it was not their problem. However, I am happy with the outcome," she signs off.
