Chaaloji, flex karein

Photographer Aparna Jayakumar's exhibition at the Kala Ghoda cafe captures prize moments from the annual Zoroastrian power-lifting and bodybuilding championships

Photographs of muscular, well-oiled Parsi men adorn the walls of the Kala Ghoda Cafe in Fort.

The images are courtesy Aparna Jayakumar, who took the photographs at the ninth annual Zoroastrian Power-Lifting and Bodybuilding Championships held at Rustom Baug, in February of this year.

"A friend of mine read an article on the championships in a Parsi weekly, and told me about it.


Body builders strike a pose at the Zoroastrian Power-Lifting and Bodybuilding Championships

I was very curious about the event, which despite my having lived in Mumbai all my life I had never heard of," says the 26 year-old.

Aparna, who has designed the movie stills for Bollywood films Kaminey and Little Zizou, says that the championships provided her with a glimpse into a different aspect of the community.

"It was interesting to see well-oiled, muscular Parsi men showing off their muscles in front of wildly cheering crowds. It isn't an image one typically associates with the community," says Aparna.

The Championships saw participation from contestants who had travelled all the way from Gujarat.
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The photographs capture the irony of a community that's often in the news for its dwindling numbers, engaging in an activity that is symbolic of strength: bodybuilding.

"The photographs are my attempt to offer a light-hearted portrait of the community.

I also want to document these events for posterity," says Aparna, who focuses on bodybuilder poses, backstage action and audience reactions in the series.

Her favourite moment from the series is one of an awestruck spectator. Sadly, the photograph had to be taken down when the subject of the photograph objected to having his expression blown up and framed on the wall of the Cafe.

For Aparna, however, the show stealer of the evening and the exhibition, is 72 year-old Adi Patel, who does the opening gymnast act at the championships. In the photograph, he is shown hanging upside down from a crowbar while a younger man looks on amazed.

The decision to exhibit her photographs inside a cafe as opposed to a more conventional space, Aparna says has to do with visibility.
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"People open up in such spaces, which encourages discussion. The proprietor, Farhad Bomanjee, also happens to be a good friend of mine who is keen on making this an art venue-cum-cafe."

Aparna's previous exhibitions have featured women in the public and private spheres, kite makers from Ahmedabad and taxi drivers. She is also set to release a coffee table book on taxi drivers by the first half of 2011.

She has received an encouraging response to her exhibition from her Parsi friends, including director Sooni Taraporevala and her college professor Jeroo Mulla, who taught her the basics of photography.
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"The exhibition is my way of giving back to the community that has always been very good to me," she signs off.

Till September 21
At Kala Ghoda Cafe, 10, Ropewalk Lane, Kala Ghoda, Fort, from 9 am to 11.45 pm. Call 9833803418