Four city artists celebrate the paper, marking the milestone in their unique way
REPRESENTATION PIC
Window to the world
Atul V Chaudhari
As a young man growing up in Mumbai, I didn’t have access to fancy magazines or art books. But what I did have was mid-day. Sometimes bought, sometimes borrowed from neighbours, and often rescued from the local raddiwala, mid-day became my first window into the world beyond my home. It was where I discovered photographs of global events, political figures, cityscapes and moments that sparked my world of imagination. My friends, knowing my love for mid-day, would even bring over their copies just so I could sketch more from them. I would wait eagerly each day for the paper, flipping through it not just for the headlines, but for inspiration, the comics, the columnists, the jokes, and the visual stories. That daily ritual slowly grew into a lifelong practice. One sketch turned into hundreds, then into canvases, exhibitions, and finally, a studio of my own. Atul Fine Art has now stood for over 40 years — a space where generations of students, collectors, and art lovers have come together. But its roots? They go back to a newspaper, a pencil, and a young man drawing quietly in a corner of a room, dreaming with the pages of mid-day spread before him. And now, the journey continues through the next generation. My son, Chandan Chaudhari, a graduate in Applied Arts from JJ Institute, carries forward this legacy with fresh eyes and the same deep-rooted love for art. What began as a one-man dream has quietly grown into a family-run studio — where passion is inherited, and every brushstroke carries a story across generations. Congratulations, mid-day, on completing 46 vibrant years of storytelling and city spirit. You are not just a newspaper — for many of us, you are the first brushstroke of imagination.
About the artist
Atul V Chaudhari is a self-taught Mumbai-based artist with a career spanning over four decades. Known for his distinctive blend of realism, emotion and everyday narrative, his artwork often celebrates the textures of Indian life. He brings a rare mix of solid foundations and open-minded creativity. He trained for five years at Rajaram Fine Art Institute under his mentor Shree Krishna Udipi, mastering landscapes, portraits, and more.
Founder of Atul Fine Art, over the years, more than 40,000 students — from kids just exploring their creativity to adults aiming for professional art careers — have been part of this artistic journey. Now he doesn’t see himself as a “teacher” but a facilitator, someone who builds observational skills and widens imagination, sharing an environment where mistakes are as valuable as masterpieces themselves.
Healthy mix, a daily fix
Kartikeya J Khatau
Happy birthday mid-day. Congratulations on completing 46 years of being a fabulous companion to us, your faithful readers, providing a healthy mix of city centric news and entertainment, making work-life balance fun for everyone. mid-day is recognised for being the first newspaper to introduce a daily entertainment section, with in-depth film, TV and web industry news. Its local focus, digital presence, community engagement and responsible journalism are what endears itself to its many readers. This healthy mix of local news, entertainment and features hits the spot. Looking forward to 47!
About the artist
Kartikeya, better known as Kartik is an artist from Mumbai. His inspiration as an artist comes from nature and life. He is a home-schooled artist who has travelled all over the country. He has been to most of the major national parks in India for safaris and is happy to paint nature in all its beauty and vibrancy of colour. Whether it’s a tranquil Buddha, a solemn tiger that he saw in Corbett, a leopard, or various birds in the jungle, flowers, numerous land and seascapes inspired by real life, Kartik has explored all art mediums. He also specialises in groups of horses painted in abstract format. His works have sold in India, USA, UK, Dubai and in Qatar, too.
Kartik has participated in group exhibitions at the Nehru Centre Art Gallery and Mumbai Art Fair, Nehru Centre, One of his abstract paintings of horses was chosen by one of the most prestigious institutions of India, The Art Society of India, founded in 1918, for their Founder’s Day celebration, this year and was exhibited at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi. Kartik has also completed a one year Advance Course in Drawing and Painting, from the Bombay Art Society’s Visual Arts Knowledge Centre, in 2024.
In March 2025, he completed a 19-hour, online course through (Oxford) Diploma: Creating an Art Therapy Workshop, taught by Chris Sivewright, Elina Ghanbari, Almost Random Theatre, Oxford School of Learning on Udemy. He promotes and sells works of other artists. Kartik wants to create awareness about art therapy on a large scale here, and how it can be used for healing trauma with professional therapists.
Ready, set and grow
Jenny Bhatt
When it comes to growing up in Mumbai, it is all about mid-day. A companion either, bought or borrowed, this caper of a paper was a constant and for many I know, a comfort blanket that proved the city which has a method in its madness, still ticked along. It gave us the whirl — news, views, reviews and cues. For me, as an artist, my work often references memories of growing up in Mumbai and mid-day has been a memorable part of it. As the paper turns 46, and the way we consume news changes, I can only say the we hope this ‘canvas’ of the city grows stronger with every year. Here is to growing up with mid-day and growing old with it, too. Big congratulations to mid-day on this 46th birthday and looking forward to many more to come.
About the artist
Jenny Bhatt is a Mumbai visual artist. The city remains an inspiration for her work across industries including advertising, publishing, graphic designing. Her work uses satirical humour to comment on social and cultural practices. She believes we live in a time in history, when there is so much available to us, yet we have never pursued happiness so desperately. Today, belief systems are under constant influence and flux. We create Gods out of everything, actors, politicians, chefs, and CEOs!
An exhibiting artist since the mid-nineties, her work evolves over time. Her influences include pop art, eastern philosophy, spirituality and psychedelia. In the past, she has been working in multiple media with a focus on painting. More recently, she has expanded her practice to comic narratives and design.
Walls can talk too
Shanthi Kasiviswanathan
This is from my Mumbai Wall Series. It seems particularly apt for wishing mid-day on its 46th anniversary. Solid and colourful, this is the paper that exemplifies the city. Like my work, Mumbai is a mix of bright hues and greys within. Let’s celebrate #midday forever in many avatars. Walls have ears they say. Well this one can talk and as a sign off, I say: Goodbye glorious 46 and hello promising 47. Many congratulations on this anniversary.
About the artist
Shanthi Kasiviswanathan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Mumbai. After 15 years in a corporate job, she chose to become an artist. Quitting a corporate job to join art school was a radical decision fuelled by the need to fulfill her childhood dream. She has been practising art for almost a decade since graduating from the Sir JJ School of Fine Arts in 2015.
Having lived and worked in India, Africa, Australia and the USA, she considers herself a citizen of the world whilst rooted in her Indian cultural origins. She loves reading, is a fabulous cook, speaks five languages and enjoys travel. In addition to her fine arts education, she has a double Masters degree: an MBA and an MS in marketing.
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