Raghav Shreyas may have left us all, but this book on 'probably the most important Bangalore landmark ever', reminds us of his talent and contributions to the city's photo-culture

Can anyone describe a Bangalore experience without at least one mention of Koshys? We think not, and wouldn't really take them seriously, if they even tried. Decades have passed and Bangalore has evolved from a sleepy cantonment town into a spilling-over metropolis, bludgeoned under an ever-increasing population.
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Things have changed all around this vast growing city, yet its cafu00e9 core has remained the same. It wouldn't be too far fetched to call Koshys an institution, a home away from home for many, that has served Bangalore's famous, smartest and most successful since time immemorial or at least as far back as we can remember.

What makes it tick is that it warmly opens out its wooden interiors to every visitor who decides to drop in and surprises you with the sheer familiarity that everyone seems to show in half-smiles and random nods.

Yes, there will always be the discontented lot, who will hate the place, because of the non-existence of an air conditioner or the lack of music (for whatever reason) or just because it's not up-market enough for them. The reasons can be many, but the dislikers will always be outdone by the likers.

And for all you likers, here's one more reason to rejoice as 'Table by the Window' a book on Koshys caught on camera by Raghav Shreyas finally releases and will soon hit stores.
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In an evocative collection of nearly 100 black and white photographs by the (now) late Raghav Shreyas, you see a depiction of the innumerable fascinating characters that pass this gastronomic institutions wooden doors everyday.
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So what makes it a book worth keeping or even buying? Well, all the shots have been taken from a particular table at 9 am.

You'll get to see never-before-seen pictures of Poilie Sengupta, Paul Fernandes, Ramachandra Guha and Prakash Belawadi among many other famous Bangaloreans as they stepped into Koshys on different days to enjoy a healthy breakfast on a sunny Bangalore morning.

As the resplendent rays of the sun stream through the window, the magic of the antique furniture and the British du00e9cor come alive narrating the story of a bygone era.

The collection however, does not only comprise of well-known faces but also documents people from various walks of life representing the very spirit of the city.

Each snap blends the scent of history with the delightful aroma of coffee giving you the essence of Koshy's and what it means to Bangaloreans.

The most interesting facet of this album, however, remains Raghav's understanding of the city and its people and how he portrays it through one corner of Koshys.

"Koshy's has its own charm and Raghav loved it there. We wanted to carry on his name and promote all kinds of art that he indulged in, during his life," said Vasantha Kumari, his mother, who heads the Raghav Shreyas Foundation an organization presenting the book on Raghav's second death anniversary.

Raghav, a photographer, author, mridangam player and an orator brought out the much praised happy-go-lucky nature of people in our city who love their cup of coffee and conversation, more than anyone would ever assume.

The idea of a photo feature was born one day when Raghav was generally shooting several pictures of Prem Koshy, the owner of the coffee shop and he decided to give these thoughts a shape.

"Raghav was a perfectionist. It is an interesting and aesthetic project but quite a challenging project too. Each image enlivens the book," said Sandhya Mendonca, the editor of the book.

The regulars at Koshy's, who feature in this book, have also written poems and accounts of their memories here. The ochre-yellow contrasting pages further add to the photographs giving it an extra edge.

'Table by the Window'
Published by Raintree Media, a 126 pager coffee-table book
Priced at Rs 950; Call: 4060 8686; Available at Koshys,
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