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Verve Magazine

@verveindia

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Delhi-based DJ duo Rehmat ‘Rem’ Kang (@r3mk44) and Atul ‘Tool’ Kalkhanda’s (@at0oll) music, dance and drag platform @_p0lluti0n was born as a response to a sleaze-shaped hole in the city’s club scene. Ironically launched at the height of pollution in the capital last winter, it has steadily snowballed into a mecca for the chronically online creative youth. Read the full feature at the link in the bio.Text and Photographs: @scriptedartistVideography: @dev.bb#Sleaze #Party #LGBTQIA+With their eye-catching hand-drawn graphics that segue into lo-fi design, the Instagram page has garnered significant interest. The most recent party titled Drag Attack celebrated Pride Month through three drag shows — a Bollywood performance by Diva D (@_divyanshsharma_), a burlesque piece by April (@the.aprilscarlet) and a wrestling match between two performance artists Mufftaresa Meow (@phares__wheel) and Whacker Cracker (@paridhichauhan689) — at Auro Kitchen Bar.Read the full feature at the link in the bio.Text and Photographs: @scriptedartistVideography: @dev.bb#Sleaze #Party #LGBTQIA+The founders speak to us about their desire to create a safe space where one can show up unabashed without fear of judgement. As co-founder Rem puts it, “We want you to come feeling sexy, but you have got to get sweaty and not worry about what the optics are.” The outcome? A congregation of fresh faces on the dance floor dressed equal parts alternative, DIY and trashy in the best way possible. Read the full feature at the link in the bio.Text and Photographs: @scriptedartistVideography: @dev.bb#Sleaze #Party #LGBTQIA+Our Delhi-based team member is familiar with the nightlife of the city — especially its rigid sartorial obligations and the if-you-know-you-know approach to socialising. He analyses his experience at the Pollution event in an effort to decode the hype and notes the details that add to a sense of comfort that he has often found to be missing in such scenarios. Read the full feature at the link in the bio.Text and Photographs: @scriptedartistVideography: @dev.bb#Sleaze #Party #LGBTQIA+ by @verveindia

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10 days ago

Menswear has been known to be often steered by notions of conformity and functionality instead of experimentation and design exploration. However, our present day’s hypervisual culture ensures that our feeds are flooded with constant inspiration alongside a visible desire to express oneself through clothing, and this has eroded some of the barriers holding menswear back. Today, it is perfectly acceptable for men to indulge in fashion and be well-versed in the language of tailoring and styling. Our exclusive shoot at Chennai-based @maisonmadras.in playfully presents archetypes of the men in our lives — among them are the if-you’ve-got-it-flaunt-it type who has mastered the art of maximalist layering; the white-collar finance guy who’s a bit too attached to his ties and watches and belts; the latter’s antithesis, the laid-back work-from-home guy; the silver-screen dandy whose retro style takes us back to the ’70s; the performative traveller with a book du jour and travel bag in hand; and the craft lover who shows off his handlooms at every art preview.Slide 1: Chaitanya wears a white gala shirt, from @osman; velvet puffer jacket, from @the_world_of_nabi; ring, from @valliyan.Slide 2: Gaurav wears a white classic shirt and black trousers, from @osman; blue and olive ties, from @ign.joseph at @maisonmadras.in; lapis lazuli ring, from @kiru_now; leather belt, from @212crease; printed ties and watch, stylist’s own.Slide 3: Kiran wears an embroidered shirt, from @erode.clothing; custom-made silk brocade kamarbandh, from @that.antiquepiece; black trousers, from @osman; bracelet (worn as necklace) and star bracelets in gold and silver, from @valliyan; earrings, model’s own.Read the full feature at the link in the bio.Text and Styling: @scriptedartistPhotographs: @raajadharshiniArt Inputs: @mallikachandra @farshogarHair and Make-up: @mild.tonesModels: @gaurav_ganapathy, @kawaiiiichan_, @lemonadeinngStyling Assistant: @supriiyajhaLocation: @maisonmadras.in_ #Menswear #Style #Fashion by @verveindia

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a month ago

Content advisory: This post contains references to cannibalism, including graphic descriptions and visuals that some readers may find unsettling, triggering and/or culturally sensitive. Reader discretion is advised.Serial killer Hannibal Lecter, created by American author Thomas Harris in 1981, is the defining figure of a subgenre of pop culture. Along with being a man-eater, he is a culinary connoisseur. In the film adaptations of ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Red Dragon’, Lecter’s (Anthony Hopkins) fondness for chopping is on show and he takes great pleasure in cooking, dining and hosting. Although not a direct adaptation, the ‘Hannibal’ television series (2013-’15) too portrays Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) as an aesthete who spends hours in his artfully tidy kitchen. And this is where the cannibal story meets the food film.The nature of the meat being cooked and served is camouflaged and glamourised with gourmet-style plating, soft lighting and close-ups in the vein of modern food photography. And in keeping with the conventions of the food film, the Hindi film ‘The Hungry’ (2017; inspired by Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Andronicus’) and the Assamese film ‘Aamis’ (2019; titled ‘Ravening’ in English) also present visually extravagant fare that whets desire. Many films [such as ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974) or ‘Bones and All’ (2022)] present their cannibals as outsiders, situated beyond the edges of cities and civilisation. These characters can easily be compared to other horror archetypes like vampires and zombies who also feed on the human body. But some cannibals — like Lecter or the shadowy restaurateur Mushkan Zuberi (Azmeri Haque Badhon) in the Bengali web series ‘Robindronath Ekhane Kawkhono Khete Aashenni’ (2021) — are a different breed altogether. It is their penchant for cooking and eating human flesh — and serving it to (mostly) unsuspecting guests who savour the taste of their fellow beings — that drives them. Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @c.sucheta Illustrations: @burningbarricade _#PopCulture #Films #Literature by @verveindia

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2 months ago

Four Goa-based creatives tell us how they are trying to inspire an awakening of consciousness in light of the rapid changes the state has undergone, particularly in the post-pandemic years. They bring attention to issues like species loss and climate change that they encounter in their own backyard.Having specialised in developmental psychology — and particularly what fosters empathy in children — film-maker @tairamalaney, 35, joined a marine conservation NGO in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as a teacher. She began by showing films to the children living on the edge of the most biodiverse coral reef in the country, to rid their fear of water and encourage them to swim. “It was my first glimpse into how powerful films can be when it comes to connecting people with the natural world.” Under the mentorship of film-maker James Reed, she learnt to draw her viewers into the narrative through beauty and wonder. “Once I have them there, that’s when I can start to approach the conflict.” This is visible in ‘Turtle Walker’ (2024), her 75-minute docu that had been in the making for seven years. “You don’t want to devastate your audience and have them feel like there’s no hope left.”Being part of a group of wildlife film-makers and impact producers has alleviated the despondency and sense of doom, as she has seen the impact that they have made through their films. “On a personal level, it’s hard to come to terms with and figure out how to grapple with these issues. But seeing the effect that our small crew has been able to make through this film is very empowering.”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @roundstoneindiaPhotographs: @dakpadakpadakpa_#Goa #Optimism by @verveindia

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3 months ago

Four Goa-based creatives are intent on reminding us about our innate connection with nature and its resilience in the wake of the overdevelopment and pollution that the state has seen in recent years. Their objective is to rekindle hope in the face of overwhelming odds.Svabhu Kohli’s (@svabhukohli) work spans large-scale murals, illustration, design, sculpture, installation, photography and film. The 35-year-old artist’s oeuvre thrives at the intersection of magical realism, visual storytelling and community building. Showcasing the rich biodiversity at the meeting of two ecosystems often takes centre stage. Kohli considers it “part of our job as artists to show people a way of looking at the world”. “When I arrived in Goa, I felt accepted here. I was into digital illustration at that point and struggling deeply with my sexual identity; the digital world allowed me to be in a cocoon because I could escape the physical reality around me.” Soon after, the Amche Mollem citizen movement was launched in 2020. “It was led by scientists, artists, lawyers and teachers during COVID-19. It took my work into all the areas I’ve always been interested in — arts, science, policy engagement, urban development, community work and forest protection.”They are currently working on a project called The Atlas of Living Hope alongside Tezpur-based Canopy Collective that brings together researchers, artists and grassroots leaders with the aim of reimagining wildlife conservation in North-East India. The work transcribes stories of the inhabitants of the last swathes of wilderness across India. “The inquiry has been simple — where do they derive their hope from?”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @roundstoneindiaPhotographs: @dakpadakpadakpa_#Goa #Optimism by @verveindia

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3 months ago

Four Goa-based creatives, who have been deeply affected by the clearing of green spaces and gentrification in the state, aspire to convert their shared trauma into hope through their individual practices.Former vernacular architect Nimmy Joshi (@nimmiatures) moved from Bengaluru to Goa in 2015 when rented accommodation was reasonably priced and the villages were green and quiet. She turned to ceramics in pre-pandemic Goa — before fancy restaurants, palatial holiday homes and constant construction sites took over the state and irrevocably changed it.Working with ceramics, copper, bronze and e-waste, Joshi’s work explores the relationship between human beings and nature, and how that impacts cultural and ecological identity. With a penchant for replicating the beauty of nature, her work prompts the audience to examine the shifts taking place in Goa and how our relationship with nature itself is morphing. “The Western Ghats are ecologically sensitive, and we are blessed to be living here among these ancient forests. But then someone buys a piece of land, and the first thing they do is chop down all the trees. The disregard baffles me because…the connection between man and nature is so direct,” says the 37-year-old. The ceramicist finds it difficult to live with the “constant sense of doom”. “There is a sadness that is being worked through. There is a plateau near our home, where we used to take our dogs for a walk every day. It was always full of life — there were black hares, porcupines, different kinds of snakes and birds, and mongoose. Now, it’s a construction site for a massive villa. One has to become indifferent to a certain extent, and this desensitisation, there’s a whole machinery behind it.”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @roundstoneindiaPhotographs: @dakpadakpadakpa_#Goa #Optimism by @verveindia

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3 months ago

Four Goa-based creatives, who have witnessed the deforestation and the consequent burgeoning of construction sites first-hand, aim to spark conversations through their work, while putting their audiences in touch with the natural world. Among them is 40-year-old Waylon D’Souza (@wjdwaylon) whose watercolours feature plastic bottles and trash piles. In his collages, goddesses sit atop dammed rivers. Through his multidisciplinary art, he depicts real locales that are battling over-development, pollution or gentrification while his work as an industrial designer and permaculture practitioner draws attention to climate change and species loss.Disillusioned with the corporate world and big cities, D’Souza moved back to Goa in 1995. His landscaping projects involve planting gardens and creating sustainable spaces for large-scale properties in Goa. “It’s been a tough journey…even though my clients include Goa-based developers for luxury villas, they aren’t the end client, their customers are. They will pay me to do my job — but the house owners will sometimes clear out the cushion of vegetation I’ve planted and replace it with a deck or something else.” He has often wanted to quit this line of work too. “What keeps me going are the problems that the clients present me with. It is a privilege to see the world through the lens of permaculture — it gives you the power to create solutions, which is very empowering, whether they are appreciated or not.” He admits that he feels lonely. “On one side, there are the environmentalists, activists and artists. And on the other are the industrialists and developers whom I work with. I’m trying to be a bridge, bring those worlds closer.”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @roundstoneindiaPhotographs: @dakpadakpadakpa_#Goa #Optimism by @verveindia

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3 months ago

Tanya Bedi (@tanyabxdi) had long felt the tug of the goth subculture. Then in 2023, two events occurred: she began listening to ’60s Goth and she spent a day at The National Gallery in London absorbing the Romantic era. That’s when she knew that goth subgenres were her style. Over an editorial conversation in her Delhi home, the vlogger and scene queen tells Verve that she has cycled through several stylistic eras. And cultural influences have layered her aesthetics. “First off, I refuse to follow and I need to rebel against the socio-cultural norms set for women to always be bright, happy, modest and feminine. The easy access to dark romance and smut novels is something I approve of,” Bedi states. Throughout, lace and a stack of intertwined necklaces have been a constant for Bedi who says, “My first introduction to goth was Trad Goths (traditional goth) — think lace chokers, waist corsets with floral details, milkmaid tops…. Or it was Lolita Goth (coquette-inspired simulacrum from the novel of the same name) — think spider webs, a collared dress with ruffles on the chest, lace umbrellas…. And if you didn’t dress like that, you would not be considered part of the subculture, but I think there’s a broader space now to explore.”Read the full feature at the link in bio. Photographs: @eeshan_hazarikaStyling: @nsamirannText: @scriptedartistHair & make-up: @_foxxexArt Assistant: @aneishatoo-#GothAesthetic #Style #IndianFashion by @verveindia

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4 months ago

When Lakmé Fashion Week birthed the runway culture in India 25 years ago, it opened the door to an emerging crop of home-grown designers looking to shape the country’s fashionscape in a globalised world. Fast-forward to a post-pandemic India, and one finds that as designers opt for multichannel modes of presentation, the newness expected from the biannual event has since diminished as have broader themes that would, in earlier times, define seasons. Add to that the current generation of fashion-driven youth who no longer abide by runway cues — their style inspiration is carefully sourced from unexpected corners of the internet. One might even say that we’re all responding to our algorithms, generation no bar. While musing on the post-modern era of fashion week, Verve styles and brings cohesion to the abundance of microtrends presented at LFW 2026. These include experimental knits paired with bedazzled classic evening wear, rugby shirts and trench coats rendered in offbeat materials, florals alongside crisp checks and more. The result alludes to the still lingering creative possibilities that the fashion week, now considered a trade show for prospective buyers by many, has to offer audiences.Read the full feature at the link in bioStyling: @shwetanavPhotography: @wreckedlines Model: @guuniitaa at @animacreativesArt Direction: @farshogar, @wreckedlinesHair & Make-up: @eleni_chatzinikolidou at @animacreativesHair & Make-up Assistant: @kavitakoli35Photography Assistant: @rakhejakshatStyling Intern: @jyotearadityuh _#LakmeFashionWeek #5DaysOfFashion by @verveindia

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4 months ago

The way we live, love and work has changed tremendously since the lines between home and office have blurred. While some couples prefer to keep separate electricity meters in their rented workspaces, others have a non-negotiable rule: go home at the end of the night.Then there are those like interior architect Ishaan Bharat (@0sheen) and communications consultant @abhishekdesai333 who work out of different floors of a duplex and maintain separate leases. Initially, they were looking to live together and Bharat was keen on a separate workplace. But when they saw the Saket duplex where Bharat now lives and works out of, he changed his mind. “Abhi is mostly here, but we have the option of keeping things separate. For example, I bought him a large TV for his birthday but it didn’t feel like it fits here so we decided to keep it in his apartment, which is where we do movie nights now, and this duplex is where we work. Landlords can be tricky to manage when you are queer. But my current landlord is queer-friendly and our friends feel comfortable with him too. This space has allowed us to be open about our relationship,” he says. For Bharat, his apartment is almost a metaphor for identity. “It became a little too formal after my junior designer started working from here. So, I am letting go of that way of working and embracing fluidity again. The people that I’ve hired mostly work remotely. We are trying to be fluid, whether it’s to do with the spaces we share, our gender or our queer identity,” he says. Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @mallikachandra Photographs: @scriptedartist_#SharingSpace #Relationships by @verveindia

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5 months ago

Juggling one’s work and a relationship in the present day is challenging enough for many young couples and it becomes even more so when they are sharing the same space for work as well.For baker @mallikatandon and music archivist, DJ and vinyl store owner Nishant Mittal (@digginginindia), boundaries fell into place quite naturally at the Shahpur Jat space from which they run their respective businesses, @bobo.cakery and record store Digging. What took them by surprise were the discoveries they made about each other. “I knew Mallika was hardworking, but it’s been an eye-opener to witness the work life of a pastry chef and all the tasks she manages in a day,” says Mittal. Tandon realised that Mittal is far more passionate about his vocation than she had thought. “I have really enjoyed seeing him share knowledge about his craft. Both of us are shy and we don’t usually talk about ourselves or our work.”While Mittal asserts that there is “a clear difference in the way we behave around each other at home and work”, Tandon warns that “seemingly trivial things can lead to serious conflict”. She recommends living with each other before venturing to work out of the same space together. “You should be able to avoid talking about home at work. There needs to be a clear distinction. Other than that, finances should be laid out very clearly.”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @mallikachandra Photographs: @scriptedartist_#SharingSpace #Relationships by @verveindia

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5 months ago

One of the many challenges couples face has to do with space, both personal and physical. This is doubly tricky for those who work out of the same spaces. Visual artist @shreya.josh and DJ-music producer Rohan Kale (@prismertraxx) work out of a 3BHK in Gurugram. Conveniently located five minutes away from their residence, it doubles up as a space where they host events centred around food, music and sustainable fashion for their community of clients and friends. Kale says, “I’m quite a homebody and would probably just be in the studio without any human interaction for years. But because of her work, there are a lot of interesting people coming into the studio which is good for me because you do need some kind of creative stimulation from time to time. I would say it’s been, not life-changing, but ‘life-adding’ to be with a partner who is naturally creative.” The married couple have previously lived with friends in a house where their bedroom doubled as a studio, both their parents’ homes and a house in Goa where they had separate workspaces for the first time. When they started to look for a place of their own in Gurugram, they decided that it would have to be “a space that accommodates all our needs,” says Josh. “And even if it entailed a five-minute commute, it would be a separate space.”Read the full feature at the link in bio.Text: @mallikachandra Photographs: @scriptedartist_#SharingSpace #Relationships by @verveindia

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5 months ago