ACTOR – Chum Darang

If you watched Badhaai Do, Chum Darang’s Rimjhim would have floored you completely. In her feature film debut (we first saw her first in Paatal Lok), Darang rubbed shoulders with established stars like Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, along with a bevy of veterans, and shone bright enough to become the talking point of the film. Effortless and effervescent, Darang delivered a poignant performance, and has been able to establish herself as a credible performer with a bright future.

ARCHITECTURE

Documenting architectural history should be a priority in our country, especially with the lack of conservational efforts, and sheer apathy towards heritage and history. Some Instagram handles and photographers have turned their hobbies into serious documentary efforts, covering architectural features on non-heritage buildings that everybody else might just miss.

Pinal Jain, photographer and illustrator, is obsessed with doors, and spends a considerable amount of time documenting the ornate and vibrant doors of Rajasthan and Gujarat, truly celebrating the art in the everyday.

Calcutta Houses documents interesting features on houses in Kolkata, documenting slices of history, architectural motifs that are not in fashion anymore, and nuggets of nostalgia that make for an educational read. Journalist Mathures Paul is also obsessed with architectural details, and makes it a point to photograph colonial and pre-colonial motifs, especially on ignored and dilapidated heritage homes.