Raja Ravi Varma’s Feast of Wonders: An Onam Like No Other
A quick note: We have opened early ticketing for this event for a select group of our supporters. Seating at the venue—The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai—is highly limited. Please book soon to reserve your seats at Zomato Live or contact us at 8875010300/ truesouth@enthucutlet.com.
Step into the world of Raja Ravi Varma... where all that is familiar isn’t quite what it seems.
Within the lush confines of the Travancore court are strange secrets of lust, betrayal, murder, and even a blood-soaked jackfruit. Iconic paintings spring to astonishing life, bashful beauties turn into Malayali matriarchs—all at the touch of the (AI) magic wand.
The evening unfolds as a string of moments of wonder. Eminent historian Manu Pillai unveils the hidden histories of Onam, as they unfold on banana leafed thalis—delightful, inventive and unexpected. No, this is not that familiar Sadhya. This feast is like none other, reimagined afresh by renowned Chefs Manu Chandra and Hussain Shahzad. (Check out the incredible menu)
‘Raja Ravi Varma’s Feast of Wonders’ is a vivid and visual experience that blends historical storytelling, experiential dining and AI art. We are delighted, surprised, and intrigued as we discover afresh what we thought we already knew—be it Raja Ravi Varma or Onam.
What is this 'Feast of Wonders'?
Each ticket is inclusive of:
- A lavish grazing table that’s a feast for the eyes and taste buds—with Onam inspired creations you’ve likely never tasted before.
- A three-course meal, including a fabulous thali, inspired by creation myths, tales of royal intrigue and the art of camouflage. Get ready to relish the rich traditional fare prepared by Nasrani Christians and Mappila Muslims to mark the festival.
- Finally, desserts—a fabulous spread of sweet somethings that includes something special for the ladies:)
A delightful bonus: A unique souvenir created just for you by AI artist Ari Jayaprakash plus a premium subscription to splainer—which may be the best damn way to get your daily news in the world:)
Where’s this 'Feast of Wonders'?
Venue: The Bombay Canteen
Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Time: 7 pm to 10 pm
Address: The Bombay Canteen, Unit-1, Process House, S.B. Road, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013 (map)
Ticket: Rs 8,850 onwards
Book your seat on Zomato Live
Or call: 8875010300. Or email: truesouth@enthucutlet.com
Brought to you by: ‘Raja Ravi Varma’s Onam’—the result of a partnership between the teams at Splainer, enthucutlet, Lupa and Kommune—will come to life at The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai, in collaboration with Zomato Live.
About True South: ‘Raja Ravi Varma’s Onam’ is the inaugural event of the True South series which brings to life the untold stories of the South. For many of us, South India is a string of words: Kanjeevaram, bharatanatyam, idli, dosa, RRR, Rajnikanth. The four states dissolve into one—mushed together like a paneer pizza manchurian (yes, it exists). True South recovers the untold and immensely diverse history, identity and culture of each state. This is not a faithful recreation of the past—but a vivid and visual retelling that blends historical storytelling, experiential dining and AI art.
Zomato Live
Zomato Live’s mission is to champion culture across all cities, for all people. We are the experiential arm of Zomato and are committed to creating strong bonds between communities and making a lasting impact on the cultural fabric of every city. Established in 2018 to create unique experiences around live entertainment, IPs, and concerts, Zomato Live has been a driving force behind some of the innovative shows featuring global artists, and immersive experiences and we're only just getting started.
Manu Pillai
Manu S Pillai is the author of the award-winning ‘The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore’ (HarperCollins India, 2015), ‘Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji’ (Juggernaut, 2018), ‘The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin: Tales from Indian History’ (Context, 2019), and most recently, ‘False Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma’ (Juggernaut, 2021).
Hussain Shahzad
Chef Hussain Shahzad brings his signature blend of curiosity, high energy and global experience as Executive Chef, Hunger Inc. Hospitality Pvt Ltd, (The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro & Veronica’s). A graduate from Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, Karnataka—Hussain’s food philosophy is simple: to showcase local produce using contemporary culinary techniques that inspire future generations of chefs to cook smarter. He constantly strives to explore seasonal ingredients and extract the best possible flavours and marry it with technique to present quirk and mischief on a plate.
Manu Chandra
Critically acclaimed Chef Manu Chandra is the Founder Partner at Manu Chandra Enterprises, a Bengaluru-based hospitality company. Companies under MCE include Single Thread Catering, a bespoke catering solutions company & Savaa Ser—the restaurant arm. In the heart of Bengaluru’s iconic MG Road, is LUPA, (the first stand-alone restaurant from Savaa Ser Pvt Ltd.), weaving together classic European flavours with contemporary flair. Rooted in the exploration of age-old artistry combined with modern ingenuity, LUPA is a tribute to the finest of European cuisine crafted with progressive thought combined with global and local inspiration. Served in a warm, open and meticulously detailed space that is stunning and comforting at the same time, LUPA is designed to be a truly one-of-its-kind dining experience. One of India’s most well-respected Chefs, Manu brought many firsts to India’s F&B culture. Not only a trendsetter, but he has also been a champion of ‘homegrown’ in many ways. Chef Manu completed his culinary education from Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Hyde Park, New York.
Ari Jayaprakash
With a portfolio that spans three decades, Ari Jayaprakash’s artwork has been exhibited around the world. He is one of the prominent members of the underground art movement in India. As a member of the endangered Badaga tribe in the Nilgiris, his work is a confluence of influences that are continually being explored and realised through art, photography, music and emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Splainer
In a world drowning in negativity and noise, Splainer integrates daily news + connection + AI technology to make it effortless & enjoyable to be well-informed. The evening is hosted by Lakshmi Chaudhry, the founder/CEO of Splainer Pte Limited. She is deeply passionate about pioneering products that are disruptive and leverage technology. Splainer speaks to 50 million well-educated Indians around the world looking for a brand they can relate to and trust. Every Splainer product fulfils its core promise: we make it delightful to be well-informed.
The Bombay Canteen
The Bombay Canteen, an award-winning restaurant and bar (by Hunger Inc. Hospitality); located at Lower Parel, Mumbai presents an unparalleled dining experience if you want to eat your way through India. It offers the classic yet unexplored charm of our country’s diverse culinary offering, marrying them expertly with familiar flavours; while the bar has a unique selection of re-imagined classic cocktails with firm Indian roots. Showcasing the wealth of Indian cuisine, it presents local, seasonal dishes and reinterpret the country’s age-old culinary traditions. It celebrates the vast, amorphous, borderless idea of India that is infinitely inspiring, with a cuisine style that showcases techniques, textures, ingredients and flavours.
Enthucutlet
Enthucutlet is a bimonthly food magazine conceptualized by Hunger Inc. Hospitality. At enthucutlet, we aspire to tell fun, heartwarming, and surprising stories in the vast realm of Indian food. Each issue of enthucutlet will be driven by a theme that is the centre of thought provoking and energetic stories told by writers and artists.
Stumble
Stumble as a platform by Kommune aims to chronicle culture, invoke curiosity & nurture creativity while fostering a community that dares to explore the 'why?' rather than just the 'how?' of the world around us. Stumble is a unified platform to foster culture, creativity and curiosity; with the aim of empowering the people who will shape the future of culture in the country through projects, conversations, collaborations and ventures driven by the platform.
Godawan
Godawan, Diageo India’s artisanal Single Malt Whisky, is crafted in, its provenance inspired by, and dedicated wholeheartedly to this Rajasthani ethos – of beauty in scarcity, and sustainability. The heat of over 100°F combined with six-row barley, that requires lesser water, helps create a whisky with an incredible depth of flavour, and a rich and complex character. The aridity means the “Angel’s share” is higher than average in Godawan – leaving behind a whisky with stunning taste profiles, which are finished in special casks selectively curated with Indian botanicals.
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