Journalism of Courage
It is time to look around and soak in the bright,multi-coloured moving picture that our city has become Cloudy,brooding climes have taken over the city-scape. Its a good time to walk or cycle around and breathe in the city air,without the sun stinging your eyes. And as you venture out,what greets you is an eclectic expanse of humanity chugging along finishing its daily chores,like colourful little boats sailing the ocean ripples. Wait! Did we say colourful?
Electric Blue!,Neha Mishra chirps when asked about her favourite nail-paint. The 21-year old economics graduate dismisses the pious looking red and magenta vials at the cosmetic store. These shades are so passé. I dig colours that have that slight shock value,like yellow,green and the fluorescent variety. I change my nail-polish as and when my mood swings. And yes,black too is a colour and it looks amazing on long as well as cropped nails.
In the veritable kaleidoscopes that the city’s market areas are,shops,pavement vendors,balloon-sellers,vehicles,flamboyant pedestrians ignite a multi-coloured reverie that can be beheld for hours. Jay Chabbra,who runs Jackson Shoes on MG road,says,Everyone wants to try something new today,no one wants to stick to the boring,drab colours. Yellow and red shoes sell like hot cakes nowadays. We have shoes with skulls printed on them and they are mighty popular!
Shazad Kanojia,shop owner concurs,”I have been selling all kinds of glares since the past eight years. Pink,flashy golden,greens sell well. Black remains the best option,but people are more open to unusual colours now.” One can also see this sneak into a lot of other accessories also like shoes,bags. Ranjeet Mehra,who has been flaunting his fluorescent green shoes,opines “I bought these shoes simply because they stand out. I am bored of wearing the same old whites and browns. In fact I own an electric red pair too and it just adds to the overall look.”
There is colour in the air too what with all the spruced up tresses swaying in the breeze. Reena Popat of b:blunt hair dressing academy and salon,says,The general look of Indians has changed so drastically in the past 5-10 years. People have become more experimental,which is good news for hairdressers as it gives us more creative space. The Hindi movie industry and the accessibility of western media forms has opened up sensibilities to unconventional ideas. A good colour job can enliven a hair cut like nothing else. Companies today are coming up with such a wide range of colours that people can mix and match according to their desires.
With much of the city displaying a colourful zeal,it sure looks like life is all about being a coloured strip!
