The Hindu Business Line : Where art draws biggies for a cause

Mumbai, Sept. 4 Ms Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister, has picked up the paint brush and colour palette alongside well-known artist Mr Sakti Burman for a charitable cause. She is not alone.

There are other eminent personalities who have teamed up with equally prominent artists.

Ms Lata Mangeshkar with Ms Jayasri Burman; the Indian cricket team with Mr Atul Dodiya; Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla with Ms Anjolie Ela Menon, Mr Subhash Chandra with Mr Babu Eshwar Prasad; Mr Saif Ali Khan along with Mr Nikhil Chaganlal; Mr Vijay Mallya with Mr Subodh Gupta; and Mr Abhisheck Lodha with Mr Dileep Sharma.

The outcome is a collection of paintings ‘India on canvas 2007’ which will be auctioned and proceeds will go to a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation Khushii, working for the underprivileged. These eminent artists and prominent personalities will get together on a platform got up by Lodha Builders, a Mumbai builder.

Last year, over 121 such paintings were auctioned in Delhi for Rs 13.96 crore.

Ms Tina Ambani painted with Mr Jogen Choudhary and the work fetched Rs 95 lakh.

Mr Ratan Tata’s effort alongside Mr Lakshman Shrestha raked in Rs 70 lakh. The auction took place at the British High Commissioner’s residence.

This year, the Lodha Builder’s auction platform slated for October 28 at the Turf Club here, promises to be gala fete with many signing in for the 80-odd paintings before hand.

“We expect to raise about Rs 15 crore this year and the entire amount will go to Khushii,” says Mr Abhisheck Lodha, Director Lodha Builders.

The benefit — 50 per cent of the fund raised will go for the education of underprivileged children in Mumbai.

With the convergence of wealth creators alongside art connoisseurs on a home provider’s launch station, the stage is all set for an elite assembly of art and architecture connoisseurs.

And, needless to say, the invitee list will be of leading industrialists, politicians, film artists and celebrities. The NGO is headed by Kapil Dev.

More Stories on : Society & Development | Arts & Crafts | Maharashtra

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