What is it about flyovers and over-bridges that speaks to the artist in a person ? I am talking about paintings and signs on flyovers that take graffiti to news heights…. Was crossing Tilak bridge in Dadar recently, reading all the painted signs and slogans along the sides. I stopped short at ‘ie Push DIe’. Pretty strong eh? But why? Push what?
The next block made things clearer ‘Die Bush Die’… Oh, alright….Some Al-Qaeda supporter? The artist obviously wanting to reinforce his point had painted it thrice….. Maybe a Bombaiyya in the pay of Howard Dean?
And there was more to come, Long Live WSF (World Social Forum for the uninitiated). Commendable sentiment from some die-hard socialist types…. but long live? And right next to it, Bharatiya Samajwadi Party was announcing its Swabhimaan Yatra (rally for self-respect). Socio-culture kitsch or what ?
Another favourite of mine is the Kodambakkam flyover in Madras. As you drive over the flyover, there is no way you can miss the posters with ads for new Tamil films. Kodambakkam is supposed to be the seat of the Tamil film industry (which goes by the ugly name of ‘Kollywood’). Understandably, info on the latest and the hottest in Tamil movies is to be found there. However, none of these movies advertised ever see the light of day, believe me. It is almost like they do not exist outside of this space.
I suspect it is just a canvass for wannabe producers and directors to paint out their movie fantasy…. So they can get on with life….