CELEBRATION - 10 Years

2015 is the year where Platform has completed ten years in circulation. When we began we decided Platform would focus more on preserving the past, honoring the present and shaping the future. And ten years down the line we have been following that same vision and take pride that along the way we have contributed towards the rise of many creative minds and applauded the iconic, inspirational and affluent masters.

In keeping with the celebratory momentum each of the six issues of this year will be a 10th Anniversary Special and will feature iconic personalities that have shone in the last decade. Each issue Cover Story will focus on one genre while the back of the book will continue to feature the creative and lifestyle profiles. Through our six issues we will cover all our genres – ART, FASHION, LITERATURE, MUSIC, DESIGN and FILM (in that order).

Our aim is to applaud these masters and bridge the gap between the prodigy’s and their icons.

Connecting with Bharti Kher is always an inspiration— her ideologies, her need to set objects free, her observations and her artistic journey are remarkable. We catch up with The People Watcher on her art that was, is and will be. A two-time Academy Award winner, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is the first woman film director to win two Oscars by the age of thirty-seven. Her stories are humane and give voice and space to all those that silently, away from the limelight, work every day for a better tomorrow. Writer Amit Chaudhury writes to celebrate the here and now. He shares his relationship with writing and what draws him in a story. An architect by education and profession, photographer Randhir Singh started capturing photographs as it became ‘a way to connect with architecture and an excuse to roam around the city making photographs’. His most recent exhibit at MoMA, The Project of Independence: Architectures of Decolonization in South Asia, 1947 -1985, is an exhibition that focuses on modern architecture built in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

We also have the talented and uniquely polished, Jim Sarbh, sharing fragments of his life that often goes unnoticed. We get to know him and his interests in art, books and his pet cat Mimi. Designer Gaurav Gupta, lets us in on his varied interests and characteristic traits. Founder of Masque, that was recently awarded the twenty-first spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Aditi Dugar is a self-taught chef and tells us what it takes to be an entrepreneur, chef, restaurateur, mother of three young boys and how she thrives on the ‘frenzy and chaos’.

What ties this publication beautifully are two stunning visual stories, one in association with Gucci that celebrates diversity and another with the vision of incredibly artistic designer Arjun Saluja that celebrates freedom and non-conformism.
 
Shruti Kapur Malhotra,
Editor-in-Chief

Putting the Bookazine together is exciting, keeps us incredibly engaged and focussed. The talents we explore, be it the young and emerging or the established and iconic, researching their lives and crafts leaves us inspired each time. The young excelling and creating new stories through various mediums are motivating to observe and the already established reinventing themselves are carving paths for themselves that many can only be lucky enough to emulate.
 
Artist Atul Dodiya spent three hundred days, during the pandemic, making an artwork each day. These entail sketches using paper, pencil and watercolours, akin to diary entries. The whole process was therapeutic and helped him cope with the daily, overwhelming news. India Art Fair Director Jaya Asokan lets us in on what it takes to organise an art fair amidst a pandemic. The restrictions and unpredictability have aided in looking inwards, resulting in inclusion of many new region- al galleries and emerging artists from the smaller, less explored cities. Author Kunal Basu shares his creative process and talks about his highly antici- pated new novel, In an Ideal World. Performance artist Indu Antony unfolds all the stories that exist in her exceptionally evocative oeuvre. Author Rana Dasgupta lets us in on his thoughts and enlightens us with his interests and choices. Artist Princess Pea reiterates the importance and strength of a family. Master chef Atul Kochhar shares the ingredients that have shaped his artistry, in and outside the kitchen.
 
Our issue presents a gamut of interesting, myriad talents and stories. Hope you enjoy the read.

Wishing you a fantastic 2022. Stay Strong. Stay Safe.

Shruti Kapur Malhotra,
Editor-in-Chief

Editor's Note:

From the time we printed our last issue, a lot has changed and at the same time, a lot has not. We are now in 2021 and still in the midst of the pandemic. Many of us are still working from home. Concern and uncertainty are ever-present, but the one factor that has kept us going is the undying support from all those who, in their own way, have come forward to help. 

Our Cover Story features one such force of nature, who goes beyond her act. She is not only an on-screen performer but a philanthropist, a fighter and unapologetic for all her choices. She lives on her own terms and does good by them. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is undoubtedly one of the most important and influential public figures from India. She takes us through her life’s journey with still so much more she wants to explore and achieve.  Much like our erudite eclectic aficionados mentioned here, she also carries the banner of creativity not being trapped or running dry in the slipstream of this deadly virus. 

Lastly, I would like to introduce you to our new digital zine, EZ Platform — a monthly creative capsule, launched recently. So, more engaging artistry, more promising talent and more inspiring stories, coming your way, every month. 

Shruti Kapur Malhotra, 
Editor-in-Chief

Editor's Note:

This edition of Platform has the immensely talented musician/artist, Anoushka Shankar on the cover. 'Love Letters', her new EP that has been nominated for a Grammy Award this year, sees her for the very first time taking on the role of a singer. From a career in fashion design, to his debut book – Shuggie Bain, The Man Booker Prize winner 2020, Douglas Stuart shares how writing found its way in his life.â€¨
The multifaceted actor Farhan Akhtar gives us an insight into the mind and body when transforming to play a part. Author Hari Kunzru’s new book Red Pill, flits between past and present, opening our eyes to state surveillance, psychological warfare, human vulnerabilities and poses hard questions many of us are often too preoccupied to consider. We have promising young talent, Ishaan Khatter who talks films, choices and challenges. Celebrating twenty-five years in fashion, Tarun Tahiliani takes us down memory lane and highlights the key moments that have shaped the designer he is today.
Even though our plans for 2020 have been pushed, our spirit and passion have made us more certain about where we want to go next. Not only does the year 2020, mark Platform’s 15th anniversary, but also the expansion of its narrative beyond the medium of the magazine. In 2021, we will introduce Platform Books and Platform Fashion, a collaboration with the avant-garde fashion brand Rishta by Arjun Saluja. This year, Platform Retail debuted which has been actively creating functional products for everyday use.
As the next fifteen years at Platform move steadily towards collaborations and exploring different tracks, we are excited and hopeful. Although 2020 has not been very kind, we look forward to leaving all our concerns behind and starting 2021 on a stronger note.

Happy 2021!

Issue Highlights

Retrospective: An exclusive with the inimitable British photographer, Martin Parr gives us an insight into his deft craft. We go down memory lane as he talks about the lives and scenes he has documented and the stories he has told through his lens for over the past three decades.


Dialogue 1: Book-builder and photographer, Dayanita Singh, began her career photographing the unparalleled maestro, Ustaad Zakir Hussain. Forty years later, those same images come alive in a book that Dayanita built.


Dialogue 2: A Suitable Boy, written by Vikram Seth, nearly two decades ago, finds its story being told through moving pictures by the supremely talented director, Mira Nair.


Name Place Animal Thing: King of Couture, Tarun Tahiliani, in the business for the last twenty five years continues to refer to a book that was gifted to him, at the very beginning of his sojourn into fashion, by the late Martand Singh in 1987.

Note from the Editor:
I am extremely excited to present the all new Platform. A new design, a larger format and a bi-annual bookazine now, Platform will intrigue you with more stories, give you more reason to applaud the talent we feature, continue to be a visual treat and feed your artistic side. 

For our Cover Story we collaborated with artist Nityan Unnikrishnan to create The Booker of Bookers, Salman Rushdie. Literary agent Mita Kapur gave us an overview on her most recent, booker shortlisted, Quichotte. 

Platform met one of the most grounded and important writers of our time, Amitav Ghosh. The conversation flowed from his early years to climate change to daydreaming. With Over The Top media services taking over the way we view films and television, and with the many series on digital media consuming most of our free time writers are on the hot seat. I interacted with four writers whose craft has created some of the most acclaimed shows on television today. Through various interviews I got to know what really goes on in the writers’ room. 

Artist Nikhil Chopra shared the inspiration behind his nine day act at the The Metropolitan Musuem of Art that created history. 

Our visual narrative in collaboration with Gucci captured the other side of an eclectic mix of very exciting and noteworthy individuals. 

Versatile, artsy and extremely interesting, Kalki Koechlin invited us to her home and took us through various objects that define her. Writer Aatish Taseer captured a moment from flying away in Amorgos 9:15am. 

And of course we have all the debutants giving us a sneak peek into their various films, books, art, music and design. All in all we have put together an inspiring read with engaging visuals. 

Hope you enjoy your new Creative Playground! 
Shruti Kapur Malhotra, Editor-in-Chief

Note from the Editor: 
Fourteen years ago I began Platform; today I find myself humbled by the extraordinary icons I have had a chance to interact with. I feel inspired by the outstanding and de- serving debutants we have featured over the years, who have gone on to become stars in their field. I feel thankful to all our believers who supported us and continue to applaud our efforts. Every step we’ve made so far in our evolution as a magazine has been fuelled by the stupendous talent that our country houses. 

It’s been a great journey so far and while I look back in gratitude, I am excited to explore new grounds, walk different terrains and experiment with mediums, of course keeping Platform at the very core. 

It’s time to reinvent Platform. It’s time to add more feathers in our cap and it’s time to give a platform to deserving talent not only in print but also online and on stage. October 2019 will see a whole new design, fresh voices and a retelling of stories, however we will continue to do what we set out on fourteen years ago… applaud the great masters and present emerging talent in the fields of art, design, music, fashion, film and literature. 

Our focus was, and will always be, to Celebrate the Arts...

PLATFORM-One of India’s leading contemporary arts and entertainment magazines, Platform initiates thought and explores the creative industry. We take pride in promoting the emerging and applauding the established from the world of art, design, fashion, film, literature and music. It is a magazine where innovation and substance intersect through popular cultures. Through our six focused issues, we provide our readers with strong content and cutting-edge design.THE SIX ISSUES -Arts (Jan/Feb), Style (Mar/April), Literature (May/Jun), Music (July/Aug), Design (Sept/Oct), Film (Nov/Dec).THE DISTRIBUTION-With a print run of 35,000, we have been on-stands for the last eight years. Platform is distributed nationwide by Living Media India Limited (India Today Group), available in 30 cities at premier bookstores and newsstands

The most exciting aspect of the film industry is that a year on, one gets to see cinematic brilliance be it through mammoth films, powerful storytelling, or silent yet strong acting. This year we had great films but the man that held his own in the midst of fine and experienced actors, and impressed all with his effortless portrayal of diverse characters was none other than Vicky Kaushal. Our cover story lets us in on his passion, thoughts and craft, and of the short span that he has spent in the industry.

We also interact with film festival directors who work in different genres and curate a very interesting line up of films
through their festivals. Anupama Chopra for Mumbai Academy of Motion Images [MAMI], Sridhar Rangayan, Kashish, and Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, Dharamshala International Film Festival [DIFF] all stem from different sensibilities yet have the same vision to celebrate quality cinema.

Moving away from films, Curator and Gallerist, Peter Nagy gives the whole lowdown on what to look forward to
at the second edition of The Sculpture Park in Jaipur. Heritage Conservationist Gurmeet Sangha Rai, who has worked on some of India’s very important buildings, shares her journey, inspirations and the different ways of how she engages with the environment.

Style, titled CONFINE, is collaboration between a performance artist, photographer and designer where they explore the theatrical production of the Tennessee Williams play called The Two-Character Play.
And with that and so much more we wrap our last issue of 2018. Lots more to look forward to in 2019…

Be Creative and Stay Inspired.

Our September Issue has one of the most respected and influential architects gracing our cover. The Pritzker Prize winner, B.V. Doshi has been contributing to our country since the past 70 years through his authentic, quiet and well thought out designs that have helped raise quality of life. He is an idol to many, including artist Nityan Unnikrishnan who interviewed him and made an original artwork for our Design Special.

Along with him we have a very interesting mix of design personalities. Bablu & Mary of The Timbaktu Collective, Gurpreet Sidhu, co-founder of People Tree, Industrial Designer Kaushik Narayan Ramanathan and Prakash Moorthy are all thinkers who are creating for ‘The New India’. In the lifestyle section we shine the spotlight on four diverse personalities who are all very current and relevant with their offerings. Writer, Curator and Photographer, 

Siddhart Dhanvant Shanghvi shares various chapters of his life that led to where he is today. He delves into his latest venture, an illustrated novel, The Rabbit & the Squirrel. Artist and Curator Maurizio Cattelan takes us behind the scenes of his latest exhibit in collaboration with Gucci’s creative director, Alessandro Michele. The Artist is Present is an art exhibit that questions originality and repetition. Avani Rai debuts with Raghu Rai; An Unframed Portrait where not only does she emphasise on the relationship between her and her father, the great Raghu Rai, but also she  celebrates Raghu Rai’s India. Stand Up Comedian Hari Kondabolu lets us in on his dark and humorous side.

And lastly we give fashion a cause and leave you with what the Style section this time around makes us ask others and ourselves…What’s Your Cause?

Music evokes a diverse reaction and emotion from people. Different genres touch different nerves. Some take you to a rapturous state of mind while some to a soft, pensive mood. Whatever the effect, music for sure awakens the soul. For the Dj the high is to create a mix that is so unique and intense that it takes the audience to a whole new place. This issue interacts with some of the most noteworthy disc jockeys. 

To start with we have Hernan Cattaneo the father of dj-ing who even after 30 odd years has managed keeping his sound alive and his fans multiplying. On Indian soil we highlight four artists who each come with their own sound and individualistic style. Their journey is inspiring and their craft touches millions of listeners. Nucleya, Ox7gen, Stalvart John and Anish Sood are all top of their class with a unique musicality and an ever increasing following. Our debutants impress us with their first outing in the sun—Pia Shah’s short film Waterbaby that won the National Award for Best Debut explores the life of a shy boy who is compelled to face his greatest fear—water. Amy Tan’s debut book, What We Were Promised set in modern day Shanghai questions what we owe to ourselves, to our countries, and to generations past.

Interview takes us to a very honest and candid conversation with the Indian Film Industry’s avant grade filmmaker, Anurag Kashyap. He shares his concerns and his joy of filmmaking and the industry, and lets us in on his newest venture Sacred Games. Reema Kagti gives us a glimpse into her third film, Gold based on India’s first Olympic Gold Medal. And lastly Rupa’s Boutique celebrates acid attack survivors who fell but decided to rise still and continue following their dreams. An award-winning documentary throws light on Rupa and her fashion boutique.

Every year when we start putting together the literature issue, I get transported to places unseen, start reliving emotions buried deep down and find myself immersed in plots, identifying with characters and situations. But most of all I get inspired by the creativity, by sentence construction, by the inconceivable stories. There is something about books that lifts the spirit and gives me the drive to continue writing and more importantly, continue reading.
For this year’s literature issue, we decided to shine the spotlight on those individuals that help give a wider reach to books that are not in English. The Translators bridge the gap between writers and the world, making their books more accessible and widely read. Translation is an art form that requires impeccable skill and heart. Jessica Cohen, Maureen Freely, Arunava Sinha and Tess Lewis are all about that. Their craft and immaculate detailing have helped them garner awards and reach. 

Our Cover Story focuses on a very interesting author, Mohammed Hanif, whose much-anticipated book, Red Birds, will soon be hitting shelves. A prolific writer, Hanif shares the journey of his last 15 years, his evolution as a writer and the inspiration behind Red Birds.

We also interact with veteran designer Ritu Kumar as she takes us through the last 50 years of her practice, her craft and how her travels shaped the designer that she is today. Hansal Mehta takes us behind the scenes and shares his close connection and partnership with Rajkummar Rao on his powerful film, Omerta. Manish Arora, on the other hand, gets up close and personal giving us tiny details of his life that otherwise go unnoticed. 

And lastly, photographer Rohit Chawla juxtaposes his photography with poet Tishani Doshi’s words in a beautiful photo series.

For our Fashion issue we took a bird’s eye view of a variety of pockets within the fashion industry and zoomed in on diverse disciplines that are part of the fraternity, however different from one another. We decided to focus on key people who have been instrumental in bringing about change.

For our title story we interacted with author, researcher and design developer Rta Kapur Chishti and learned more about her practice, Taanban, and her contribution to celebrating handspun-hand-woven textile.
We also interacted with one of the most respected and inspirational designer Sanjay Garg, whose dedication to making the sari here-and-now has not gone unnoticed.

We feature Pooja Mor, the most popular Indian face on the international runway and campaigns. Blogger and photographer Manou has influenced many with his street photography and eye for presenting fashion in a simple and unassuming manner. And there’s Gunita Stobe and Mark Luburic from Anima Creative Management, a talent management company that has been instrumental in launching many careers in India and globally.

Moving away from fashion we connected with Vivan Sundaram who shared his journey and took us through some of his works from his current retrospective at KNMA. Leonardo Pucci, all set to exhibit his first solo photographic exhibition, takes us through his two passions, fashion and photography. Assistant Curator of South Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Shanay Jhaveri gives us an in-depth insight into his love for the arts, his driving force and his artistic concerns. And Tishani Doshi talks poetry, stories and everything in between…

And the year starts again with lots more interesting stories, impressive talent and inspiring profiles. Keeping with our momentum, we present to you a brand new Arts Special, and this time we focus on noteworthy festivals of the year. In our Cover Story, performance artist Nikhil Chopra shares how his experiences and travels inform his brilliant practice. Retrospective interacts with the fourth curator of India’s largest biennale, the Kochi Biennale. Artist, Curator, Writer, Anita Dube takes us on her journey from being an accidental artist to being the first woman curator of the biennale. She shares her vision and her curatorial process for Kochi 2018.

Listed sees three very important photo festivals—the Delhi Photo Festival, Photo Kathmandu and Chobi Mela, Dhaka. We also interact with the founders and curator of India’s first Sculpture Park in Jaipur. Peter Nagy, Aparajita Jain and Shreyasi Goenka share with us the inspiration behind the park and notes from their inaugural show.

Moving away from the Art world, we have a detailed conversation with the inimitable Nandita Das who captivates us with her next big film, Manto. The industrious, world-famous rapper Wiz Khalifa talks about his sensibility, his musical calling and his new album, Rolling Papers 2. 

And lastly photographer Soham Gupta captures dark and captivating images for our fashion story. Each image, haunting as the other, shares a silent tale.

On that note it’s a wrap for our Arts Special. Hope you enjoy our first issue of the year—we look foward to bringing you lots more refreshing content, intriguing visual stories and noteworthy profiles that will interest and inspire you...

There is something very endearing about cinema that is independent. From the very first look you know the focus is content, story and keeping it authentic. As I was going through the final edits of our Film Issue, I was so intrigued that all I wanted to do was stay indoors for two days straight
and watch all the marvelous films we have featured. 

All the films in our issue are extremely gripping, dark, twisted, disturbing and at the same time very real. This issue is all about celebrating indie cinema.
And spearheading it is our Cover Story led by one of the finest actors India has seen in recent times, Rajkummar Rao. His effortless acting and extremely riveting and consistent performances have made him a critics’ and audience
favourite. This year alone he was trapped in a one man film, he played a 324-year-old man, was the protagonist in a film that is India’s entry to The Oscars and stole the show in an out-an-out commercial film—one can safely say Rajkummar Rao is brilliance personified.

We also have Tumhari Sulu, The Illegal, Karma and Pahuna, directed by four promising debut filmmakers who have each written their own story and created original content.

Moving away from the world of cinema we feature Dr. Mahinder Watsa, now 93, who has been giving sex advice since he was a little over 25. Documentarian Vaishali Sinha interacts with him and trails his journey through her documentary, Ask the Sexpert. The ever-brilliant photographer Dayanita Singh shares notes from her life, her likes, dislikes and Museum Bhavan. We get you a page from Jeet Thayil’s gripping new book, The Book of Chocolate Saints and talk to the darling of Indian theatre, Lillete Dubey.
Our Fashion Story takes us on a trip of dance and rapturous reverie while Travel makes us experience NY, NY twice over through Uptown & Downtown. 

So enjoy our issue, see the films, read the books and along the way hopefully our stories and profiles will inspire you.

See you in 2018… Happy New Year!

Design is an art form that is omnipresent; one can rarely escape it. At times it screams out and at times it is silently present without your knowledge, and that’s why Design is powerful in each and every way.

For our Cover Story we got to interact with two minds that believe Design is storytelling in every mode. Their thoughts have resulted in some iconic campaigns, and today they are using design for a larger cause. V. Sunil and Mohit Jayal, at the heart of it, are designers who are using their artistic tools to create and affect change. We also feature three extremely influential designers who design silently but effectively. Be it in the pages of a book or the backdrop of a film or the stage of an opera, Rukminee, Dhara and Sumant’s designs don’t go unnoticed. They add tremendous weight to each of their projects. We also focus on the city of Ahmedabad as architectural photographer Randhir Singh captures interesting buildings in the World Heritage City, showing a contemporary side of life.

Lincoln in the Bardo might be George Saunders’ first book of fiction, but the award-winning writer gets the long form as right as he gets his short stories. On the Booker Prize longlist, the prolific writer takes us through his writing journey. Ali Fazal, known for his comical role in Fukrey, takes on a bigger challenge and will be seen working alongside the legendary Dame Judi Dench in his first ever Hollywood production, Victoria & Abdul. The vivacious and talented Masaba Gupta takes us on a walk through her not-so-known territory. Bharat Sikka presents Gucci and its creative language. And Dutch photographer Jenneke vander Hagen gives us a glimpse of the community of the popular suburb of England, Shelly Crescent, Southall. And of course these are just the highlights; turn the pages to explore much more…

The music scene in India has evolved tremendously. Today, not only does one get to hear diverse sounds but also attend
rich, varied festivals. Musicians are experimenting with genres and audiences are excited about new sounds and experiences. 

In Special, the young and restless Lucy Rose shares how she found her voice and made it the world’s. Our Cover Story
presents two very cool, talented girls who are very different not only in their music but also as people. Kavya Trehan and Mali are the newest voices that have got everyone listening. They learn a little about one another and in the bargain, we
get to hear what gets their beats rolling. 

Keeping the momentum going this time around in our issue, we focus on alternative festivals that have gained popularity in a very short span of time. Be it Nariyal Paani, Magnetic Fields or Ziro, Each one comes with their individual sounds, inspired thinking and eclectic audience. We also reconnect with Ashim Ahluwalia, the uber cool and artistic filmmaker who is all ready this month to present
Daddy, his new film based on the life of gangster Arun Gawli. Award-winning author Neel Mukherjee gives us a preview of his upcoming book, A State of Freedom. Actor Vinay Pathak shares a thing or two about his life, choices and passions.

And finally, we bring out a special collector’s style zine where the supremely talented Bharat Sikka captures the
individualistic style that is Tokyo...

Every time we curate our literature issue, our minds start
wandering, our thoughts go to places we have yet to visit and
our bookmarks wait to save the moment. That’s the power
of books and stories, and especially of the gifted writers
that make us long to remove ourselves from our world and
transform to another. Our issue celebrates all those intriguing,
compelling stories and the minds behind them.

For our title story, Booker Prize Winner Paul Beatty does
not only talk about his award-winning book, The Sellout,
but more about his relationship with writing. In Listed, we
interact with authors writing about a once foreign land that
they call home now. Along with the veterans, we feature
the debutants who are all ready to enter the literary world,
brimming with new ideas and fresh stories. We also got
a chance to interview social media sensation and poetess
Lang Leav, who for the very first time, is writing a novel. In
Exclusive, photographer Rohit Chawla captures quiet and
pensive moments with celebrated authors.

Moving away from the world of words, we feature
documentarian Rohan Sabharwal, who used the tool of
cycling to reach out to rural India to spread awareness about
depression and mental health. Out with Hanuman Da’
Damdaar—an animation, filmmaker Ruchi Narain shares
her love for the medium and her experience with making
one. The sustainable and thinking designer, Aneeth Arora
of Pero takes us on a journey through her mind. Renowned
photographer Larry Fink talks about his photo series, The
Beats and the Vanities, and his collaboration with Armani/
Silos.

All in all we present a diverse mix of profiles, stories and
endearing images for you to enjoy our Literature Edition.
Happy Summer. 

Happy Reading!

Our Fashion issue is not about what’s ‘trending’. It’s not about the hottest looks on the runway. It’s not about the must haves of the season and because of that, it will not be short-lived. Our Fashion issue is about the impact fashion has on our society and culture, the importance of sustainability, the questions we ask ourselves about genderless style and where fashion is headed. To help us put things in perspective, we interacted with influential individuals from the Fashion Industry.

In our lead story, Mickey Boardman, Editorial Director, Paper magazine, shares his journey from answering telephone calls to being one of the most important figures in the fashion world. Listed sees three strong and thinking voices, Bandana Tewari, Editor-at-Large, Vogue, Rajesh Pratap Singh, a celebrated fashion designer, and curator Mayank Mansingh Kaul—each hailing from a different branch yet connected to the same tree, they share their views and concerns about the fashion industry. And as always, we highlight the promising names in the fashion world that are on the road to greater things.

Moving on, we catch up with Rahul Bose after a really long time as he gears up for the release of his directorial venture, Poorna. We discuss what took him 13 years to get on the director’s seat, and all that happened in-between. For the first time, we will see Suraj Sharma in an Indian production; he shares his experiences and the difference between the two worlds of Holly and Bollywood. Debut Director Shubhashish Bhutiani lets us in on his very poignant and intriguing film, Hotel Salvation, the story of a father who asks his son to take him to Benaras to attain Moksha.

And lastly, no fashion issue can be left incomplete without a visual fashion narrative. We celebrate the youth with Gucci through a very edgy and hip photo-shoot by Kapil Das. And the incredible Bharat Sikka captures a story that highlights every nuance, rounding off our pages with more perfection.

As we embrace the New Year we are very excited to expand our horizons. To begin with you will see a whole new reinvented version of Digital Platform. From 2017 you will be presented with interesting profiles, intriguing stories and edgy visuals every day. Other than that we are collaborating with Chatterjee & Lal gallery in Mumbai where we are showcasing Fine Art Fashion Photography during the Focus Festival. And you will see Platform on stage as well through various experiences.
 
Our Cover Story of our first issue of 2017 features one of the most prolific photographers of our time. Bharat Sikka is versatile, supremely talented and a visual storyteller. This year alone we will see him exhibit two diametrically opposite bodies of work. And along with that he will publish his very first book. For listed we explored artists that have had a shift in their practice. Each of the artists we have featured be it Mithu Sen, Sudarshan Shetty, Gauri Gill, Bharti Kher, Jitish Kallat and Sooni Taraporevala all have introduced a new dimension to their sensibility and in the bargain have created astounding art.
 
As always we also feature emerging talents that have impressed us with their vision and craft. Be it Vikram Massey and his acting skills or filmmaker Baudhayyan Mukherji and his debut Hindi feature The Violin Player, a moving story about how art elevates one being, or My Beta Does Computer things, Sanjay Manaktala’s debut book. All have interesting stories and a promising future ahead of them.
 
We also feature Karan Johar who tells us why he is an unsuitable boy and he shares snippets from his journey so far in the film industry. Afrojak gives us a little insight into his world of music and beats. And Aditya Roy Kapur and Shardha Kapoor share their experience working on Ok Jaanu, a Mani Ratnam film directed by Shaad Ali.


Film Issue featuring: Alia Bhatt, Gauri Shinde, Sujoy Ghosh, Nitesh Tiwari, Roger Ballen, Shashi Tharoor, Sudarshan Shetty, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ishaan Nair, Milind Dhaimade. Also featuring: Usman Riaz ,Pavithra Dikshit, Saheba Singh, Schulen Fernandes, Aaradhna Patel, Sushanta Kumar Maharana, Ronny Sen, Nikesh Shukla. Sarvat Hasin. Princess Pea and many more….

Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Inform, Design, Film, Music, Art, Photography, Extract, Literature, Life's Reality, Eat, live and Drink, Travelogue, are few of the sections we feature in every issue of Platform. Hope you enjoy reading it. 

Thanks

Design Issue featuring: Alejandro Aravena, Sonali & Manit Rastogi, Hanif Kureshi, Thukral & Tagra, Bijoy Jain, Vivek Shraya, Neishaa Gharat, Ann Patchett, Bose Krishnamachari, Hardik Mehta. Also featuring: Katrina Kaif, Nitya Mehra, Nucleya and many more...

Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Inform, Design, Film, Music, Art, Photography, Extract, Literature, Life's Reality, Eat, live and Drink, Travelogue, are few of the sections we feature in every issue of Platform. Hope you enjoy reading it. 

Thanks

Music Issue, featuring: Anoushka Shankar, Imphal Talkiers, JJI Exile Brothers, Delhi Sultanate, Irrfan Khan, Riz Ahmed, Sarah Singh, Papa CJ, Janoobi Khargosh, Tanya Wells, Sid Vashi, Sandhya Viswanathan, Indie Genius. Also featuring: Aditya Patwardhan, Tania Fadte, Vaidehi Thakkar, Dhvani Behl, Sarah SIngh, Subir Hati, A J Ghani, Sujaya Batra, Tahuj Solanki and many more.... 

Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Inform, Design, Film, Music, Art, Photography, Extract, Literature, Life's Reality, Eat, live and Drink, Travelogue, are few of the sections we feature in every issue of Platform. Hope you enjoy reading it. 

Thanks

Literature Issue, featuring William Dalrymple, Ramachandra Guha, Josy Joseph, Saeed Naqvi, Tavleen Singh, Orijit Sen.. Also featuring Emraan Hashmi, Sayani Gupta, Monica Dogra. Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Inform, Design, Film, Music, Art, Photography, Extract, Literature, Life's Reality, Eat, live and Drink, Travelogue, are few of the sections we feature in every issue of Platform. Hope you enjoy reading it. Thanks

Fashion Issue, featuring Alessandro Michele, Arjun Saluja, Kalol Dutta, P.E.L.L.A., Theorem, Antar-Agni, Marlon James, Kunal Nayyar. Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Inform, Design, Film, Music, Art, Photography, Extract, Literature, Life's Reality, Eat, live and Drink, Travelogue, are few of the sections we feature in every issue of Platform. Hope you enjoy reading it. Thanks

Retrospective, Listed, Forecast, Art, Photography, Center stage, Travel, Life's Realities, Eat, live and Drink, Changing colours, more mediums and more possibility, What influences your photography, How different is the photographer from the writer, Do you feel lines are blurring between creative disciplines...

Icons of the Film World, The Filmmakers, The Crew, The Actors, LITERATURE Teresa Rehman, The Mothers of Manipur: Twelve Women Who Made History, EXTRACT Dhee Boys of Bangladesh...

PLATFORM -
One of India’s leading contemporary arts and entertainment magazines, Platform initiates thought and explores the creative industry. We take pride in promoting the emerging and applauding the established from the world of art, design, fashion, film, literature and music. It is a magazine where innovation and substance intersect through popular cultures. Through our six focused issues, we provide our readers with strong content and cutting-edge design.

THE SIX ISSUES - 
Arts (Jan/Feb), Style (Mar/April), Literature (May/Jun), Music (July/Aug), Design (Sept/Oct), Film (Nov/Dec).

THE DISTRIBUTION -
With a print run of 35,000, we have been on-stands for the last eight years. Platform is distributed nationwide by Living Media India Limited (India Today Group), available in 30 cities at premier bookstores and newsstands.

CELEBRATION - 10 Years

2015 is the year where Platform has completed ten years in circulation. When we began we decided Platform would focus more on preserving the past, honoring the present and shaping the future. And ten years down the line we have been following that same vision and take pride that along the way we have contributed towards the rise of many creative minds and applauded the iconic, inspirational and affluent masters.

In keeping with the celebratory momentum each of the six issues of this year will be a 10th Anniversary Special and will feature iconic personalities that have shone in the last decade. Each issue Cover Story will focus on one genre while the back of the book will continue to feature the creative and lifestyle profiles. Through our six issues we will cover all our genres – ART, FASHION, LITERATURE, MUSIC, DESIGN and FILM (in that order).

Our aim is to applaud these masters and bridge the gap between the prodigy’s and their icons.

Platform Magazine Cover - May 2022 - October 2022 Edition

May 2022 - October 2022

Platform Magazine - May 2022 - October 2022

Platform Magazine Cover - November 2021 - April 2022 Edition

November 2021 - April 2022

Platform Magazine - November 2021 - April 2022

Platform Magazine Cover - June - November 2021 Edition

June - November 2021

Platform Magazine - June - November 2021

Platform Magazine Cover - November 2020 - March 2021 Edition

November 2020 - March 2021

Platform Magazine - November 2020 - March 2021

Platform Magazine Cover - June - October 2020 Edition

June - October 2020

Platform Magazine - June - October 2020

Platform Magazine Cover - October 2019 - March 2020 Edition

October 2019 - March 2020

Platform Magazine - October 2019 - March 2020

Platform Magazine Cover - March - April 2019 Edition

March - April 2019

Platform Magazine - March - April 2019

Platform Magazine Cover - January - February 2019 Edition

January - February 2019

Platform Magazine - January - February 2019

Platform Magazine Cover - November - December 2018 Edition

November - December 2018

Platform Magazine - November - December 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - September - October 2018 Edition

September - October 2018

Platform Magazine - September - October 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - July - August 2018 Edition

July - August 2018

Platform Magazine - July - August 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - May - June 2018 Edition

May - June 2018

Platform Magazine - May - June 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - March - April 2018 Edition

March - April 2018

Platform Magazine - March - April 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - January - February 2018 Edition

January - February 2018

Platform Magazine - January - February 2018

Platform Magazine Cover - November - December 2017 Edition

November - December 2017

Platform Magazine - November - December 2017

Platform Magazine Cover - September - October 2017 Edition

September - October 2017

Platform Magazine - September - October 2017

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{{magzter}} is the World's largest and fastest growing self-service, cross-platform digital newsstand with over 87 million users since its inception in 2011 and thousands of magazines and newspapers across 40+ categories and 60+ languages. Headquartered in New York, Magzter has its local presence in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Singapore, and will soon be expanding to other countries. Founded by global entrepreneurs, Girish Ramdas and Vijay Radhakrishnan in June 2011, Magzter enables magazine and newspaper publishers around the world to create and deliver digital editions of their titles to global consumers.

Platform Magazine - July - August 2015

Platform Magazine - July - August 2015

In this issue

Platform Magazine Description: