A Million Dollar Wall

A couple of days back I went with some friends to Azad Hind Dhaba on Ballygunge Circular Road. Most Kolkatans have been to this Mecca of food often and relished their food. Its a destination for most disco/nightclub goers as a post party destination.

We ordered a great deal of food between the five of us which included two chicken dished, a dal makhani, palak paneer, a mutton preparation, naans, rumali rotis and salad. We topped this off with Kulfi while we were waiting outside for the bill to be taken care of. So while we were standing outside I noticed the wall outside had pictures of various film stars who had descended on this excellent Dhaba. While doing so I observed that Gaj Gamini featured a lot in the pictures on the wall outside, posters, pamphlets, news clippings et al. So I decided to go inside and as I came up to the counter to ask about the fascination with Gaj Gamini my eyes fell upon the huge painting that had been done on the wall behind and encapsulated in a glass case. An Original M.F Hussain Gaj Gamini painting that the master himself had done on the wall. I probed further and learnt that the painter used to come to have tea here and spent long hours at the Dhaba in days gone by. As his present to the place, his master brushstrokes left colours on the wall which translated into Gaj Gamini. That wall is priceless as well said by the manager of the eatery.