Indian ceramic art has come a long way from when it was synonymous with terracotta.

One fine day, when musician Amit Chaudhari was singing Raag Todi, a morning raga, he heard riffs of Eric Clapton’s Layla in those intricate notes. That sparked off the inspiration that would translate into an eclectic oeuvre — A Moment of Mishearing, where Amit chronicles his tryst with those moments, where he misheard innocent notes in unexpected places leading to some great musical creations of our time.

For Adam Sinclair, international hockey champion, the game was a way of life, and as a student, sports was top priority. “I was more passionate about sports than studies,” laughs Adam. The results are there to see. The Coimbatore-based lad went on to represent the country abroad, including the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens.

Racing in the legendary tracks of Le Mans was a dream come true for ace racer Karun Chandhok. “It was the hardest race and so complicated. You need strategy and 24 hours isn’t as long as you think.

A royal scion, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur discovered his love for films through his maternal grandmother, Usha Rani, the Maharani of Dumaron, Bihar. “She would take me to the theatre and book the entire hall to watch films,” recalls this filmmaker, fondly. “I saw all the great films with her, like Pakeezah and Mughal-e-Azam.

A walk along the swanky malls, spacious airports or neo-modern hotel lobbies reveals a subtle shift. Art installations are making their presence felt amidst the throngs that crowd these spaces.

Bejoy Nambiar’s David had a soundtrack that was sung by indie singer and songwriter Siddharth Basrur, and was quite unlike the usual Hindi film soundtrack in its melancholy and ambivalence.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Suresh Raina’s dogged determination on the field is reflected through his quiet persona. Soft-spoken and patient, he insists that the CSK fans are the best.

The signature cow prints on flamboyant fabrics have transformed into more muted lipstick motifs. Her range of clothes is where sophistication meets edge. Firebrand young designer Masaba Gupta’s creations are an extension of her personal style and express the spontaneity that informs her way of working.

The numbers may not be staggering but the slow trickle of private museums in the country is a positive step towards creating awareness about art. The Devi Art Foundation was established to facilitate the viewership of creative expression that exists in the country.