Photographs around a blue suitcase fascinates Chennaiites

Today, Divya Ramachandran is still painting doodles on walls whenever called upon (and mobilising forces for it too), but the enterprising Chennaiite is now putting people around the city in the spotlight – with her new idea: Project Blue Suitcase.

The idea originated when she chanced upon an eccentric aquamarineblue suitcase carried by a kabadiwalla on a pile of newspapers; so enamored was Divya with the object, that she bought it for Rs 100.

After months of wondering what to do with it, her friend Aditya, a product designer helped her come up with an idea – lug it around town and photograph it against kitschy landscapes.

As more and more pictures were taken, a number of passers-by wanted to know more about it, and in a few days, the duo started engaging in intense conversations with people they normally would not have ever spoken to. “From tea-kadai annas who talked about opening a Facebook page for their stalls and women labourers who spoke about their dreams, to an autorickshaw driver who had a library of books inside his vehicle – we met a whole lot of people who were interested in the suitcase, and in return, told us their stories,” says Divya, who is a TED speaker.

As the engrossing stories accumulated, Divya and Aditya decided to use the pictures along with the stories – in the form of a coffee-book that would shed light on the lives of these everyday men and women. “It is almost like Humans of New York – except with a suitcase accompanying the pictures,” she laughs, adding, “We are hoping cafes in Chennai can showcase the book, which will give patrons an intriguing view into the city. I am also currently showcasing my works in an exhibition at Wandering Artist in RA Puram,” she says.