Pop goes the puri

A couple of years ago, When the financial meltdown hit the US, an NRI investment banker packed his bags and returned to India, to give Mumbai's paani puri a kitschy avatar

Au00a0couple of years ago, When the financial meltdown hit the US, an NRI investment banker packed his bags and returned to India, to give Mumbai's paani puri a kitschy avatar

There are few joys that can compare to biting into a puri, soaked in cool, tangy water, with chunks of potatoes and chickpeas floating around.

For most of us, the paani puri is a humble, feisty street snack that's irresistible. For entrepreneur Rish Oberoi, it was inspirational.

"The variations possible with this snack make it versatile. It's the most creative food. What else does one call a chaat that has seven different names in one country?"

Rish Oberoi digs into the street food that inspired his brand Paani Puri Clothing.

Next on the platter? A clothing brand. Paani Puri Clothing (PPC) is Rish's brainchild that creates funky avatars of this unassuming street snack on tees, in ways you would find hard to imagine and not laugh at.

Savour these: a Samurai slicing the paani puri apart in one sweeping motion; an old-school version of the archrival of Batman, the Joker, devouring a paani puri slice; the trademark Che Guevara tee re-themed as Viva La Puri and a Manga Comics girl sporting the paani puri design on her funky sunglasses.

Born in April last year, PPC entered the web space and stores earlier this month. "The idea emerged when I was watching The Dark Knight at 4.30 one morning, last year.

I felt it would be awfully funny if the Joker was eating a paani puri while he was blowing up the hospital," says the 28 year-old.

What started off as a joke turned into a full-fledged brand as the leitmotif found acceptance and encouragement among his friends.

Soon, the ex-investment banker who worked on the Wall Street until two years ago, found his calling in designing tees with the help of a friend, after he moved back to India last year.
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The Guide's top three Paani Puri picks

He's sinister, he's insane and he's got green hair. We loved this old school version of the Joker. This print has a limited edition of 400 tees.

Andy Warhol might be turning in his grave but we love what Rish has done to make a simpleton's snack into topnotch pop art. Almost.

What's love got to do with it? And what happens when it's reduced to a splattered, messy affair?

"The only way to describe what I am doing now is having fun.
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It's like being a 12 year-old in Disneyland. The humour may have triggered it off, but I believe that if you put your heart into something, it's exemplified."

Coming Up:Comic books, shoes, socks, hats and jeans, with the quintessential paani puri design.

For: Rs 599 to Rs 799. At: SoBo, Motor House, Hughes Road, Chowpatty. Callu00a0 23612751
LOG ON TO: www.paanipuriclothing.com