One of the greatest Hindu mythology epics of all time, Mahabharata has inspired and influenced India's art, culture and literature over several centuries. From paintings, performance arts, music and books to design, architecture and films, the characters and themes of the ancient saga of dharma and adharma (right and wrong) have been interpreted innumerably, shaping our collective imagination and perception of humanity, war and values. With an intent to challenge the historically ingrained perceptions of the heroism and virtue of the five Pandava brothers from Mahabharata, The Five Virtues design pavilion—developed in collaboration with interior and furniture design brand FTS by Sharmilee and lifestyle brand house Valueline—is going to be a site-specific installation at the Architecture and Design Film Festival's South Asian debut in Mumbai from January 10-12, 2025. Set to identify a linear exhibition space at ADFF:STIR Mumbai’s JSW Pavilion Park, the design pavilion will act as a creative response to the curatorial brief of the event, Frames of Reference.

“I donned two hats when I was invited to create this installation, one of a curator and the other of a designer," Indian architect Supraja Rao, the curator and one of the designers of the pavilion, tells STIR. The principal and creative head of Hyderabad-based interior design practice Design House and founder of the Kadari Art Gallery, Rao invites five women designers to reinterpret the essence of the profound virtues of the Pandavas—righteousness, strength, skill, harmony and wisdom. "These qualities, deeply rooted in mythology, hold a universal relevance that transcends the cultural and temporal boundaries,” says Rao. Translating these qualities and crafting them into furniture, design installations and objects that challenge traditional gender narratives, the designers explore "the transformative potential of design as a medium for storytelling and expression” and urge the visitors to perceive the masculine archetypes through a feminist lens.

For the pavilion design, Rao positions the Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva exhibits, named after the five brothers, in the descending order of the age of the Pandava siblings, each representing the virtues of righteousness, strength, skill, harmony and wisdom, respectively. The Yudhishthira piece by Indian designer Shabnam Gupta, the founder of Mumbai-based The Orange Lane design practice and the handcrafted furniture and decorative objects labelled Peacock Life, feature a custom wallpaper and antique brass elements in metallic lacquer finish. For the Arjuna piece, the design practice Quirk Studio, run by interior designers Shivani Ajmera and Disha Bhavsar, utilises a variety of materials such as textured veneer, black marble, clear rippled glass, liquid metal brass-bronze and concrete finished with paint, while Rao designs the Sahadeva installation using upcycled design of wood and steel.

Apoorva Shroff, the versatile architect and founder of the 2022-established Mumbai-based boutique design studio Lyth Design, takes the inspiration for the Bhima exhibit from Bhima’s signature weapon from Mahabharata, a gada (mace), materialising ‘strength with a heart’ using black stained wood, black steel and yellow glass. Architect Swanzal Kak Kapoor of Saka Studio, who describes herself as a civic activist, a songstress and a closet philosopher, designs the embodiment of harmony, Nakula, visualising ‘harmonised frequency’ within a body, where the Kundalini (feminine) energy flows through the chakras and connects us with the divine. The concept materialises in the form of a wood and antique bronze lamp, symbolising chakras as diyas (earthen lamps) that illuminate the human body from within. Founder of KSA Lighting Designers, Kanchan Puri, is the lighting designer for The Five Virtues pavilion, drawing from her expertise in illuminating several heritage landmarks over India, including crafting lighting designs for the Ajanta Caves and David Sassoon Library.

The pavilion will feature Alumil’s steel window profile—framing and contextualising the exhibits—and Neolith’s metallic finish tiles as base provided by Valueline, a 2002-established brand house that curates luxurious residential designs and wellness spaces through a wide variety of material surfaces, sanitaryware and custom solutions. The materials and finishes for the exhibits are sourced from Gurgaon-based furniture manufacturing company FTS by Sharmilee, founded by interior and furniture designer Sharmilee Chopra, who prioritises transparency and client experience and believes that innovative design arises from the convergence of diverse minds and outlooks.

"This project seeks to redefine these values as androgynous and universally human. The goal is to establish a dialogue between mythology and design, bridging the past and the present in a thought-provoking and transformative way,” explains Rao in a conversation with STIR. While one may not be able to relate to the bold, heroic acts of the Pandavas to ensure that good wins over evil in Mahabharata's dharma yuddha (holy war), one can perhaps draw parallels between Arjuna’s dilemma and the inner conflicts one faces in everyday life. The Five Virtues at ADFF:STIR encourages a deeper reflection among the visitors, conveying the transient nature of virtues that humanity exhibits through small yet consequential acts of resilience, empathy and creativity. An ode to the cultural legacy of the ancient saga of Mahabharata—interpretations of which the country has seen in several films and visual design mediums—and the lessons it aims to impart, the pavilion presents them through a frame of contemporary design by utilising the potential of visual storytelling to reinforce its relevance and redefine its perception in modern times.

For more information, visit the ADFF:STIR Mumbai website for key highlights of the festival, including the 20+ films, 10 cinematic pavilions, special projects the ~log(ue) programme, media and press coverage and more. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for ADFF:STIR Mumbai 2026.