Amber Tikari

Her passion for design can be traced back to being raised in an artistic household in Kolkata. She’s nurtured it through her career as filmmaker, production and set designer, when she led Highlight Films, founded by her husband, filmmaker Mahesh Mathai. Now, as she travels across the country with the pop-up bazaar of her craft-based concept store Baro Market, designer and curator Srila Chatterjee shares her love for all things aesthetic and more in an exclusive chat with HELLO!

HELLO!: Srila, you’re known for your highly individual, eclectic style. What inspires your fashion choices?

Srila Chatterjee: A combination of loving what something looks like, that it would look okay on my very imperfect body, that it’s not something everyone has and it is comfortable to wear! I love things that are bold, have colour and come with a good story attached…

H!: At Baro, the philosophy is “Nothing is worth having if it doesn’t tell your story.” Can you share one prized possession that reflects your personal journey?

SC: There’s an almost 100-year-old wooden tiger in our house that comes from Kerala. It’s beautiful, and has always been right in the middle of our living room, for a while very close to a big round ottoman. One day, I randomly noticed that the tiger’s tongue was missing — it was a tongue that stuck out of its mouth a little bit, not a separate piece, but part of the carving. Only after much investigation did we realise that the six new puppies that were born in our home had been jumping on the ottoman that was exactly at the level of the tiger’s face, and had chewed that bit of the tongue off!!! For us the tiger is even more precious now, and no one but the puppies and us knows there was meant to be a tongue!!

H!: What makes you smile and what scares you the most?

SC: My dogs make me smile — always! Also great food, stunning craft and watching Rafael Nadal or Barcelona win! Looking down from the edge of a cliff scares me.

H!: Both you and Mahesh have a shared passion for vintage items. Do you think having common interests is crucial for a successful marriage?

SC: I don’t think the institution of marriage is important — it’s the relationship between people that matters. I don’t think common interests are what keeps relationships of ANY kind going; it’s common values and a common grounding. Having varied interests and different talents is what makes any kind of partnership more exciting and relevant, and shared beliefs/values are the solid foundation on which everything is built.

H!: Can you describe a typical day living on your island off Aleppy?

SC: Sleep. Read. Eat. Read. Go for a walk. Drink. Eat. Read. Sleep. And in between, just loll around, shoot the breeze and switch off...

H!: A place you’re eager to explore in 2024?

SC: Bengal. So much to discover and so little done, even though I’ve grown up there!

H!: Between Mumbai and Kolkata, which city holds a special place in your heart?

SC: There’s no between anything: Kolkata is where I’m from, where my soul comes from and where I’m always happiest being.

H!: Your affiliation with The Akanksha Foundation spans three decades. What motivates you to prioritise giving back?

SC: It’s the way I was raised; you can only enjoy privilege if you earn it, and part of earning it is living every moment aware that you need to find ways to change the horrible inequity in this world. I was very lucky to have that instilled in me from when I was knee high to a grasshopper, and it is the basis of my life.

H!: How do you relax and unwind?

SC: My best “unwind tactic” is Sudoku on my phone!! I relax doing things I really enjoy, even if they are frenzied! Travel completely relaxes me and it’s really one of my greatest joys. Reading is a big one — I know I need a break when I am not reading. I’m an expert in just lying on a sofa at home and doing absolutely nothing, and loving it, especially if I’m all alone (doesn’t happen often enough!!). And of course, there is no better stress-buster in the world than coming home to dogs you adore.

H!: What is the one goal you aim to achieve this year? And is there a habit you’re determined to break?

SC: My big goal this year is for Baro Market — we are looking to grow, to scale up and to build a crack team. I’m not a ‘habit person’; there is nothing I have to do or eat or drink that I cannot function without, so that has never been something I have bothered with…

Photo: Romita Bhandary

This article has been adapted for the website from the March 2024 issue. Grab your copies here.