Nothing brings out the beauty of a large room/ hall as an engaging Fresco. The multiple-panel fresco in our Club’s Mixed Lounge does exactly that. According to Club old-timers the original fresco was done by the famous British author of the book “Far Pavilions”, M M Kaye, and her sister. This was done when their father Sir Cecil Kaye was posted in Hyderabad as a representative of the East India Company. Legend has it that Sir Cecil asked M M Kaye and her sister to paint this as they were getting bored with the slow pace of their social world. The original painting started on the Northern wall, moved to the eastern wall with 5 panels and then to the Southern wall. 

Unfortunately, the Northern side fresco does not exist anymore. The theme she used was the story “Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, she painted these in watercolors and egg tempera. M M Kaye loved India and everything Indian! After completing her basic education in England she came back to India and started to write and paint. It was at this time she wrote her famous book “Far Pavilions” which was subsequently made into a movie. As per her writing, she had painted the nymph scantily dressed which shocked the then gentility and she had to paint over more modest clothes on it!!

This painting/Fresco has another dimension to it. In the year 2002, it was badly damaged because of water seepage and was redone by the famous contemporary artist Mr Sanjay Ashtaputre in the art Noveau style of French painting made famous in the 19th Century.