The Spanish fever unleashed by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is now set to paint the city red, literally. Weeks after the film hit theatres, its popular Tomatina Festival, that featured Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar, will now be making an appearance in the city’s cultural events.
Juhu’s Tulip Star Hotel will soon host a one-day festival on similar lines and incorporate some of the games used in the original festival back in Spain. Titled, Tomatino Festival, it will be on August 28, from 11 am to 6 pm. Says television actor, Rahul Raj Singh, who is organising the event, “The festival originated in a small town in Spain and now attracts lakhs of people. We want to achieve the same feat in India and this is just the first step towards it. Also, during the monsoon, other than Dahi Handi, we don’t have any major festivals, so this could be big.”
In Spain, the festival originated in the small town of Bunol and is held the last Wednesday of August. The organisers of the Indian version plan to make this into an annual event. Adds Rahul, “In fifteen days, we will take the festival to Goa. The venue is not yet decided, but we are looking at Pallolem.”
Coming back to Mumbai, the festival’s Indian version will be a private affair, held for patrons of the hotel —comprising mostly film and TV stars. The dress code will be strictly white. “At the moment, Vivek Oberoi, Tushar Kapoor and Arshad Warsi have confirmed. The idea was received well by Sanjay Dutt,” says Rahul.
{{/usCountry}}Coming back to Mumbai, the festival’s Indian version will be a private affair, held for patrons of the hotel —comprising mostly film and TV stars. The dress code will be strictly white. “At the moment, Vivek Oberoi, Tushar Kapoor and Arshad Warsi have confirmed. The idea was received well by Sanjay Dutt,” says Rahul.
{{/usCountry}}Over, 20 to 25 tonnes of tomatoes would be used for the event. The Spanish Government is also lending its expertise for the event. Says Rahul, “Victoria Romero Passao, cultural attaché to the Spanish Government in India is helping us to make the event a success. Currently, she’s in Spain to coordinate the event in Bunol.”