Through her lived experiences and a lifelong study of the city’s cultural history, Shanta Gokhale explains what makes this Deco neighbourhood special.
Gallery
Feb 23, 2021

Two weeks after the grand opening of Eros cinema in 1938, Bombay witnessed the inauguration of another Deco landmark - the Lakshmi Insurance building on Sir Pherozeshah Mehta road, Fort. Situated on a 1530 square yards plot at the junction with Cawasji Patel street, the building was built by the Lakshmi Insurance Company of Lahore for their premises in Bombay.
When it was built, It was claimed to be the tallest commercial building in Fort, with a height of 120 feet from the road level. It consists of a basement, ground and four upper floors surmounted by a 3 sided clock tower.
Apart from its lobby, the building's standout feature is a magnificent 18 feet high bronze statue of Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth, which sits atop the clock tower. (Image 1)
The sculptural and relief work on the façade, executed by sculptor V. A. Kamat, also depicted Indian motifs in the form of Elephants, which are considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Seen in Image 2 is the detailed relief work inspired by a ceremonial elephant at the entrance of the building and in image 3, a frieze of carved elephants ornament the façade at the first floor level. A pair of elephant sculptures stand guard at the edge of the rooftop facing the street corner (Image 4).
Feb 23, 2021

Two weeks after the grand opening of Eros cinema in 1938, Bombay witnessed the inauguration of another Deco landmark - the Lakshmi Insurance building on Sir Pherozeshah Mehta road, Fort. Situated on a 1530 square yards plot at the junction with Cawasji Patel street, the building was built by the Lakshmi Insurance Company of Lahore for their premises in Bombay.
When it was built, It was claimed to be the tallest commercial building in Fort, with a height of 120 feet from the road level. It consists of a basement, ground and four upper floors surmounted by a 3 sided clock tower.
Apart from its lobby, the building's standout feature is a magnificent 18 feet high bronze statue of Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth, which sits atop the clock tower. (Image 1)
The sculptural and relief work on the façade, executed by sculptor V. A. Kamat, also depicted Indian motifs in the form of Elephants, which are considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Seen in Image 2 is the detailed relief work inspired by a ceremonial elephant at the entrance of the building and in image 3, a frieze of carved elephants ornament the façade at the first floor level. A pair of elephant sculptures stand guard at the edge of the rooftop facing the street corner (Image 4).
Feb 23, 2021

Two weeks after the grand opening of Eros cinema in 1938, Bombay witnessed the inauguration of another Deco landmark - the Lakshmi Insurance building on Sir Pherozeshah Mehta road, Fort. Situated on a 1530 square yards plot at the junction with Cawasji Patel street, the building was built by the Lakshmi Insurance Company of Lahore for their premises in Bombay.
When it was built, It was claimed to be the tallest commercial building in Fort, with a height of 120 feet from the road level. It consists of a basement, ground and four upper floors surmounted by a 3 sided clock tower.
Apart from its lobby, the building's standout feature is a magnificent 18 feet high bronze statue of Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth, which sits atop the clock tower. (Image 1)
The sculptural and relief work on the façade, executed by sculptor V. A. Kamat, also depicted Indian motifs in the form of Elephants, which are considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Seen in Image 2 is the detailed relief work inspired by a ceremonial elephant at the entrance of the building and in image 3, a frieze of carved elephants ornament the façade at the first floor level. A pair of elephant sculptures stand guard at the edge of the rooftop facing the street corner (Image 4).
Feb 23, 2021

Two weeks after the grand opening of Eros cinema in 1938, Bombay witnessed the inauguration of another Deco landmark - the Lakshmi Insurance building on Sir Pherozeshah Mehta road, Fort. Situated on a 1530 square yards plot at the junction with Cawasji Patel street, the building was built by the Lakshmi Insurance Company of Lahore for their premises in Bombay.
When it was built, It was claimed to be the tallest commercial building in Fort, with a height of 120 feet from the road level. It consists of a basement, ground and four upper floors surmounted by a 3 sided clock tower.
Apart from its lobby, the building's standout feature is a magnificent 18 feet high bronze statue of Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth, which sits atop the clock tower. (Image 1)
The sculptural and relief work on the façade, executed by sculptor V. A. Kamat, also depicted Indian motifs in the form of Elephants, which are considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Seen in Image 2 is the detailed relief work inspired by a ceremonial elephant at the entrance of the building and in image 3, a frieze of carved elephants ornament the façade at the first floor level. A pair of elephant sculptures stand guard at the edge of the rooftop facing the street corner (Image 4).
Feb 19, 2021

Mr. Shiavax Cawasji Cambata, a prominent businessman and owner of Eros Cinema, spared no expense in the making of this magnificent theatre. After 5 years of careful thought and planning with experts from all parts of the world, Cambata successfully built an ultra-modern enterprise that stood higher than anything that was attempted in the Entertainment world of this country and many European cities.
The chairs of the theatre were designed after Mr. Cambata personally examined chairs of all types in Europe and America. The air conditioners were manufactured by Clarage Fan Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A.
Eros was envisaged to serve as a worthy landmark and contribute to the cultural development of the city. Along with films by the most well-known producers all over the world, the theatre also promised to stage ambitious theatrical productions including cabarets and educational programmes for the younger generations. Since it opened in 1938, Eros has been entertaining generations of citizens for nearly 80 years, until it’s unfortunate closure in 2016.
Feb 19, 2021

Mr. Shiavax Cawasji Cambata, a prominent businessman and owner of Eros Cinema, spared no expense in the making of this magnificent theatre. After 5 years of careful thought and planning with experts from all parts of the world, Cambata successfully built an ultra-modern enterprise that stood higher than anything that was attempted in the Entertainment world of this country and many European cities.
The chairs of the theatre were designed after Mr. Cambata personally examined chairs of all types in Europe and America. The air conditioners were manufactured by Clarage Fan Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A.
Eros was envisaged to serve as a worthy landmark and contribute to the cultural development of the city. Along with films by the most well-known producers all over the world, the theatre also promised to stage ambitious theatrical productions including cabarets and educational programmes for the younger generations. Since it opened in 1938, Eros has been entertaining generations of citizens for nearly 80 years, until it’s unfortunate closure in 2016.

Inventory
An inventory of Art Deco buildings with an interactive map showing you where they are located. Explore neighbourhoods, buildings, features and elements.
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