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Amid popping confetti and bursting fireworks Farad Daruwalla was adjudged the first ever Mantastic 2017. His female equivalent — Azmin Adajania — was crowned May Queen (MQ). High energy and enthusiasm marked the beauty pageant held on a sweltering April evening (April 30, 2017) at the sprawling Rustom Baug (RB) grounds. Held under the auspices of the Sir Ness Wadia Memorial Pavilion (SNWMP), the MQ which was started as a "social event for RB residents” has now become a marked community event on many a calendar. "To make the event more extravagant,” the SNWMP committee introduced Mantastic — an event for the community’s lads, it is printed in the souvenir. Sealing the fate of the winners were five judges: designer Delna Poonawalla, chief executive officer and chief creative officer of Madison BMB Raj Nair, TV serial actress Shubhangi Atre, model choreographer Benaifer Kohli and TV achor and entrepreneur Rakshanda Khan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year 12 boys and 12 girls competed to win three top titles and nine subtitles. Six participants were out-of-towners coming from Nagpur, Navsari, Baroda, Bulsar and even from Karachi! Taking home the crown and sash were three winners each who won, apart from cash and other prizes, gift hampers and vouchers. Subtitle winners’ freebies varied from airline tickets to and fro to Goa to photoshoots, dental treatment, beauty product hampers to hair grooming vouchers. Adajania and Daruwalla were awarded Rs 35,000 each. Declared as first runners up were Farah Ghadoiwala and Johann Daruwalla. They pocketed a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each plus gift hampers from various sponsors. Vaspan Tangri and Parinaz Irani were declared the second runners up respectively, each bagging a booty of Rs 15,000. By the end of the evening, all the three male winners were owners of a designer dugli presented by Dezenzia. 
Always ready to face challenges, Adajania participated in MQ "to explore herself and learn new things.” Currently pursuing her BCom from The Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution, the 19-year-old is passionate about dancing, singing and cooking.
Farad lives by the mantra of "khao, peeyo né majah karo (eat, drink and make merry).” The 17-year-old dimpled lad is a student of Jaihind College and plans to pursue an MBA in entrepreneurship.
Bulsar girl Ghadoiwala, currently doing her MCom from Lala Lajpatrai College, would like "to give back to society” in the field of education. Learn new things and enjoy life the way it comes, believes the 22-year-old.
An upcoming Bollywood playback artiste, 23-year-old Johann loves to learn new things as "life never stops teaching.” He has been recognized by the Nepal film industry for being the youngest and best accepted vocalist.
A 22-year-old who loves to dance, travel and learn new languages, Irani is doing her masters in business management from Mithibai College. She owns and runs a Belgian Waffle franchise store in Andheri. The petite youngster believes all that matters is "all about being fearlessly and relentlessly true to yourself.”
As a hotel management graduate 25-year-old Tangri’s dream is to set up his own "fine dining restaurant” as his passion is to cook and indulge in different cuisines. He also loves playing football, volleyball and adventure sports and is currently working as a purser with Air India.

 

Subtitle winners
Seven of the 24 contestants won dual titles plus a cash purse of Rs 5,000 and gift hampers. Apart from her MQ title, Adajania won "Body Beautiful.” "Best Physique” went to 21-year-old Anosh Mohta, all bulging biceps and six packs.
Farad was also the winner of the "Viewers Choice” award, sharing the stage with contestant Farah Mistry. The audience decides these winners by buying the souvenir and tearing out the perforated photo of the contestant of their choice and dropping it in a sealed box at the entrance to the venue.
His acting skills won Kayan Dadyburjor the "Mr Talented” title, whereas "Ms Talented,” Navsari’s Sally Kasad, was judged winner for her nimblefootedness.

 

 

 

 

 

Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Armaity Tirandaz took the contestants for a visit to The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital’s old age home where the youngsters were judged on the level of care, sensitivity and compassion shown towards the elderly. The title "Beauty with a Heart” was awarded to Kasad, and "Man with a Heart” went to Burzin Engineer.
For her lovely locks and pearly smile Zenia Boga won "Best Hair” and "Best Smile.” Male winners were Dadyburjor for hair and Johann for his smile. Winning two titles too was Benazir Bakht — "Best Skin” and "Ms Photogenic.” Her male counterparts were fair complexioned Percy Cooper and photogenic Karachi lad Jamshed Dumasia.
The contestants too had to select a winner amongst themselves — who they thought was the most endearing among the girls and the most charming amongst the boys. They were told to vote for that one person who according to them had charmed all the people with his/her good and helping nature and who they thought had the ability to go a long way on the final day. The contestants chose Karishma Balsara as "Ms Vivacious” and Engineer as "Mr Charming.”
Regaling the audience with their tongue-in-cheek humor were Burzis Taraporewala and Zeenia Wadia as hosts of the evening. The event is also a platform for newbies in the fashion world to showcase their creativity. This year the stage was given to designers Aliza Chenoy and Naonika Bahl to display their creations. Songs sung by Thea Shroff and Hushad Khan and dances choreographed by Merzi Anklesaria and Pearl Tirandaz helped enhance the fun quotient of the evening. Stage lights and sound was the purview of Sarosh Daruwalla of Mazda Audio Video Labs. Jam-e-Jamshed provided media partnership. Community caterer Jimmy Gadiwalla’s lagan nu bhonu satiated appetites.
The 24th MQ and 1st Mantastic were sponsored by the BPP, Central Bank of India, WZO Trust Funds, builders Rustomjee, Bank of Baroda, Jeejeebhoy Trust, IIFL Wealth and Asset Management, Writer Relocation, Hilla Builders, The Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Limited, Union Bank of India, Colgate Palmolive, Pesca Fresh and Mickey Mehta’s 360° Wellness Temple. Prizes were sponsored in memory of the late Jimmy Anklesaria with BPP trustee Viraf Mehta sponsoring additional prizes.
"This year the BPP has increased its sponsorship. The transformation of the contestants after the 10-day grooming workshop is amazing. Many form lifelong friendships and the confidence, life-skills and poise that the workshop gives the contestants is unbelieveable. Till about 10 years ago the BPP trustees would be the judges. Now the pageant has grown and become more professional and sleek and has eminent personalities from the field of entertainment judging it,” writes BPP chairman Yazdi Desai in his message printed in the souvenir.

The SNWMP committee
Helming the committee as president this year is new incumbent businessman Anosh Munshi. He is supported by Aspi Wadia (vice president), Khushro Contractor and Yazad Karai (secretaries), Yazdin Mistry (treasurer) and members P. Tirandaz, Zubin Mehta, Wadia, Behram Aderbad, Dr Ashdin Turner, Aresh Wadia, Farokh Surti, Neville Chithiwala, Rustom Patel and Xerxes Dastur.

 

 

 

 

The committee is elected every year and usually comprise the same persons. After successfully executing the MQ event, the committee has many tasks on their hands like completely revamping the toilets (at the Pavilion), upgrading the gymnasium with the latest equipments and facilities including air conditioning the same, provided sponsorship is forthcoming, notes Munshi in an email.
Whether they will continue hosting Mantastic next year, Munshi notes initially there was apprehension from the youngsters but subsequently the response was good. "It is a good stepping stone for those who wish to pursue modeling or enter the fashion and entertainment industry. And yes, we shall continue the same next year.”