When Bengaluru’s walls became a stadium of champions

By Deepa Natarajan LoboAs the entire nation cheered with pride on November 2, 2025, celebrating the Indian women’s national cricket team’s historic World Cup triumph, a quieter yet equally powerful spectacle had already unfolded in Bengaluru.

At Jayamahal Park, a 130-foot wall was transformed into a vibrant tribute to India’s sporting heroes. Leading the effort was artist Dr. Bhoomika Ananth, popularly known as Creatibeeti, who brought together a team of 75 volunteers to turn the wall into a colourful celebration of sporting excellence. What began as a plan to paint only cricketers soon grew into something far more inclusive.“We initially thought we’d focus only on cricket, but it didn’t feel right to stop there,” Bhoomika had said. “We wanted to celebrate all kinds of sports and people who’ve outshined themselves—like PV Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra and Sunil Chhetri.” Completed in a little over three hours, the mural came alive in bold yellows, reds and blues, capturing the energy, grit and joy that define sport. The phrase ‘Aadu Atta Aadu’, a popular Kannada line celebrating the spirit of play, became a central visual element, reinforcing the idea of sport as a shared, joyful experience.One of the most striking sections of the mural was a heartfelt tribute to Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, the vice-captain and captain of India’s women’s cricket team. Their World Cup triumph gave the artwork a deeper resonance and emotional weight. Among the male cricketers, the team chose to feature KL Rahul, a nod to his personal connection with the neighbourhood.The shades of blue running through the mural added intensity and movement, mirroring the adrenaline and passion of competitive sport. For Bhoomika, the project was never just about painting faces on a wall. With several more public art projects lined up, she reiterated her larger vision. “My aim has always been to bring the public back into public art,” she said.