Popcorn tubs at a popular Chennai theatre get a makeover designed by artists with special needs

From yellow taxis to blue mountains and even Chacha Nehru in a new look – the popcorn tubs designed by Differently Designed at Chennai’s SPI Cinemas are becoming the talk of the town.

Everyone loves popcorn but the tubs they come in never get a second look. Enter Differently Designed, a new design house from Kai Rassi, a Chennai company that works with artists with special needs.

The tubs, launched just this week, come in four design varieties that are getting a lot of interest. The brainchild behind this are three school friends – Indira Reddy, Kadambari Narendran and Divya Rao. They started Kai Rassi a year ago to showcase and sell artwork online. Today it has become a platform for workshops and talent-building.

They aim to change the way people look at the disabled and create mainstream opportunities for the community.

Three artists were chosen to design the popcorn tubs. Two have autism and the third has cerebral palsy. Each tub comes with a descriptor on the artists, and their mediums of expression.

With 14 artists on board, the team at Differently Designed is looking at more ventures. They would like to collaborate with names like clothing-décor brand Nicobar, watchmakers Titan, and jewellery brands Caratlane and Tanishq.