Sprawling photo spreads of modernist bachelor pads, home bars, and contemporary furniture layouts.
According to Mehta's own account in Outlook India , the magazine was on the verge of collapse by the end of 1973 until he intervened. Hired by Somani, Mehta arrived to revamp the publication, bringing with him an artistic vision for design and literature. However, Somani had one non-negotiable condition: the topless female "centrespreads" would stay, but the semi-nude male models would go. This condition laid the foundation for what the Debonair centre spread would become: a highly controversial, frequently challenged, yet immensely popular feature that mixed soft pornography with high-grade literary ambition.
In publishing terms, a 'centrespread' simply refers to the two facing pages in the exact middle of a magazine, often used for a striking image or feature. But at Debonair , it took on a much larger meaning. It was the sacred space around which the entire issue was built. For its devoted—if often covert—readership, turning to these pages was a weekly or monthly ritual. debonair centrespread
Or simply:
Under editors like Vinod Mehta, the magazine published heavyweights like Khushwant Singh and Nissim Ezekiel. Sprawling photo spreads of modernist bachelor pads, home
Surprisingly, the magazine dedicated space to high art, even giving two full pages to poetry to surround the "necessary evil" of the centrespread [5].
This peculiar mix meant that a reader might pick up the magazine for its aesthetic appeal but stay for the provocative socio-political essays. It created a unique readership demographic: those who appreciated both avant-garde literature and modern visual allure. The End of an Era and Legacy But at Debonair , it took on a much larger meaning
"Got it," Elias breathed. "Clara, look at the monitor."
: Often featuring upcoming models or cinema stars.
: After fading from newsstands in the early 2000s, it was relaunched in 2022 by the Be Debonair Foundation and is now part of the Mavilach Group. The Centre Spread Unevenly | Outlook India
The Art of the Debonair Centrespread: Redefining Mid-Century Elegance and Modern Masculinity