Themed pandals have been a major attraction of Kolkata’s Durga Puja in contemporary times. Hazra Udayan Sangha on Hazra Road chose their theme as the world of Satyajit Ray for this year, keeping in mind the birth centenary of the legendary film-maker celebrated last year. The pandal art created by Snehasish Maity and Timir Brahma, takes visitors through the lens of the camera into the world of Ray with the decor at the entrance. Film reels, light stands and other aspects of film-making add to the decor inside. Created strategically incorporating the buildings in the lane, a feel of the Sonar Kella set, Bhooter raja dilo bor from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and the Nayak train frame have been recreated. The other walls feature portraits of different women characters from Ray’s films that end with a sculpted figure of Sharmila Tagore’s character in Devi, placed in front of the Durga idol. Inspired from the artwork of the pandal and connecting it with the term ‘classic’, used for films created by Ray, The Telegraph chose to recreate three glam contemporised classic looks apt for the festive days, inspired from Bolly films. Our muse for the shoot? Actress Gargee Roychowdhury.
Taking a cue from the regal look of the thakurain portrayed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Devdas, a regal look with a touch of Bangaliana was created on Gargee. The royal blue and purple katan Benarasi with hand embroidery was paired with heavy jewellery, including layered neckpieces and stack of bangles. The look was completed with enhanced eyes and lips, red bindi and middle-parted bun. The Durga idol served as the perfect backdrop for the frame along with names of Satyajit Ray’s films used as a decor element inside the pandal.
Keeping the backdrop as the entrance of the pandal depicting the camera lens, Gargee exuded a vivacious vibe in the pink and gold silk Benarasi. Taking a cue from Vidya Balan’s effervescent character Lolita in Parineeta, the look has been created in neutral shades for make-up following the contemporary trend of minimalism and an atpourey-style draping to add the Bangali festive touch to the look.
Using the wall featuring framed portraits of Satyajit Ray’s women characters as the backdrop, Gargee channelled a contemporary classic look in a gold and beige phulkari Benarasi. The look created with a contemporary touch is inspired from Rekha’s heavy jewellery, bold lips look in Utsav.
This is our 77th Puja and we conceived this theme on Satyajit Ray two years ago to celebrate his birth centenary but due to Covid protocol, we couldn’t do it properly. So this year we themed our Puja on 100 years of Satyajit. We tried to portray the camera from Satyajit Ray’s popular picture of looking through a camera. The entrance depicts the lens of the camera, through which people are entering the world of Satyajit Ray. One wall captures Satyajit Ray’s women characters, complete with the character portrayed by Sharmila Tagore in Devi, right in front of our Durga idol,” said Firdausul Hasan, organiser of the puja
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Styling: Madhab Sarkar
Hair and make-up: Kunal Saha
Pink and beige sari: Rangoli;
blue sari: Stylist’s own
Jewellery: Stylist’s own