Features
A Calendar with a Difference
You may have seen calendars featuring super models or filmstars, but ´The City in Love´ is a calendar with a difference, based on the relations of love within the LGBT community.
Compiled and conceptualized by Kolkata based lens man Archan Mukherjee, the calendar depicts pictorial stories related to the LGBT community and recounts a saga of alternate sexuality through his photographs.
“Though focused on the LGBT community, the calendar can´t be termed a ´Queer´ calendar” says Archan, adding, “a gay, lesbian or a transgender are not different from other people. They have emotions too, they are neither alien nor queer”
A doctor by profession, Archanlearnt photography during his modelling days. “I want to raise awareness about the LGBT community through my work but my calendar is not just about projecting the LGBT community, but also about love”, he points out, adding, “it features real time Kolkata, peopled by persons with different sexual orientations, rather than an utopian Kolkata. Love is the unifying factor amongst all”.
Tanaya, a social activist featured in the calendar for the month of January, says “the calendar is not only projecting persons from the LGBT community, but also sending a message against the patriarchal society. For example, we see a girl is playing football and boys are watching. A girl can also love football and can play it like the boys – there is nothing wrong in it”.
Debbinath who features in the calendar for the month of May as a transgender beingshaved feels the calendar tells the story of individuals and their love. Debbinath pointsout that everyonein India has an equal right to live their lifethe way they want and the calendar would help people think differently and break the taboos associated with the LGBT community. “It will go a long way towards gender sensitization”, adds Debbinath.
´The City in Love´ was welcomed by the youngsters, says Archan, adding almost all the 250 pieces printed have been sold out. The calendar was released at DIALOGUES: CALCUTTA INTERNATIONAL LGBT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL held at the Goe the Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan, in November, last year.
