Giant mural pays tribute to 100 years of Satyajit Ray

A giant mural of Satyajit Ray adorning the wall of a Metro Railway building in the Charu Market area of south Kolkata was unveiled on Monday. Chennai-based artist A-Kill painted the mural. Start India Foundation, in collaboration with Asian Paints, is behind the project, called ‘Donate a Wall.’ “Every year, we select a state and three walls, each in a city, to paint. But in Kolkata, we chose two walls,” said Vikas Nagrare, director of special projects for the Delhi-based foundation.

The first wall, that of a CESC building in Patuli, had a mural based on artisans of Kumartuli. The third wall will be in Howrah. The ‘Ray Wall’ is a stone’s throw from the Rabindra Sarobar Metro station. Mayor Firhad Hakim, Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar and filmmaker and Ray’s son Sandip Ray were present at the unveiling. The Satyajit Ray mural is first of its kind as it is a 3D picture story, done first in Kolkata. This is a tribute commemorating 100 years of Ray. The mural concept is unique too as it captures Ray’s eternal mood behind a camera along with a child’s face depicting his masterpiece Pather Panchali. Kolkata has always been unique in its approach to art and culture. This mural is a testimony to Kolkata’s love for art once again.