GUWAHATI, March 3 � A passion for capturing the hidden and less noticed colours of life and nature, and an objective to take the same to those who have missed the opportunities to stop and stare have resulted in the production of theme based calendars that have become popular both inside and outside the State.
Four years back, well known film critic Utpal Datta and entrepreneur Dhanjeet Das felt that they should do something in a unique way to present Assam in a positive light before the rest of India. So they hit upon the idea of designing and printing calendars revolving around a theme related to the socio-cultural life of Assam.
�We have friends outside the State and country. So the calendar is a special gift for all of them as it highlights various aspects of the State,� said Datta.
This initiative of Datta and Das which comes under the banner of Rain Soft is also serving the purpose of generating awareness amongst the young generation about their culture and other intangible and tangible assets of their motherland.
This year, Rain Soft came up with Navaras in Sattriya as their theme. �We chose Sattriya dance this year because it is one of the finest forms of Indian classical dance traditions,� said Datta adding that over the years this dance form has attained a distinct identity.
Datta further said that this year�s calendar is an unique attempt to portray the varied moods as reflected in Sattriya dance. �Sattriya dance is enriched with reflections of the nine forms of sentiments � the navarasas. It elaborates the vivid colours of human expressions and experiences. We have done our best to make the calendar redolent of the past,� said Datta.
It needs to be mentioned here that on the earlier occasions, Rain Soft calendars had Homen Borgohain, Haflong and Dr Birendra Nath Dutta as themes.
The Sattriya theme based calendar also has an interesting story behind it. To give it a look of the past, Datta and Das waited for the perfect weather conditions with patience. When the chill was the highest last year, the photographs were taken on the bank of the Brahmaputra.
�Colour is very important to give the right message. Many people have been asking us why the colours are so subdued. We have subdued the colours to tell the story of the past,� mentioned Datta.
This year a total of 2000 copies of the calendar was distributed amongst friends and well wishers.
�We distribute the calendar for free. It is our passion and we hope to continue presenting the calendar as gift to our friends,� said Das.
