Local talents paint Kolkata trams in bright colours

Five trams plying in the Park Circus-Gariahat, Tollygunge-Khidirpur, Belgachia-Dalhousie route were painted on 17, 18, 19 of April by the local art fraternity as part of the celebrations to mark the birthday of Italian renaissance painter sculptor inventor and architect Leonardo da Vinci on April 15.

Bengali celluloid stalwart Soumitra Chatterjee was the Chief Guest on April 19 event at Esplanade.

This first of its kind event was organised by Kokoyu Camlin as a step towards popularising art amongst people.

Chandra Shekhar Ojha, DGM, Marketing of Camlin Kokuyo said, "We have been promoting art through various activities since the last 75 years of our existence. Last year we created a record with the participation of 4.85 children for 'All India Camel Colour Contest'."

"In Mumbai, we have created art plaza on a pavement opposite Jahangir art gallery as part of our art promotion activities," he added.

Kokata, regarded as an art and culture hub of India, was an obvious choice to celebrate the 'Camel Art Week' for the company, Ojha informed.

The five trams were painted by different groups of artists around the themes 'City of Joy-Kolkata', 'Amar Shonar Bangla', 'Festivals of India' chosen by Camlin Kokuyo .

On the question as to why trams were chosen, Saumitra Prasad, Chief Marketing Officer, Kokuyo Camlin said," We could not think of better canvas than the iconic trams of the city. This activity will indeed be aimed at making ' Camel Art Week' achieve it s objetive of popularising art amongst peope throughout the country."

Two trams were painted on April 17 by school art teachers of Kolkata and school students who had earlier participated and won in Camel's all India colour contest at the national and regional level. On the following day hobby artists and Sunday art school teachers along with artists from Camel Art Foundation coloured two more trams. The final and the fifth tram was painted by underprivileged children.

Nineteen schools from the city also participated actively in the event including DPS Ruby Park, Megacity and Howrah, Fuuture Fondation school Inner Wheel Club of Calcutta Midtown KV Santragachi, Barrackpore Modern Highschool, Howrah Zila School and Hindu School.

(Reporting by Anuradha Dutta, Images by Somnath Roy Chowdhury )