Camaraderie over fashion

The Kingfisher calender is back, introducing five new models, shot in the stunning locales of Kerala

Among the many industries that COVID-19 shook at its arrival were the fashion and tourism industries. But like obstinate bulls recharging for an attack, both the industries have got on a semblance of recovery.

Now to boost that progress further, the 19th edition of the Kingfisher Calendar, shot by photographer Atul Kasbekar, is being launched pan India. The calendar introduces five new models — Gehna Mahiarya, Kritika Babu, Anukreethy Vas, Adline Castelino and Sumita Bhandari.

The highlight of this calendar, however, is not only the gorgeous women on it but also the stunning locales it was shot in—the southern shores of Kerala. Here’s a snippet of our conversation with the models and the veteran photographer himself, who share their experiences at the shoot and their hopes for fashion in 2021.

For photographer Atul Kasbekar, shooting the high-glam calendar in Kerala was a one-of-akind experience, but it had to do with more than the beauty and serenity around. “Given the fact that there is a flourishing Malayalam film industry in Kerala, people are well-versed with the photographic process and lighting equipment. So, it was a smooth experience to shoot there,” he said.

Atul then shared his perspective on the fashion industry. “I believe there’ll be a lot of stress on numbers, and though I anticipate things will pick up all around, retail might be a sore point. It’s possible that models lose income they’d have normally made from fashion shows and appearances or not have any kind of increase in their remunerations, too.”

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“Given the fact that there is a flourishing Malayalam film industry in Kerala, people are well-versed with the photographic process and lighting equipment. So, it was a smooth experience to shoot there”