Kalyani Saha Chawla’s warmth is legendary. Almost her middle name actually. A synonym that’s often used for Kolkata too. A true-blue Kolkatan, the former vice president of marketing and communications for Dior, India, for over a decade, the face, the global giant launched with in India in 2006, Kalyani’s heart aches with fond longing for the city when she is away from it, a city she left in 1989. Kalyani who now runs Rezon Luxury Silverware, which crafts dreams in silver, was back in town recently, at that time of the year when the city puts on its year-end celebratory gear, a joie de vivre running in its veins, and took The Telegraph to some of her favourite places that brought back so many “childhood memories of so much innocence”.
VICTORIA MEMORIAL “My grandfather used to go for walks every morning. On Thursdays, he used to say that I had to go for a walk with him. I would also go for very good phuchkas to Victoria. The orange stick was 20 paisa,” smiled Kalyani, enjoying an old favourite after years, looking stunning in black and white, against an ivory Victoria and its famous black gate.
NEW MARKET Kalyani was back at New Market after almost 30 years. “This was our first most luxurious shopping place ever. It was a weekly ritual to go to New Market. We used to buy fabrics. Cakes from Nahoum. For my first trip, I went to buy a suitcase from New Market. The fish, the meat, the vegetables... it was the go-to place and everything was available. I was passing Bata and that’s where my mum used to take us to buy school shoes. Our shoot was right in front of Bata. Then during Christmas, we would go to New Market to buy streamers and for all our birthdays, we used to do up our own homes and to buy decorations, we used to go to New Market. My parents for some odd reason, never let us watch Hindi movies. So, many times we would land up watching a movie at Globe like Laurel and Hardy,” she said, dressed in Christmas red and looking striking. The famous New Market Clock Tower was the perfect backdrop to match the mood of her red dress.
LORETO HOUSE “My school days were definitely the best part of my life. I have 100 stories to tell. I was fascinated going to the church and singing hymns, the school concerts, competition on the sports field.... It was the most joyous time. My school friends, when I come to town, they all drop everything and we meet up. We still talk about school. Once my mother had to send cops to look for me because one day I sat watching a wedding which was what was happening when we were shooting there. I got lost and did not realise. I always thought I’d get married in a church, in white....,” smiled Kalyani. Her playful school memories matched the carefree mirth of her happy outfit.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Hair and make-up: Abhijith Chanda
