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Pirelli Calendar: India's Soul Revealed in Art
13 Aug
Summary
- The 2027 Pirelli Calendar showcases India's identity with an all-Indian cast.
- It features both celebrities and 200 ordinary Indians, from dancers to artisans.
- The edition is a collaboration, shaped by an outsider's view and a daughter's tribute.
The Pirelli Calendar, initially a high-fashion corporate gift introduced in 1966, has evolved into a significant cultural artifact. Its 2027 edition marks a new direction, dedicating itself entirely to India and its identity.
This year's "The Cal" features an exclusive all-India cast, photographed across Rajasthan and Delhi. Alongside renowned figures like Padma Lakshmi and Aditi Rao Hydari, approximately 200 ordinary Indians, including musicians and craftspeople, are showcased.
The project was conceived as a collaboration between Sølve Sundsbø and Raghu Rai, a celebrated Indian photojournalist who passed away shortly after the project's commencement. His daughter, Avani Rai, took over, steering the project outdoors into locations her father documented.
Avani Rai emphasizes maintaining emotional honesty and curiosity, regardless of genre. This edition is notable for its dual perspective: an outsider's admiration and a daughter honoring her father's legacy by continuing his way of engaging with the world. The calendar's physical copies remain exclusive corporate gifts, with around 20,000 produced annually.
