Her dreams on canvas,Didi’s ‘masterstroke’ a rage

On the first day,a host of the celebrities that included danseuse Amala Shankar,cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya,singer Dwijen Mukherjee,actors Sandhya Roy and June Malia,artists Jogen Chaudhury,Suvaprasanna,Samir Aich,to name a few,thronged the venue.

The prices of these paintings range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh,according to one official of Jago Bangla,the official mouthpiece of the Trinamool Congress,which is organising the exhibition.

At least 14 paintings have already been sold and buyers range from city’s industrialists to members of hoi poloi.

“I brought Rs 40,000 in cash to buy one small painting. But the organisers said that they will accept only cheques. So,I will come tomorrow,’’ said Biplab Basu,an art teacher.

Amala Shankar,mesmerised by the paintings,said: “She (Mamata) has a passion,spontaneity and dreams which get reflected in her works.’’

For artist Jogen Choudhury,Banerjee has sensibly used the colours and urged people to buy them for “aesthetic value”. “She is not trained but she has a natural instinct for painting,” he added.