The Year of the Ox is here; now the anticipation for the big-name calendars begins. From the good old Kaal Nirnaya calendars that mothers and grandmothers would hang in the kitchen...
Calendars are among the most sought-after New Year gifts; but where are all the high-profile ones this year?
The Year of the Ox is here; now the anticipation for the big-name calendars begins. From the good old Kaal Nirnaya calendars that mothers and grandmothers would hang in the kitchen and dutifully consult,to the ultra glam Kingfisher almanacs,the demand for the date-book will never go away. These days,of course,calendars have graduated from mere date-keepers to effective marketing tools and beautiful wall-pieces.
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The Kingfisher calendar is arguably the countrys most sought after almanac and for good reason. The high-quality shots,not to mention sexy,bikini-clad models,ensure the calendar is appreciated for being more than just a place to mark important dates. The pictures are shot by fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar who says,this year is going to be more of a treat than usual. Theres recently been a trend to shoot photos that have nothing understated about them, he says,but we foresee a return to the minimalism of the 90s. So weve gone in for a real and soft look using natural lighting in the Six Senses resort in Thailand. The calendar,which was to have released on December 21,2008,will now be launched on January 11.
Dabboo Ratnanis special Bollywood calendars also feature high on the list of collectors. The photographer,who specialises in capturing Bollywood personalities in the most unusual of settings and poses,is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his calendar this year,by trying out a different style. Youll see that its different, he says of the calendar,which released on January 5. The format is larger and unlike last year,where I shot an all-male calendar,this year there are some women featured as well. Ratnanis calendar this year will have all the usual suspects,from Hrithik Roshan to Sanjay Dutt to Amitabh Bachchan,and will also include actresses like Preity Zinta and Deepika Padukone.
However,those looking forward to the other celebrity shutterbug Subi Samuels annual calendar will be disappointed. Samuel has decided not to come out with his calendar this year for personal reasons. Dancer Terence Lewis too disappoints; he has come out with a 2009 calendar,the images used are those shot for the previous year.
Apart from calendars high on fame quotient,there are many others which are worth more than a look. One such is the Air India calendar,with reproductions of works by prominent,contemporary women artists of India such as Milburn Cherian,Prabha Shah and Aparna Caur. Another beautiful calendar is Club Meds with pictures of its various properties around the worldfrom the Cherating Beach in Malaysia to the Charmonix in France.
But if there was an award for most innovative calendar,it would probably go to HBOs,based on its new vampire show True Blood. From corny vampire pick-up lines for each month (Youre so hot,I can only sip you slowly) to stickers labelled burpday,juicy date and bloody free,the calendar is one that will appeal to all with a sense of humourregardless of whether or not they fancy bloodsuckers.
Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology.
Editorial Focus & Expertise
Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique.
Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment.
Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms.
Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy.
Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics.
Multimedia & Podcasting
Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs.
Notable Recent Works
Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity
Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House.
Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value.
Professional Presence
Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights.
Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More
