From dark skin to painted faces: These beautiful photos of a woman battling prejudice will move you

Los Angeles-based photographer, Arjun Kamath has come forward with yet another series of beautiful photographs and storytelling, hitting hard against our obsession with the idea of fair skin. Kamath - curator of poignant photo series like Avani, on female foeticide, and Coming Out, on homosexuality - has now presented the third series on this cruel obsession.

The series “Colour of Skin” presents a story with the idea “every marriage has its own story”. The series, the style of which falls in line with what Kamath has exemplified himself, renders a close look at the evils practised in our society in the name of colour. The best part is the twist Kamath introduces - that discrimination and ill treatment is not restricted to women but this social evil even engulfs men. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

The story is about Ranika (Rachel Bayros), a beautiful girl who is loved ardently by her parents Dhananjay and Sudhamani, but is looked down upon because of dark-coloured skin. The stunning pictures narrate the story of a father, who wants to marry off his eligible and caring daughter to a loving and deserving groom. But soonafter his hunt begins, he discovers society's aversion to dark skin. The hard-hitting images show the plight of the parents who are not only rebuked but also insulted as they dared to hope their daughter could marry someone from a well-off family. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

A daunting picture of Ranika, being examined by a prospected groom’s mother with the edge of a walking stick reminds us how ‘unfair’ the society is. The narrative of the unnerving story has a harsh quote that brings out the extent of domination and humiliation faced by the person. “You’re a bit of rough from the all the games in the sun, girl. I don’t think our son is the one for you,” the words enough to make us sit up and take note of society's so-called progress. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

As the story proceeds, Ranika and her parents are humiliated not once but twice by friends and acquaintances. The insult and rudeness was so much to bear for the young girl; she decides to faint her face white to reduce the shame and sorrow upon her parents because of the colour of her skin. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

The images in which Ranika and her parents apply white paint across her face and hands will keep haunting us and are sure to trigger some hidden anger and remorse towards the unfairness of the world around us. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

But soon the story introduces a twist, where a man named Dinkara enters her life and a marriage is arranged. What is interesting here is that she adopted a painted face so that she could marry, and here it turns out the guy himself has a painted face! The story tells the audience the amount of shame and chide Dinkara had to tolerate and how he was called by names by those close to him. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

The beauty of the story is that, though both the families and protagonists sees and realizes about the painted face, none speak of it. A gentle pinch again, who we see and understand a lot of things a yet pretend to overlook it, as if ignorance and pretense is the correct order of nature. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

As the story proceeds, we see how Ranika - despite being inquisitive - doesn’t ask Dinkara about his painted face, to avoid further insult and humiliation. However, the story brilliantly highlights the sublime understanding of each others’ pain and ethos. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

The tinge of romance amid all evil always has been a strength and focal point of Kamath’s stories. Here too, where Ranika and Dinkara go for a walk before approving for the marriage is one such episode. Little gestures and expression by the artists and the story captured the essence of pain and anxiety mingled into one. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

The story ends when during the marriage ceremony, nature rains in on the deception - literally - washing away all the lies of the whitewashed faces. While Ranika discovers her freedom as the rain washes away all the shame and insults she had so far endured, freeing her, Dinkara remains tied to popular ideology, frantically attempting to 'fix' the washed away paint in the downpour. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

It also gives us a strong message that one’s own battle must be won by oneself — that the main fight is actually the one to win over the demons of within. (Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)

(Source: Arjun Kamath Photography/ Facebook)