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Shreya Bose completes a mural of Neymar Júnior at the FIFA para (Pic credit: Anindya Saha)
Every four years, Kolkata transforms. Streets become canvases, rooftops turn into viewing galleries, and entire neighbourhoods live and breathe football. From Patuli to Fakir Chakrabarty Lane’s ‘FIFA Para’, and Gopal Nagar, the city is all in.
“It’s like a big festival, everyone is watching the late-night matches together,” says Subhojit Das, club member of the Sports Lovers Association in Patuli.
Despite the rain, many fans, both artists and non-artists, have come together to complete all the World Cup themed artwork
Shreya Bose, professional mural artist from the FIFA para
Patuli: 80 fans, one obsessionAccording to Subhojit, prep in Patuli began “about 15 days ago.” Work begins for the 80-odd members – mostly Brazil and Argentina supporters – post office and runs till midnight. While they are watching WC matches together, they also celebrate cricket the same way.
When it rains, they cook together, picnic-style.
An artist paints portrait of Messi on a street in Patuli
FIFA Para’s paintingsIn north Kolkata’s ‘FIFA Para’, art meets obsession. “Work started a week ago,” says mural artist Shreya Bose, who has been working till even 3.30am sometimes. She says this World Cup is emotional, as it is the last one for Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
100 kites fly off shelves for BrazilAt a kite store in Hatibagan, owner Subhojit Gorai, who’s also a kite-maker, is seeing football fever soar. “I’ve made kites representing 32 countries,” he says. But the favourites are obvious: “Brazil and Argentina are the most popular. I’ve sold over 100 Brazil kites in a day,” he adds.
More girls are participating now; earlier, late-night work meant hesitation, but with everyone around, it feels safer
Aishwarya Kundu, artist
English (US) ·