Twelve hours. Eight shots. Six models. One aesthetic calendar. That’s what it took to get this year’s Sahodaran (an organisation for the rights of sexual minorities) calendar together. Titled Dynasty 16, this edition, shot in Hampi, has been inspired by the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire.
But it wasn’t as simple as it sounds. “It was a Saturday, when we got permission allowing us to shoot in Hampi the following Tuesday. I was in Pune at that point, and flew to Bangalore the next day. We were given only 24 hours to shoot,” says Sunil Menon, the founder of the annual calendar. It was first launched in 2010, to raise funds for HIV projects for the sexual minorities community.
In its seventh year now, the calendar features male models in traditional attire and in stunning locations. This calendar has them posing in colourful panchakachams and chunky traditional jewellery, with their rippling muscles and enviously sculpted bodies, on coracles, atop rocks, against giant trees and the enchanting ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Since it was done on a short notice this year, some of the guys complained about not having enough time to get into shape,” laughs Sunil, as he shows the calendar. There’s not an extra inch on any of their bodies, really. “They wanted to look even more ripped,” laughs Sunil. While the production team, including art director Sangeetha Shirali and photographer Kapil Ganesh, worried about cramping everything into a one-day shoot, the models fretted over their bodies and food. On the way to Hampi, when Sunil stopped at a restaurant for a quick meal of hot rice and authentic Udupi accompaniments, the six boys, after complaining about the unavailability of their approved food, ate chapattis and veggies. The shoot, which began at 6.30 a.m., wound up at 6.30 p.m. Though Sunil is a tad upset about missing out on the last set of photos as a result of fading light, he seems thrilled with the overall experience. “It was fun. There were hordes of people gathered around, wondering what we were shooting for. Rocky, the guy from Bangalore, told them it was the pre-production work for Baahubali 2 ,” he grins. What followed was a trail of giggling girls and fans clicking incessant selfies with the models.
The calendar is priced at Rs. 1,000 and can be bought through Facebook, Soma Boutique in Kodambakkam or from the Sahodaran office in Aminjikarai.
