A picture from ‘Un/Framede Lives’ | Photo Credit: Varun Jinka/Special Arrangement

Photographer and aspirational cinematographer Varun Jinka’s coffee table book cover, United Nations/Frame The cover has its own story of photograph, and turmeric is a tribute to Yellow Varun to Kolkata. Varun says, “The story is in my heart’s heart, and I try to present the stories that are often ignored.”

Before enlightening in stories, it is worth understanding Varun’s attitude of photography. The tagline of the book, ‘Unplanned moments of moments, stories untold’, their methodically still indicates in a spontaneous style. The book was funded by 150 contributors and an individual loan, making a project in four years. Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University of Hyderabad and Satyajit Ray of Kolkata, a former student of Film and Television Institute, Varun started capturing people and moments in Kolkata in 2021, using Black-end-white film roll Went.

Although Varun is not opposed to digital photography, he found that working with the film roll is more impervious. “I can remember the time, location and position in which I captured each image using the film. With digital photography, we often lose that connection because it is easy to take many shots, review and remove, ”he explains. For him, black and white photography symbolizes simplicity and truth. Kolkata’s access to vintage photography tools and film rolls also made the process comfortable.

United Nations/Frame -rich life book cover; Varun Jinka | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The book has 100 black and white images, through which Varun aims to capture “The Sol of Kolkata”. He wandered on the streets, observing and documenting people, often with his Ethiopian friend, Ficade Kifle. Photos represent children, men and women of various ages in parks, by road corners, at shops and train stations. “I saw some neighborhood again in several days, and people became familiar with me. When I photographed them, they had no objection.

The cover photograph, however, holds special significance for Varun. It provokes a childhood memory when he was afraid of transgenders. One day, waiting at a railway station, he saw a bright smile through his camera visualization. Looking closely, he felt that the person smiling at him was transgender. “That smile broke all my fear. I felt pure happiness and I knew I had to catch that moment, ”he shared.

A picture from the United Nations/Framey Life | Photo Credit: Varun Jinka/Special Arrangement

Turmeric yellow splashes in some pages of the book are Varun’s tribute to Kolkata’s cultural identity. “Color is important in every aspect of life in Kolkata,” they say, referring to yellow taxis, streetlights, flowers and turmeric in local cuisine. He compares the sun like sunlight to the lively spirit of the city.

Nandyal, Born in Andhra Pradesh, and grew up in Guntur and Hyderabad, Varun now divides his time between Hyderabad and Mumbai, where he works with filmmaker Nagaj Manjule as the second colleague in the Cinematography Department. The idea of ​​compiling his photos in a book came from the encouragement of Santosh Rajgarhia, one of his favorite photographers. His confidence increased when he won a photo competition organized by the Blue Banyan Group Committee in SRFTI.

The journey has not been without challenges. Varun credited crowdfunding and support from masters and well -wishers, including producer Hari Charan Prasad, to help him feel his vision. In particular, Hyderabad -based filmmaker B.K. Narsing Rao gifted Varun a Nikon FM2 film camera after seeing his work.

Varun’s hopes United Nations/Frame Educational institutions will find a place in libraries, inspiring students of photography and fine arts, “I want this book to reach young learners and enthusiasts who can search for their stories through lenses.”