Lalita Lajmi

Lalita Lajmi born on October 17, 1932, in Kolkata, is a notable painter. She is a self-taught artist and did not take any formal training. In 1994, she was invited to the prestigious Film Festival of Guru Dutt Born on 9th July 1925, Guru Dutt was an Indian act >> Read More... put forward by Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi- Indian high Commission at Nehru Centre, London. The Hindi film director, actor and producer, Guru Dutt was Lalita Lajmi’s brother. Lajmi was born to a poet father and polylingual writer mother. Her daughter Kalpana Lajmi Kalpana Lajmi, India’s film director, producer and >> Read More... was a Hindi director. Daughter’s illness impacted her life which was reflected in her work she recently portrayed. She paid her tribute to her late brother Guru dutt explaining her delicate emotions of the beautiful bond they shared as brother and sister. It was when she took part in a group exhibition at Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, that she started her painting career in early sixties. In 1961, she had her first solo exhibition at the same gallery.

She has presented her magnificent work of art at both national and international levels in her career span of five decades in India, Germany and USA. Being a paragon of efficient art work, she showcased at graphic workshop of Prof. Paul Lingerine in Mumbai, where two of her impressions were selected for “India Festival” 1985, USA. Lajmi’s primary work was appreciated but she shrugs that her later work was left unnoticed because of which she started teaching at Campion school and Convent of Jesus and Mary for over 20 years. She later matriculated herself at JJ School of Art to complete her masters in arts. A SYCO, The viewing Room, Mumbai, art alive Gallery, Think small, Gallery Sara Arakkal, Bangalore, are some of her group exhibitions. Her work portrayed autobiographical contents, men and women hidden tension, her work also depicted a natural bonding between mother and daughter.

Not only this, she gave a guest appearance in the Aamir Khan’s movie, Taare Zameen Par Click to look into! >> Read More... , did costume designing for Amol Palekar’s play, and graphics in Aghaat, Hindi movie. Her works are held in assemblage in the British Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art and the CSMVS Museum in India. From 1979 to 1983, she was a legatee of India Junior Fellowship of the government. She has received numerous awards, ICCR Travel Grant to Germany, 1983; Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, 1979; State Art Exhibition Award, 1978; Bombay Art Society Award (Etching) and ICCR Travel Grant to Oakland, California in 1977 to mention a few. Lajmi’s life is an epitome of motivation. She has been through her tough times and is still a living legend.