Dolcy D’Cruz
A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAZZ LEGEND BRAZ GONSALVES
Lotus Film & TV Production led by Nalini Elvino De Souza celebrates their upcoming documentary ‘RAGA ROCK – The Return of Braz Gonsalves’ with a calendar to commemorate Braz Gonsalves. The calendar emerged from a collaborative idea shared with graphic designer Satyen Keny. This is Nalini’s first calendar project, and it closely mirrors the narrative arc of the film. Each month corresponds to key moments in the life of jazz legend Braz Gonsalves, following the documentary’s storyline. The selection and sequencing of images was a careful, reflective process. Nalini and Satyen reviewed the calendar multiple times with Braz and Yvonne Gonsalves to ensure it aligned with their memories and expectations. The photographs featured were not gathered for the calendar alone but accumulated over the seven years of filming and documenting Braz’s life. They include images from documentary shoots, musical performances, personal archives, and contributions from friends and family. From a much larger collection, 12 photographs were ultimately chosen in consultation with Braz and Yvonne. “We wanted to celebrate the documentary in a different way, celebrate the people who are part of the movie and those who supported throughout the years. When you see the visage of 91-year-old Braz, it’s easy to forget the powerhouse he was in his prime. I hope viewers take a moment to reflect on the enormity of Braz’s legacy and learn a little more about the life of our local legend,” Nalini explains. Most copies have already been distributed, with only a few remaining available upon direct request.
ILLUSTRATED RECIPES AND ARTFUL CUISINE FOR EVERY MONTH
Illustrator Teamea Costa’s 2026 calendar transforms Goan cuisine into a year-long visual and culinary journey, blending hand-drawn art with carefully curated recipes. The idea has been simmering for nearly a decade, dating back to 2016 when she shared her first illustrated recipe of patoleo on Instagram. Over the years, Teamea continued sketching, collecting recipes, and building a quiet archive of ideas, an effort that intensified during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when food content flourished online. She also collaborated with fellow food creators, incorporating recipes by Siya of @thatcheesygoan and Pranali of @foodgallary_foodieme into the calendar. Conceived as a postcard calendar, each artwork had to fit a 4 x 6 inch format while still conveying both the dish and the recipe. “I was clear it was to be recipes I wanted to show and not only an illustration of the dish,” Teamea explains. The process involved repeated sketching, revisions, and layout experiments, with family support along the way, her aunt, Maureen Alvares, helped proofread several recipes. The calendar thoughtfully links certain recipes to specific times of the year, such as patoleo in August, khatkhate in September, and kulkuls in December, encouraging viewers to cook seasonally. Selecting just 12 dishes from Goa’s vast culinary repertoire was challenging, so Teamea opted for balance, four vegetarian dishes, four non-vegetarian, and four sweets. Each month can be cut out and mailed, eventually yielding 24 usable postcards. “I really do wish people send out the postcards because receiving a postcard is such a nice feeling,” Teamea says. Following her first calendar in 2025, this edition continues her decade-long exploration of Goa-themed art. The calendar is available in limited numbers via her Instagram (@blutoad) and Dogears Bookshop in Margao.
A WATERCOLOUR JOURNEY THROUGH GOA’S VILLAGES, LANDSCAPES, AND SEASONS
Artist Andrea Fernandes’ 2026 calendar ‘Goa on My Bicycle’, features 12 hand-painted scenes inspired by locations she explored while cycling through villages such as Pomburpa, Betul, Divar, Siolim, and Parra. The project reflects Andrea’s desire to share the quieter, often overlooked side of Goa that she calls home. The idea took root during the pandemic, when early-morning cycling trips offered uninterrupted views of the countryside. Andrea began photographing these moments with the intention of eventually translating them into paintings. “The idea was to preserve on paper the landscapes we pass by every day, but often fail to truly appreciate,” she says. The paintings aim to capture parts of Goa that may change with time but remain preserved through art. Initially, Andrea considered creating a calendar based on her international travels, but she soon realised that a Goa centric theme would resonate more deeply with her audience and her own artistic practice. Landscapes, in particular, allowed her to focus on what she enjoys painting most. All reference images came from her cycling journeys, organically shaping the calendar’s concept. Although she planned to experiment with oils, Andrea ultimately returned to watercolours, a medium she is comfortable with and one that suited her timeline. The artworks were shortlisted to mirror Goa’s seasonal transitions, with warmer tones for summer months and lush greens for the monsoon. “I shortlisted the artworks to reflect Goa’s changing seasons and the way the landscape and colours evolved with each passing one. You’ll notice that the summer months are painted in warmer tones, while the monsoon scenes are lush and green,” she explains. Through the calendar, Andrea hopes viewers feel transported to these places, reconnecting not just with the locations but with the sense of nostalgia and calm they evoke. The calendar is available via her Instagram (@paintbug) and at Niche Bistro in Calangute.
CELEBRATING GOA’S EVERYDAY BEAUTY THROUGH WINDOWS, STREETS, AND HERITAGE
Artist Vaibhav Salgaonkar’s 2026 calendars offer a dual celebration of Goa’s culture, heritage, and everyday beauty, continuing his annual tradition of creating themed, collectible artwork. Since beginning in 2022, Vaibhav has used his calendars to document the state’s cultural fabric, from potters at work and local festivals to iconic landmarks and historic streets. “I consciously like to dedicate my calendars to Goa every year, as it’s a place rich in visual culture, history, and everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Through these calendars, my aim is to document and preserve Goan aesthetics in an artistic format that people can live with throughout the year,” he explains. For 2026, Vaibhav released two distinct calendars. ‘Windows of Goa’ explores the architectural charm of Goan oyster shell windows, each design reflecting stories of time, people, and lived-in spaces. His second calendar, focused on Fontainhas, the Latin Quarter of Panjim, captures its narrow lanes, heritage houses, and old-world character through watercolour sketches. Each month in both calendars was carefully considered, from the subject and composition to the colours and textures, ensuring every page could stand alone as artwork. “A lot of thought goes into every single month. I think about how the artwork will feel when someone turns the page, how it connects with the season, and how it stands on its own as a piece of art, not just as part of a calendar,” he says. Vaibhav chooses mediums suited to each project: digital illustrations for the precise lines of ‘Windows of Goa’ and watercolours for the soft, historical ambiance of Fontainhas. Each calendar is designed as a postcard sized keepsake, allowing the art to be cut, framed, or sent to others. Produced in limited quantities, both calendars are available directly through Vaibhav via social media and personal inquiries.
