For Sri Das, a leading make-up artist and sculptor in India, art, indeed, signifies a struggle, may, something more. It has been the proverbial nectar to sustain livelihood in an otherwise bitter, painful world. On one hand, it is peculiarly sensitive to sharp contrasts and criticisms surrounding him; on the other, it makes real efforts to mould the purpose of life in debt balances.

It was a late August night and raining cats and dogs outside Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta where we sat together for the interview. A photo exhibition (which included Lucknow-based Sanat Kumar Chatterjee's largest painting of the world and display of Das's own world of masks and make-ups), was being held inside the stadium, but it wore a deserted look, may be, thanks to the inclement weather Only a handful of spectators was scampering across the place.

Sri Das is not a seclusive; reclusive is perhaps the better word to describe him. The man, who has experimented his make-ups on innumerable actors and actresses and whose attachment with the film world is nearing five decades, has remained essentially a neglected, unsung protagonist off the stage. 1. Lecturer of drama ( School of Make-up Department ) 2. Costume Designer 3. Hair Designer 4. Culture of Art - Painting ( Water & Oil ) , Sculpture , paperpals for Catum Cutum ( Root of the tree ) 5. Make-up Designer 6. Liquid Latex Work