Designer Kakali Biswas and her daughter Medha Nandi came together for a special Calcutta Times Mother’s Day shoot, twinning in striking red ensembles that reflected the warmth and strength of their bond. In a candid conversation, Kakali opens up about growing up without the concept of Mother’s Day, her evolving friendship with her daughter, and how motherhood has become a journey of understanding, growth and companionship.
Red: The Perfect Colour for Mother’s Day
Kakali shared, “Red felt like the perfect colour for this Mother’s Day shoot because it reflects strength and warmth – the emotions that define our relationship. Medha and I have very different personalities, but when we twin, there’s this beautiful sense of connection and friendship between us. It just feels like two friends dressing up, laughing and celebrating with each other.”
Growing Up Without Mother’s Day
Reflecting on her childhood, Kakali said, “Growing up, we never really had a special concept called Mother’s Day. Mothers were simply always there – cooking, managing the house, taking care of everyone and quietly holding the family together. I completely took my mother for granted back then. Everything she did felt so normal that we never stopped to appreciate it openly. She was involved in every part of my life and silently stood beside me through everything. But in those days, motherhood was mostly associated with responsibility and sacrifice. We never really thought of thanking our mothers for it.”
From a Rebel Daughter to a Mother
Kakali continued, “My mother was very strict and honestly, I was quite a rebellious child. So when I became a mother myself, I think I tried to create a slightly different balance. During my daughter’s growing-up years, I was strict too because I believed discipline was important. But over time, especially after my separation, our relationship evolved beautifully. Today, we are far closer and more like friends. Of course, we still have disagreements and different opinions at times, but somehow we always work through them and come back stronger.”
Looking Up to Her Daughter
Kakali added, “I draw a lot of inspiration from Medha’s discipline which she has towards health. In fact, she was the one who pushed me to return to the gym and constantly checks whether I’m meeting my protein goals. Even when it comes to travelling, I admire her immensely. The way she confidently travels solo, plans everything independently and manages herself so effortlessly – honestly, I don’t think I could do that even now at this age. Also working together professionally has been genuinely exciting as she brings fresh ideas, innovation and a completely new perspective to things. For me now, Mother’s Day is less about celebration and more about understanding the journey. First as a daughter who never fully realised everything her mother was silently doing and now as a mother who is still learning, evolving and slowly becoming friends with her own daughter.”
Medha’s Perspective
Medha Nandi shared, “Mother’s Day isn’t really a separate celebration for us because, honestly, every day feels like one. We always make time for each other – whether it’s over a cup of coffee or simply catching up on life. Over the years, my mother has become more of a friend to me. She may have been stricter when I was younger, but she always allowed me to be my own person, make my own decisions, and most importantly, respected those choices. I think we both believe in learning from each other and that’s what makes our relationship so special.”
Pix: Anindya Saha
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About the Author: Ruman Ganguly is a Principal Correspondent at Calcutta Times. She covers Tollywood and fashion, besides her regular responsibilities at the desk. Her passions include movies, reading and avant-garde fashion shoots.
