The sudden Coronavirus lockdown in the country in March triggered off a migrant labourer crisis, which has now become the theme for quite a few Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata. The crisis had also brought to fore a different breed of heroes, one of them being Sonu Sood. The actor helped thousands reach their homes during the lockdown, which has also become part of the puja theme there.

The Kestopur Prafulla Kanan Paschim Adhibashi Brindo Puja, which is turning 18 this year, has a pandal that highlights five iconic incidents during the crisis. And one of the scenes shows a lifesize clay model of Sonu helping a group of migrant labourers get onto a bus. “We wanted to create a theme that echoed the sentiments of the common people. What came to our minds was the migrant labourer crisis and the way Sonu Sood helped many of them,” said Ruman Chanda, the secretary of the club.

All the models have been made by artisans in Bolpur, West Bengal. The Kolkata-based theme designer, artist Swapan Chakraborty, told us that he tested COVID-19 positive in June and while isolating, he had nothing much to do except watching the news. “All those images of people travelling hundreds of miles on foot still haunt me. That’s why I decided to dedicate the theme to those people,” he said.

The other incidents depicted in the theme include the girl who cycled hundreds of kilometres with her father to reach her village and that of labourers being transported in a concrete mixer truck.