Telltale tattoos

Manika Ahuja

Thanks to the ‘Kareena’ tattoo Saif Ali Khan started flaunting before he got hitched, and Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Daddy’s lil girl’ tattoo, which continues to grab attention, it is a fact universally acknowledged that tattoos are powerful tools of self-expression.

But if the latest additions to the tattoo world — portraits of family members, ECG heartbeat tattoos and story-based body art — are any clue, tattoos have become even more personalised than ever before. Tricity people now envision tattoos as graphical memoirs, which make their memories last for an eternity.

Loved ones

Want to feel enveloped in the love and affection of your family members forever? Instead of gazing at their photographs, you can now keep them in proximity - for real-life human portraits are here. A pass-out of Chandigarh’s DAV College, Shivam Aggarwal wanted to surprise his parents with an unusual gift on their marriage anniversary. And he sure did!

Aggarwal gets emotional as he talks about the freshly made parents’ portrait on his upper back, “Although, I have got inked many times in the past, this one holds a special place in my heart. I got my parents’ portrait tattoo done as a surprise gift to them, in honour of their 26th anniversary. They absolutely love it.”

Stating reasons behind the growing popularity of portrait tattoos, tattoo artist Taranjit Singh Sethi from Tattoo Warriors, shares that unlike old photographs, which lose sheen over time, “A portrait tattoo will always keep your parents’ memory alive.” He says the basic cost for a portrait is Rs. 20,000.

Chandigarh-based businessman, Anish Malhotra has four portrait tattoos on his body and is gearing up to get two fresh ones done! His late father’s portrait tattoo sits pretty on his shoulder, while daughter Arpita’s smiling visage adorns the back of his arm. Hailing his daughter’s tattoo as a game-changer, he shares, “Call it superstition, but after getting my daughter’s tattoo done, my life has taken a positive turn. She is a blessing to me and so is her portrait tattoo.” Malhotra also has two portrait tattoos of his son on his left arm.

Heart beats

From getting inked with actual ECG heartbeats of loved ones to creating replicas of the same, ECG heartbeat-style tattoos are emerging as hot favourites. According to Danish Ahmed, from Danish Tattooz House, people today prefer customised tattoos. “ECG heartbeat tattoos, which connote a deep connection, are currently in demand and cost Rs 1,500.”

Saurabh Likhi, who works with a salon in Panchkula, dedicated his heartbeat tattoo to his mom and mother-in-law, who were both battling with cancer at the time. Saurabh, who recently lost his mother-in-law, got inked with ‘Maa’(mother) written on her symbolic ECG heartbeat, which makes him feel “she is always with me.”

True story

Damandeep Singh’s tattoo depicts the story of his life. Daman, who lost his biological father and was welcomed by his step-dad, wanted his tattoo to reflect his tale. He shares, “My tattoo offers a rich peep into my life. It shows me in the pram, while my mother can be seen walking towards my step-father, who completes us.”

Spiritual streak

Harshit Sharma from Nirvana Ink Tattoo Studio claims, “Buddha and Shiva tattoos are trending,” as these help people’s spiritual inclination surface.

Chandigarh lad Amaan Bhatnagar has a Buddha tattoo on his arm. “During my last visit to McLeodganj, I attended Dalai Lama’s meditation camp because of which I became an admirer of Buddhism. My tattoo showcases my spiritual leanings,” he informs.