Three centuries ago it was a peaceful fishing village nestling on the eastern bank of the Hoogly River. Today, Calcutta is a thriving metropolis, a shining star of the Indian economy and a vibrant cultural melting pot which has produced literary giants like the Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore, spiritual leaders like Sri Aurobindo and film luminaries like Satyajit Ray.

In "Calcutta", Raghu Rai, India's most talented photographer, lends his creative genius to capturing the multiplicity of this city of paradoxes. From its shantytown slums to scenes of urban culture, from its bustling street...