A tweet and fleeting thoughts of past horrors
It would have been a hot day in Kolkata, as it usually is in August, rain or sunshine. The year was 1943. The date was the 21st. India was still ruled by the British.
The city is going to witness something unique: a painting exhibition which will bring out melody queen Lata Mangeshkar in a new light.
‘Chitralatika’ , a solo painting exhibition by Limca Book of Records holder Ramkripal Namdeo at Jamini Roy Art Gallery( ICCR) from 22 February to 26 February will have 50 paintings, out of which 40 will be on the legendary singer.
The painter, whose forte is realistic paintings, has tried to showcase the singer’s musical as well as personal moments.
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Ramkripal’s journey in the field of art started while he was a child. His grandmother used to paint the courtyard of her house with cow dung and white clay (Chui). She even did beautiful clay art on the walls of the house. That impressed Ramkripal and he too started dabbling in clay art. He found art in everything he did.
The art exhibition in the city is a way of remembering the singer on her first death anniversary, 6 February.
The painter remembers the day vividly. “Last year, I was in Mumbai for an exhibition on Vasant Panchami and the next day she passed away. I walked with her cortege for the last rites. Didi may have left us but her sweet, soul-stirring voice will always be remembered. It is my heartfelt wish that I keep making Lata didi’s pictures for the rest of my life,” said Ramkripal.
The painter has made a picture of Lata ji which features 1,436 faces of the artist, politician, etc. including a picture of Maa Saraswati, in addition to flower leaves and musical instruments. This picture has been included in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records in 2019.
Remembering his meeting in 2014 with the famous singer, whom he considers an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati and himself, a devotee, said, “After seeing my paintings on her, she praised it and felt I did a difficult job. She was very impressed with a painting of mine, which had 930 faces out of which 299 are of hers. She autographed it for me. Rest of the faces in the artwork (630) are of women of prominence from around the world.”
Hailing from Bhedaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Ramkripal travels across cities exhibiting his works and is looking forward to taking lots of inspiration from the city of joy for his next creations
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