The oil-on-canvas painting featuring Amitabh Bachchan from his angry young man days is aptly titled Deewar. Actor Kamal Kamaraju has been a fan of the veteran superstar, like his dad. “I’ve grown up watching Bachchan’s movies, just like my father,” says the actor/architect/painter. His latest painting is from the series he is doing on actors who’ve set a new benchmark in Indian cinema. The oil-on-canvas series is a shift from Kamal’s earlier works featuring Minnu. “I used the little girl Minnu to draw attention to social issues. In those paintings, the focus was on issues than the detailing and technique of the painting and I had used acrylic. I wanted to do something different that would combine my thoughts as an actor and architect,” says Kamal.
Kamal first conceptualised a series on ‘pillars of India’ but later zeroed in on walls. “Each wall in India tells a different story. Many street walls are adorned with film posters and line drawings of actors. I’ve come across street artists who sketch their favourite actors,” he explains. In his series, Kamal paints prominent Indian actors against street walls and doors. “I used a blue tone for Amitabh Bachchan’s painting. Actor Nani commissioned me to do a painting on Kamal Haasan, for which I used earthy browns. There are more paintings in the pipeline on iconic actors,” adds Kamal.
Was the Deewar painting made to commemorate Bachchan’s 70th birthday? “No. I finished my painting and realised it coincides with a period when the entire country was gearing up to wish him on his birthday. It’s a happy feeling to wish him today with my painting,” signs off Kamal.
Each wall in India tells a different story. Most of them are adorned with film posters and line drawings of actors.
