Chatline Rajanikanth tried many things before he found a special liking for what he does now. He recreates his canvas for Prabalika M. Borah
Born Rajanikanth in a Brahmin family in Achampet in Mahboobnagar district, a young boy grew up with absolutely no wish or dream for himself. Nothing inspired him as he grew up seeing everyone in his village work for someone else. He visualised them as slaves and Rajanikanth refused to be one. He was also staggered by his grandparents’ practice of ‘untouchability’.
“I was quite disassociated,” recollects the artist who now calls himself Kanth’ Risa.
“I didn’t know whom to talk to and whom to avoid. So, I mostly kept to myself. However, as I grew up a rebel was also growing within. My rebellion was silent, for myself. So I learnt to stitch clothes with my friend and no one knew about it.”
He insists that his name be written with an apostrophe. Kanth is a part of his name without any meaning and Risa is a meaningless something which he added to his name randomly one day.
His den is his friend’s room in the JNTU hostel where he has his paintings set up.
At the opposite end of the long corridor is his favourite spot, a verandah that overlooks the entrance gate of the hostel.
