CINEMA ON CANVAS

Thota Tharani turns fragments of cinema into striking works of art in his latest exhibition, Cahiers Du Cinéma

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PADMA SHRITHOTA THARANI, the creative genius revered as a legend in the world of art direction, returns with his latest exhibition, Cahiers Du Cinéma.

Known for his remarkable versatility across mediums—watercolours, pen and ink, sketches, and acrylics—Tharani now turns his gaze inward, transforming fragments of his cinematic journey into art. This evocative showcase reveals how he approaches film design, translating the spirit of the sets and the essence of his creative process into art works. Through striking black-and-white ink drawings, he brings to life real frames fashioned from discarded materials, be it old doors, window frames, chairs, or bits of roofing. Each piece carries echoes of memory and time, reminders of things once lost and now rediscovered through his art. For someone who has designed some of the most iconic film sets in Indian cinema, Thota Tharani speaks about his art with striking simplicity. Now gearing up for what he believes might be his 121st or 122nd exhibition, Tharani still finds ways to surprise himself. “Every show must have something new. Otherwise, why do it?” he says. Reflecting on his latest exhibition,