Renovated Chandrashale Thotti at Mysore Palace reopens
Mysore/Mysuru: Fourth volume of the book series ‘Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint - The Epics Imagined,’ authored by Advocate Ganesh V. Shivaswamy, was released under the aegis of HH Sri Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar (HHSNW) Foundation, at renovated historic Chandrashale Thotti at Mysore Palace last evening.
Foundation Chairperson Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, who released the book, said, after a gap of 50 years, Chandrashale Thotti auditorium is being inaugurated through the book release event. It’s a matter of immense joy, as the very auditorium shall be utilised to host such events henceforth.
Author Ganesh Shivaswamy said, the book consists of paintings related to epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. The first ever painting of ‘Droupadi’ by Raja Ravi Varma, can be seen displayed at Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery. The book series is mainly intended at re-analysing the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.
The book centred around the paintings, also lays emphasis on its creative ability, preparations made and the way it engages with the viewers. The book series will be of total six volumes, that runs up to 2,142 pages and 2,100 paintings. The paintings published in the first series of the book is focused on evolution of the artist. One can understand, how Raja Ravi Varma sharpened his nuances in painting, by lending a creative touch to whatever he witnessed and understood the available information. The second series of book relates to how Ravi Varma, using the aid of technology, reached the masses, while the third series of book sheds light on the pictures of divinity, explained Ganesh. As said earlier, the fourth series contains information on Ravi Varma’s paintings inspired by the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
“Ravi Varma and Mysore Palace shared an everlasting bond, as first and last painting of ‘Droupadi’ by the former, can be seen in Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery,” said Ganesh Shivaswamy.
Rama Varma, a descendant of Raja Ravi Varma from Kilimanoor Palace in Kerala and designer of the book series Ashwath Naroth, also spoke on the occasion. Mysore Palace Board Dy. Director T.S. Subramanya was present.
