Raja Ravi Varma, the progenitor of Indian Popular Art, made calendar art very famous among people living all across India. Paintings that were previously limited to the elite classes were now made accessible to various caste hierarchies.
Besides, Raja Ravi Varma also ignited the fervor of nationalism in India. His influence was felt beyond time, and Amar Chitra Katha is an example of a publication that was stylistically influenced by the Indian paintings of Ravi Varma.
In this blog, we will walk you through Amar Chitra Katha, its origin, and finally, the paintings that influenced the publications.
What is Amar Chitra Katha?
Amar Chitra Katha publishes comic books where stories from Indian mythology, religion, and history come alive with beautiful illustrations. The moniker itself translates to “immortal illustrated stories.”
Children have always loved reading tales by Amar Chitra Katha, and even today, with new publications around the corner, the comic books are not forgotten.
Origin of Amar Chitra Katha
The origin of Amar Chitra Katha came from a moment of truth when Mr. Pai, the founder, came across the reality that children in India knew all about Greek mythology but were not familiar with Indian mythology.
One day, by chance, when Anant Pai came across a shop in Delhi that sold television sets, where a quiz show was going on, he witnessed that children did not have enough knowledge about Indian epics, as they failed to answer the questions being asked.
Upset by what he saw, he was determined to launch comic books on Indian mythology and other stories so that children in India could be interested in the Indian visual culture of the times.
This real incident with Mr. Pai in the past was illustrated in a biography published by Amar Chitra Katha in 2012, in memory of the founder who passed away the previous year.
Raja Ravi Varma Paintings’ Influences on Amar Chitra Katha
Arjun and Subhadra
In the painting of Raja Ravi Varma, a spectator can visually experience the intimate moment being shared by Arjuna and Subhadra.
While the former looks lovingly at his consort, the latter’s gaze seems to be averted from his.
Although the two popular sources do not share a huge resemblance, they are still very similar in many ways, like the coy expression of Subhadra looking away from Arjuna.
Dhruva
When one comes across the illustration by ACK and the painting of Raja Ravi Varma of Indian mythology, they will find that there are striking similarities between the two.
Dhruva, who is the son of King Uttanapada, is seen meditating in the forest as Lord Vishnu in his Narayan avatar appears before him to grant a boon for his penance.
The landscape with the trees, the rivers, and mountains of Varma’s paintings is reiterated in the cover art of Amar Chitra Katha, which suggests the apparent influence of his art on the illustrations.
Draupadi
Infamous scenes from the Mahabharata, like “Vastraharan,” also come to life in Varma’s painting of Draupadi, a central character in the Indian epic.
ACK’s illustration also reflects a similar composition, where Dushasana is attempting to disrobe her by tugging at her clothes and her hair.
Meanwhile, Draupadi prays to Lord Krishna to be her redeemer in this moment of extreme humiliation and distress.
Mirabai
Comparing the two pictures of Mirabai’s painting by Raja Ravi Varma and the illustration by the artist of Amar Chitra Katha, Yusuf Lien, we can see a lot of similarities.
Mirabai is immersed in the devotional songs of Lord Krishna, who seems to pervade her consciousness through his divine presence.
The background in both pictures is green, and while the features are soft, the bodies are slender and the expressions mild.
Bheeshma
In the painting of Indian mythology of Raja Ravi Varma, Bheeshma, the acharya (teacher) of both Pandavas and Kauravas, is seen with an outstretched hand, with his finger pointing upward to take a vow in a similar fashion to that of the cover art of Amar Chitra Katha.
A straw hut and a river are the elements in the background, and even the vertical framing shares a similarity.
Vishwamitra
Vishwamitra, one of the venerated sages, was seduced by Menaka, a celestial apsara (nymph).
This story from the Indian epic Mahabharata is showcased in Raja Ravi Varma’s art, whose influence can be seen in the comic books of Amar Chitra Katha.
Whether it is the face, the anatomy, or the skin tone, there’s a striking similarity between the two that cannot be ignored.
Bottom Line
Raja Ravi Varma’s influence moves beyond his canvases and lives on through the Indian visual culture. By making art accessible to the Indian masses, he challenged the conventions and caste hierarchies of his time and democratized art.
Amar Chitra Katha carried forward this legacy of the Indian artist with its publications that were either directly or indirectly influenced by the aesthetics of Varma’s paintings.
From expressions, gestures, to landscapes and other compositions, Varma’s paintings are an enduring influence across generations. Thanks to Anant Pai, fondly remembered as Uncle Pai, for introducing Indian mythology to a lasting place in a children’s imaginative world.