Posted on 6 November 2025:
Thota Tharrani’s “Cahiers du Cinéma” — A Cinematic Canvas at Alliance Française Madras
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE MADRAS PRESENTS CAHIERS DU CINÉMA, AN EVOCATIVE EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY THE LEGENDARY SRI THOTA THARRANI, ON VIEW UNTIL 14TH NOVEMBER 2025.
Inspired by the spirit of cinema and its layered language, this collection transforms the gallery into a space where brushstrokes echo film frames and colours speak in whispers of memory.
Tharrani, known for his mastery across mediums, invites viewers to explore the poetic rhythm between art and film.
His abstract compositions—marked by geometric grace and emotional depth—offer a visual dialogue that resonates with cinephiles and art lovers alike. This exhibition is not just a tribute to cinematic thought; it’s a celebration of how stories can be painted, felt and reimagined.
Thota Tharrani — A Life Inspired by Everyday Beauty
Thota Tharrani finds inspiration in everything around him — from fleeting moments to quiet corners of daily life. His art flows naturally, never forced, capturing the beauty hidden in the ordinary. With a sharp eye for detail and a heart tuned to subtle rhythms, he transforms simple scenes into soulful expressions.
His journey began early. At just twelve, his drawings were admired by the Madras Art Club. By seventeen, he was shaping his craft at the Government College of Arts & Crafts, and in 1971, he earned his postgraduate diploma in mural painting with distinction. That same year, a fresco camp in Rajasthan added new layers to his artistic vision.
Thota Tharrani’s path is one of passion, precision, and a quiet love for the world as it is — seen through the eyes of an artist who never stops observing.
Thota Tharrani — A Journey Etched Across Continents
After completing his studies, Thota Tharrani stepped into the world of visual storytelling in Mumbai, working as an artist for Sita’s Advertising. His creative path soon led him to Paris, where he studied printmaking under the legendary S.W. Hayter at Atelier-17, thanks to a government scholarship in 1976. This experience deepened his artistic language, blending technique with imagination.
From workshops in New Delhi to collaborations with global masters like Alister Grand, Tharrani’s journey has been rich and expansive. By the age of 20, he was already hosting exhibitions, and today, with over 46 shows worldwide, his work has earned international acclaim. His art has travelled to the United States, France, Germany, the UK and Japan—where he participated in the poetic “Living in Seasons” project in Toyomaa.
Tharrani’s creations now grace prestigious spaces like the Archives Municipals de Bordeaux, Ecole des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux, and Maison de l’Inde in Paris—standing as quiet witnesses to a life devoted to beauty, depth, and the universal language of art.
Thota Tharrani — The Master of Mediums and Make-Believe
Thota Tharrani’s art lives across India—in galleries, corporate spaces, hospitals, and cultural institutions from Kolkata to Hyderabad. His creative spirit refuses boundaries, embracing everything from pencil and pastel to ceramic and collage. Each piece reflects his hunger for innovation and his gift for turning everyday materials into timeless expressions.
In cinema, his magic is legendary. With over a hundred films to his name, Tharrani has shaped the visual soul of South Indian cinema. From the gritty realism of Nayagan’s Dharavi slum to the surreal palace in Shivaji, his sets blur the line between illusion and truth. His work has earned him three National Film Awards, countless state honours, and the Padma Shri in 2001—a tribute to a life devoted to art, in every form it takes.
Thota Tharrani is not just an artist—he’s a master of make-believe. As an art director, he transforms a director’s vision into living, breathing spaces. From choosing locations to designing sets, selecting props, and guiding the visual tone of each frame, Tharrani builds the world we see on screen.
His work demands more than creativity—it calls for deep knowledge of architecture, materials, optics, and colour. He must imagine what the audience should feel, and what the camera must capture, balancing emotion with precision. Behind the scenes, he’s also a manager, a planner, and a problem-solver, ensuring every detail fits the story and the budget. The result — a cinematic experience so real, we forget it’s crafted—and simply believe.
Thota Tharrani — Sketching the Soul of Cinema
To be a great art director, one must master many worlds—art history, architecture, photography, psychology, and more. Thota Tharrani, a celebrated artist and visionary, blends these seamlessly. He believes the artist in him sharpens his art direction, and his cinematic work, in turn, deepens his art.
Balancing creativity with commerce, Tharrani walks a fine line—preserving the soul of both without compromise. For him, art direction isn’t just a role; it’s an action, a verb. His sketches are the bridge between imagination and reality, guiding stories from a director’s mind to the magic of the screen. To truly understand his craft, follow the lines he draws—each one a step in the journey from vision to wonder.
