Doordarshan’s: The Paintings of India

Director: Benoy Behl

1. The Delicate Beauty of Miniatures (Covering the exquisite range of Indian manuscript and miniature paintings)
2. The Confluence of Cultures (Mughal miniature paintings during the reign of Humayun and Akbar)
3. Poetry of the Hills (Covering the miniatures of Kashmir and Kangra)
4. Magic of the Deccan (Covering the lesser-known, exquisite school of Deccani miniature paintings)

June 10 and 11, 2005 | 6.30 pm
Little Theatre, National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai

Film I: The Delicate Beauty of Miniatures (covering the exquisite range of Indian manuscript and miniature paintings)

This film explores the exquisite world of palm-leaf manuscript illustrations and later miniature paintings. From the early palm-leaf Buddhist and Jain religious manuscripts, the film then moves on to later developments in Indian miniature paintings, including the Pahari paintings and other miniatures of the hills of present-day Himachal Pradesh.

Film II: The Confluence of Cultures (Mughal miniature paintings during the reign of Humayun and Akbar)

Under the second Mughal ruler, Humayun, painters and the many painted manuscripts which he brought from Kabul proved to be the beginning of one of the most significant traditions of painting. His son Akbar built a well-organized court atelier and took a deep interest not only in empire-building but also in the establishment of a lasting infrastructure for art. The Mughals encouraged both innovation and an open assimilation of diverse styles which made these miniatures one of the most influential and well- recognized styles of painting in India.

Film II: Poetry of the Hills (Covering the miniatures of Kashmir and Kangra)

Since times immemorial, the Valley of Kashmir was a great centre of learning. The manuscript paintings of Kashmir present a beautiful blend of artistic influences. Most of the surviving paintings are illustrations in religious manuscripts depicting Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Durga. In the valley of Kangra, we see the development of one of the finest expressions in art. A great confluence took place: the burnished delicacy of the Mughal idiom met the deep spirituality of the land. The spirit of bhakti, the ecstatic joy of adoration, pervades the entire world on these paintings.

Film II: Magic of the Deccan (Covering the lesser-known, exquisite school of Deccani miniature paintings)

The kingdoms of Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda became centres of marvellous painting in the 16th century. The cosmopolitan character of the Deccani courts was reflected in the many influences that shaped the miniatures. The philosophies of the Bhakti cult, Sufist thought, Persian styles and indigenous traditions intermingled to create paintings of fantasy and idealized beauty. In the late 17th century, a style of painting emerged in Hyderabad which was very different in spirit from the earlier Deccani paintings,  and emphasized on formal portraiture and courtly scenes.