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EntertainmentPosted at: Apr 26 2025 2:00AM


Eminent painter Thota Vaikuntam to receive Yudhvir Foundation memorial award

Hyderabad, Apr 25 (UNI) The 32nd Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award is being presented to Thota Vaikuntam for his outstanding contribution to art and for placing the Telangana region on the world map through his remarkable work.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will present the award here on April 30, said Aruna Bahuguna (Retd.), Chairperson of Yudhvir Foundation, in a release Friday.
The award comprises a citation and a cash prize of Rupees One Lakh.
83-year-old Vaikuntam is one of India’s most eminent painters in contemporary and postmodern art.
Born in 1942 to Venkaiah and Satyamma in Boorugupalli, Karimnagar District (Telangana), Vaikuntam cites his village as his enduring source of inspiration.
He enrolled at the College of Fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad in 1960.
However, political unrest in the state during that decade interrupted his studies, and he received his Diploma in Painting only in 1970. The following year, he was awarded a fellowship from the Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Akademi to study at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, where he refined his skills under the renowned artist K.G. Subramanyan.
For nearly twenty years, Vaikuntam painted with little recognition and was compelled to take on other work.
He served as an art teacher at Hyderabad Bal Bhavan for 15 years and also worked as an art director on feature films such as Palleturi Pillagada, Maa Bhoomi, Matti Manshulu and Daasi, for which he received the National Award in 1989.
K.G. Subramanyan remained a mentor and played a significant role in Vaikuntam finding his artistic voice.
Among like-minded artists, he realised the importance of drawing inspiration from his own surroundings. After initially working with charcoal, pencil, and ink, he began using acrylic paints to depict rural landscapes and the lives of Telangana’s people.
His primary palette of red, orange, and saffron—what he called “Indian colours”—and his distinctive figures eventually captured the public’s imagination.
In 1988, he received the Biennale Award from Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, and further accolades followed, including the National Award for Painting in 1993.
After decades of struggle, Vaikuntam is now one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary Indian folk art. His unique blend of folk traditions and contemporary sensibilities has earned him international acclaim.
Vaikuntam has been invited to exhibit his work, both solo and in groups, at prestigious galleries in India, London, New York, Dubai, California, Singapore, and Hong Kong. His works have been auctioned by renowned auctioneers such as Christie’s.
He has also created sculptures reflecting his unique style, and his artworks are avidly collected both in India and abroad. UNI KNR SSP
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