Bantwal: Painters at 'Drust–Srusti' Bring Rani Abbakka to Life
 
By Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (RD)
 
Bantwal, Dec 27: It's truly a treat to find so many renowned artists under one roof, each one in his world creating masterpieces with the magic of brushes.
 
About 400 years of history is unfolding in Sanchayagiri, the venue of painters. Each painter is busy creating art at the ‘Drusti–Srusti’ national-level painting camp based on the life of Rani Abbakka.

The painters are busy recreating the milestones in the life of Rani Abbakka. Paintings of her biding farewell to merchant ships on the Arabian Sea, the naval war between the Rani Abbakka and the Portuguese, the kidnapping of Abbakka by the forces of her husband Laxman Bangarasa, Abbakka’s deity Raja Rajeshwari Devi of Polali, overseeing construction work at the royal household, viewing enemy navy nearing the seashore, refusing to surrender valuables to the Portuguese ambassador in exchange for mutual support, journeying in the royal ship from Mangalore to Ullal, the feud of Bangarasa – Abbakka, Abbakka awarding justice, splendor of enthronement and royal place, Abbakka lying on her death bed, Italian tourist Piatro Dellavelli’s visit to Abbakka, repairs to Ullal fort, and wedding scenes of Rani Abbakka are taking shape on the canvas by renowned artists.
 
Also, paintings on the life of Mugers of Tulunadu, Tulunada Kural Habba, planting paddy saplings, fishermen’s life, Aati Kalanja dance, farming activities, and Kambala, the heroic sport of Tulunadu are being created at the camp.
 
City’s well-known artist N S Pattar, who is the head of Mahalasa Chitra Kala Vidyalaya, Mangalore, and research scholar and national artist Kandan G are co-ordinating the five-day painting camp.
 
Both Pattar and Kandan have dedicated themselves to this endeavour for the past six months, compiling details about Rani Abbakka through field visits to historical places in and around Mangalore.  It also poses a challenge to artists to create masterpieces through their imagination going back four centuries.
 

Confluence of painters
 
Each painter will create a work of art based on the life of Rani Abbakka, her beauty, adventures, and achievement.
 
Renowned artists V T Kale Bellary, Vasudev Kamat Mumbai, K N Ramachandran Bangalore, Pa Sa Kumar Bangalore, P S Kademani Bijapur, M C Chatti Hubli, Subash Kammar Belgaum, P B Harasoor Tumkur, Mahendra Soni Mumbai, Balaji Ubalebharat Madhya Pradesh, Suresh Arkasali Haveri, N S Pattar Mangalore, Kandan G Mangalore, Ganesh Somayaji Mangalore, Anand Bedral Bangalore, B P Mohan Kumar Mangalore, Permude Mohan Kumar Mangalore, Ravi M R Sullia, Vasant Rao Udupi, Santosh Andrade Mangalore, Vikram B Shetty Mangalore, Sharat Kulal Mangalore, and Gangadhar K are engaged in creating this spectacular artwork.