The origin of Rajputana Paintings - Kangra School of Art

Kangra paintings belong to the school of Pahari paintings that were patronized by the Rajput rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. This great art originated in a small hill state ‘Guler’ in the Lower Himalayas in the first half of the eighteenth century when a family of Kashmiri painters trained in Mughal Style of painting sought shelter at the court of Raja Dalip Singh (1695-1741) of Guler. 

Kangra paintings is not a folk art, it is essentially aristocratic art, the patrons of which were the rulers of had fine sensibility and good taste, thus like the best of Europe, Kangra painting is the art of elite. This style was copied by the later Mughal painting, many of whom were patronized by the Rajput rulers who ruled various parts of the region. 

The Kangra School became widely popular with the advent of Jayadev's Gita Govinda, of which many extant manuscripts feature exquisite Kangra illustrations. Though the main centre of Kangra paintings are Guler, Basohli, Chamba, Nurpur, Bilaspur and Kangra. Perhaps the most famous, or at least the most prolific school, was that of the Kangra School, from which came an extensive range of delicate and beautifully detailed paintings.

The Gita Govinda is a forest idyll and its Kangra paintings, the drama of loves of Radha and Krishna is played in the forest or along the river bank. In Kangra paintings, there is an art which celebrates life and love. The Kangra artists were hereditary painters who worked in the quiet of their cottages in the sylvan retreats of the Kangra valley. 

The Kangra painters used colors made of vegetable and mineral extracts. Bhagvata Purana and the love poems Gita-Govinda of Jaidev were the most popular subjects dealing with the legends and the amorous plays of Radha and Krishna symbolizing soul’s devotion to God. Kangra painting presents a pure melody of flowing lines and glowing colors, breathing out a sense of space, tranquillity and poetic sentiment. Kangra paintings depict the feminine charm in a very graceful manner. 

In the paintings of the Sat Sai the background of the architecture provides the setting for the love drama of Radha and Krishna. Bhakti cult was the driving force and the love story of Radha and Krishna was the main source of spiritual experience, which was also the base for the visual expression. Kangra paintings were influenced by the Bhagavad Purana.

Hey are you really a photographer?

We are asking this question from you, are you really a photographer? Well here is a small video which can be helpful for you. You must try these amazing photography tricks which can make your photographs simply marvelous. Watch this video where Leo Rosas tells you 7 simple photography tips & tricks with commonly used lenses which can be very helpful in your photography.

A golden opportunity for film students in Himachal

Dharamshala International Film Festival 2014 is thrilled to host A Conversation with Rajat Kapoor, a session on acting, directing and more with the acclaimed filmmaker whose Ankhon Dekhi is Opening Night film this year. (3:30pm on November 1, 2014, at Club House Screening Room 2, Mcleodganj)

Rajat attended FTII and made his acting debut in the 1989 Kumar Shahani film, Khayal Gatha. His directorial debut was with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One (1997). In 2003, he wrote and directed the independent film, Raghu Romeo, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. 

How can people forget his Bheja Fry, which really fried the Bheja of most of us. Soak in the magic of cinema and learn from the best at a unique #filmfestival in the shadow of the majestic Dhauladhars. All those who wants to attend this session or watch the films can visit the film festival from 30 October to 2 November in TIPA, Mcleodganj, DHaramshala. You can see the complete schedule here : http://www.diff.co.in/

DBB can be expected from Dibakar Banerjee but what happened to Yash Raj Films?

#ExpectTheUnexpected : For the last few years, there is a change in Indian Cinema. The real face of society has became a part of silver screen. Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mani Kaul, Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, etc have proved it many times that 'Cinema is the Mirror of Society'. The in this new age, some filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee have proved these words in the Indian Mainstream Cinema too.

Here comes another flick from Dibakar "Detective Byomkesh Bakshi", February 2015. The first look of the film is awesome. It's very difficult to believe that this film is produced by Yash Raj Films as they always stick to the love & romance formula. But let's hope that this film will be as good as the first teaser reveals.

Sushant Singh Rajput is playing the lead role of the detective in this film. The film is shot in Kolkata and is based on the time perios of World War II. Here is the teaser for you guys.