Thota Tharani

Thota Tharani
Born (1949-12-16) 16 December 1949 (age 75)
Alma materAmerican College, Madurai
Occupation(s)Art director, production designer
Children1

Thota Tharani is an Indian art director, production designer and painter known for his work in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi cinema. With over six decades of experience, he is recognized for his detailed set designs and visual storytelling. Tharani is known for creating impressive sets within budget constraints using innovative techniques.[1]

He has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, three Nandi Awards, four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South, and a Kerala State Film Award. In 2001, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to art. Tharani's work extends to paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages, and installations.[2]

Background

Thota Tharani was born into a family with strong ties to the arts as the second of eight children. His father, Thota Venkateswara Rao, was a well-known art director who worked on over 100 films, including Jayasimha (1955) and Panduranga Mahatyam (1957). Originally from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Venkateswara Rao started as a drama and film actor, playing female roles, before moving to Madras (now Chennai) to work as an assistant art director under Sudhansu Roy and A. K. Sekar.[3]

Early life

Tharani’s interest in art emerged early in his childhood in Madras. He spent much of his time drawing with chalk on the floors of his home, and his father encouraged his talent by providing him with drawing books.[3][1] Tharani pursued formal art education, earning a Graduate Diploma in Mural Painting in 1971 and subsequently a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting) from the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. He was later offered a fellowship from the Government of France to study printmaking.[4] Additionally, he completed print making courses from the Royal College of Art, London.[2]

Career

Film career

Thota Tharani began his independent career in the film industry as a set designer for the Telugu film Nagamalli. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional work, creating realistic and larger-than-life sets for films across various Indian languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam. Tharani has worked on over 200 films, including foreign productions such as Pondichéry, dernier comptoir des Indes (French), Hanuman (French) and Branchie (Italian).[2]

Some of his most notable contributions include the recreation of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple for the Telugu film Arjun (2004), the glass set for the song "Sahana" in Sivaji: The Boss (2007), and the realistic set of the Dharavi slums for Nayagan (1987). Tharani also created the Babylonian-inspired backdrop for the song "Vaji Vaji" in Sivaji: The Boss, and the set for the mythological Indralok in Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008).

Tharani's work extends beyond film. In 2010, he was commissioned to create an artificial dome for the Tamil Nadu Assembly complex, which was completed in 12 days with the help of over 500 workers. Tharani's expertise in both realistic and imaginative set design has earned him multiple accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Art Direction and the Padma Shri, awarded in 2001.[5]

Throughout his career, Tharani has been known for his resourceful approach to set design, often creating elaborate effects on a limited budget. He has worked on several films where he recreated expensive materials, such as marble, using cost-effective alternatives that still maintained a high visual quality. This earned him a reputation as a "producers' man," valued for his ability to deliver outstanding work within budgetary constraints.[1]

Artistic work

Beyond films, Tharani is also an accomplished painter and artist. His ink-on-paper artworks are typically non-figurative and vibrant, characterized by a bold use of colour. He has also experimented with calligraphy as a creative form of expression. One of his most renowned series is the Script Series, inspired by the alphabets of various languages, with letters intertwining to form abstract designs. In addition to this, Tharani is celebrated for his paintings of gods, goddesses, and Rajput figures.[2]

Tharani has participated in several prestigious workshops and exhibitions both in India and abroad. In 1992, he was part of the Design Symposium at the Crafts Festival Living in Seasons in Toyama, Japan. He also took part in printmaking workshops at the British Council in Chennai and Atelier 17 in Paris. Additionally, he participated in a Fresco Painting camp in Rajasthan and a graphic workshop at Garhi Village in New Delhi.[2]

Tharani's work has been showcased in various international exhibitions, including the Kanagawa International Print Exhibition in 1983 and the III & IV Mini Prints Biennale in Barcelona in 1983 and 1984. His works have been displayed in Paris, Bordeaux, Vienna, Yugoslavia, and Germany.[2] His awards include recognitions from the Mysore Dasara Art Exhibition, Mysore Pradesh Chitrakala Parishad in Bangalore, and the Regional Lalit Kala Akademi for Graphic Prints.[2]

Working style and influences

Thota Tharani is known for his fast-paced working style. He excels at quickly completing designs, concepts, and visualizations. He focuses on key scenes, asking for the beginning, middle, and end of the script rather than reading it in full, allowing him to concentrate on specific moments with precision and creativity.[6]

Tharani admires the work of Indian art directors Madhavapeddi Gokhale, Soorapaneni Kaladhar, and Ganga. Internationally, he draws inspiration from Ken Adam, known for his work on early James Bond films, and Cedric Gibbons, whose designs for The Wizard of Oz (1939) left a lasting impression on him.[6]

Awards

Tiltles and honours

National Film Award for Best Art Direction

Nandi Award for Best Art Director[10]

Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director

Vijay Award for Best Art Director

Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Language Notes
1978 Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi Telugu
1981 Raja Paarvai Tamil
1982 Subhalekha Telugu
1983 Pallavi Anu Pallavi Kannada
Nelavanka Telugu
Sagara Sangamam
Shubh Kaamna Hindi
1985 Anveshana Telugu
1986 Mouna Ragam Tamil
1987 Pushpaka Vimana Silent (Kannada)
Nayakan Tamil
1988 Agni Natchathiram
Sathya
Solla Thudikuthu Manasu
1989 Indrudu Chandrudu Telugu
Apoorva Sagodharargal Tamil
Geethanjali Telugu
Shiva
1990 Anjali Tamil
Chatriyan
Raja Kaiya Vacha
1991 Chaitanya Telugu
Nirnayam
Thalapathi Tamil
Abhimanyu Malayalam
1992 Mannan Tamil
Chinarayudu Telugu
1993 Thiruda Thiruda Tamil
I Love India
Valli
Gentleman
May Madham
1994 Sethupathi IPS
Kadhalan
1995 Subha Sankalpam Telugu
Bombay Tamil
1996 Indian
Kadhal Desam
Mr. Romeo
1997 Ratchagan
Minsara Kanavu
1998 Jeans
Thaayin Manikodi
Choodalani Vundi Telugu
1999 Kadhalar Dhinam Tamil
Vaalee
Mudhalvan
2000 Mugavaree
Kushi
Mister Butler Malayalam
2001 Nayak: The Real Hero Hindi
Virumbugiren Tamil
12B
2002 Baba
Five Star
Samurai
Gemini
Bokshu – The Myth English
2003 Okkadu Telugu
Priyamaana Thozhi Tamil
Jism Hindi
2004 Arjun Telugu
Gambeeram Tamil
Mass Telugu
2005 Athadu
Sachein Tamil
Chandramukhi
Kanda Naal Mudhal
Ullam Ketkumae
2006 Uyir
Thirupathi
Varalaru
2007 Sivaji
Sringaram
2008 Dasavathaaram
Sathyam
Dhaam Dhoom
Kuselan
2009 Ananda Tandavam
Kanthaswamy
Leader Telugu
Dam 999[11] English
2012 Life is Beautiful Telugu
Adios Silent Short film
2014 On A Quest English Role as an older Swami Chinmayananda[12]
2015 Rudrama Devi Telugu
Eli Tamil
2016 Brahmotsavam Telugu
2017 Khaidi No. 150
2019 Nuvvu Thopu Raa
2022 Ponniyin Selvan: I Tamil
Kadaisi Vivasayi
2023 Ponniyin Selvan: II
Chandramukhi 2
2025 Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 Telugu
Ghaati
TBA Kubera Tamil
Telugu

References

  1. ^ a b c Ramanujam, Srinivasa (12 July 2023). "Watch | Thota Tharani: My work as art director remains the same irrespective of a film's scale". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Thota Tharani". Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "కళా దర్శకుడు పద్మశ్రీ 'తోట తరణి'". Telugu Cinema Charitra. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  4. ^ Rajan, Sangita (12 October 2023). "A glimpse into 1970s France: Thota Tharani's timeless sketches on exhibit". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Awards for Amjad Ali Khan, Ashoke Sen". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 September 2015.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b "I've to try some more for my best work yet: Thota Tharani". The Times of India. 25 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Koodankulam project by September". The Hindu. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Honoris Causa 2010 - Satyabhama University". Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Thota Tharani Awards". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  11. ^ "DAM 999 Official Website". Thotta Tharani in the crew list of DAM 999 Movie
  12. ^ "Thota Tharani plays Swami Chinmayananda in a biopic". Hindustan Times. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

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