Presented by Artworld – Sarala’s Art International, the exhibition explores themes including nature, architecture, Indian traditions, mythology, music and everyday life. Kavitha Dutt, Joint Managing Director of The KCP Limited, attended the inauguration as the chief guest. The occasion also saw the launch of a book on Tharrani, authored by Dr Ashraf S Bhagat, offering a personal account of the artist’s life and creative journey.
Tharrani’s artistic practice spans watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels, collage, drawing, printmaking and murals. The retrospective brings together works from different phases of his career, highlighting his experimentation with colour, composition, texture and space. His approach involves exploring a single subject through 50 to 100 paintings before moving on to another theme, allowing each series to develop its own visual language.
Speaking about the exhibition, Tharrani said assembling the retrospective had taken nearly a year. He recalled creating watercolours as a 16-year-old in 1969, drawing inspiration from his father’s technique and the Bengal School of painting. Some of his early works required as many as seven washes to achieve the desired colour. He also highlighted his Symphony series, which translates his longstanding relationship with music into colour and form, adding that his urge to experiment remained strong even after five decades.
Widely recognised for his contribution to Indian cinema as an art director, Tharrani has also developed a distinctive body of fine art that reflects his engagement with cultural traditions and everyday observations. The retrospective places this aspect of his work in focus, offering visitors an opportunity to explore his artistic identity beyond cinema.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until October 30, 2026, at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai. It invites art enthusiasts, collectors, artists and the general public to experience the evolution of Tharrani’s work across more than five decades.