Forgotten artist MTV Acharya’s works on display at IIWC

An exhibition of drawings, sketches and paintings by MTV Acharya, illustrator of children’s magazine Chandamama, is currently underway

The name Chandamama may ring a bell for those who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s; the children’s magazine opened up a vista of mythological tales, magical kingdoms and fantastical adventures peopled by characters everyone could relate to. With the entry of Amar Chitra Katha, Indrajal Comics, Tinkle and others, Chandamama lost the unique spot they occupied with young readers in India, and was eventually phased out.

While the magazine has been lost to the memories of a few, the works of its long-time artist MTV Acharaya have been brought out of oblivion, courtesy the single-handed efforts of one man — contemporary artist Shivanand Basavanthappa.

Bengaluru-based Shivanand says Acharya passed away a few days after he joined the Govt Fine Arts College in Dharwad, as a student. He remembers feeling bereft that he had missed out on a chance to meet one of the most prolific artists of Karnataka; apart from his vast body of work, Acharya single-handedly illustrated the lion’s share of images in Chandamama.

Chandamama which was originally launched in Telugu in 1947, went on to be published in 13 languages, including English, till its final edition in March 2013.

Over the years, serendipity has played a huge part in ensuring Acharya’s works reached Shivanand, in a manner no less wonderful than those tales he picturised. “I would regularly visit a close associate of mine, artist MB Patil from Karnataka, in his studio where we would discuss art. During one of my visits, I asked him if he knew anything about Acharya. He answered saying the house and studio was the family home of Vijayalakshmi, Acharya’s wife.”

That was where Shivanand’s research on the artist began, and he says that, ”it seemed everything I would turn to whether books, magazines or galleries, would provide information or an insight into Acharya.”

One day someone requested Shivanand’s help in valuing a few paintings to ascertain if they were indeed executed by the master. “I agreed thinking there would be a one or two paintings. Only when I got there did I realise that the person was in possession of over a 100 of Acharya’s works.”