Equally appreciable is the skill of the painter. The method of making the paintings is interesting and time-consuming. The painter is called the Nakshi and he usually adopts the surname Nakash. The scroll is made of khadi, which is coated several times with lime. After each coating it is burnished with stone. At the end of the process,the canvas is ready to be drawn on. The figures are drawn in red and then the background is filled with red too,after which the other colours are filled in. The artist again draws the story from memory. It is usually the bard who tells him what needs to be depicted and the number of panel and scenes. The drawings in almost all cases are two-dimensional and profile depictions. What makes the panel come alive is the use of vibrant colours.

The scroll is given religious sanctity and is worshipped by the bards. When it becomes old, it is immersed in the river.  It is thus deified as a living person and when discarded, treated like a departed soul. However, now with old scrolls becoming collector’s items,it is often sold. The scrolls bear the names of the painter and the bard or patron who commissions it. Today paper is also used as canvas. Most paintings adorn homes as well hangings.

All the scrolls displayed by Vaikuntham are mythological ones. He also makes sawdust masks and dolls,which are used for narratives of the Kathamaraju kathas. The mythological scrolls draw heavily from the Puranas,the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The exploits of Krishna are also popular-Krishna teasing the bathing gopis,his victory over the hooded serpent Kaliya (Kaliyamardanam). Then there is Draupadi Swayamvara-Arjun hitting the fish eye to win Draupadi’s hand and the story of Shravan-his accidental killing by King Dasharath. Smaller panels for decorative purposes drawn today include Rama crossing the river in Guha’s boat, the dashavatara of Lord Vishnu, a hunting scene, a village scene, and so on. The richness of the drawings is however manifested in the charming retinue of rural folklore,which captures scenes from day to day life-of women with children, men climbing coconut trees…the serene aspects of rural life.

The question commonly asked is whether such scroll narratives can survive in a world of television and cinema. The skills of such painters could be utilised,by using the stories and drawings in cartoons(as animated characters). The background score could have the bard and his narrative songs. Animated versions of these traditional characters n a story would be eye-catching, entertaining and educational for children, and also provide remuneration to the skilled craftsmen. such a change would be an ideal way to preserve the rich repertoire of folk stories and oral narrative tradition.

Monisha Jaising is known for her sporty styles. In her recent fashion show, she showcased a sporty collection- a lehnga with a sporty twist. she also paired a heavy zarsoi-embellished lehnga skirt with a strappy printed top. Monisha Jaising says,”Sportswear and leisurewear have always played an important role in fashion because of the ‘relaxed’ factor attached to it.”