How Thanjavur’s Kalamkari Artists Are Keeping an Ancient Craft Alive
When most people hear the word “Kalamkari,” their minds instantly leap to Srikalahasti or Machilipattinam in Andhra Pradesh. But few know that Tamil Nadu, particularly Thanjavur and Karuppur, has its own storied tradition of this intricate art form. Artists like Rajmohan and Lakshmi Narayanan are on a mission to change that perception—and to keep the rich legacy of Thanjavur-style Kalamkari alive.
Kalamkari, which translates to “pen craft,” has long been associated with religious storytelling, using hand-drawn depictions from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. While Andhra Pradesh remains the well-known cradle of this art, Tamil Nadu offered Kalamkari its first royal platform. “Kalamkari first found royal patronage in Tamil Nadu in 1540, when Sevappa Nayak, the first Nayaka ruler of Thanjavur, brought a contingent of artists from Karuppur to adorn palaces and temples,” explains Rajmohan, a Kalamkari artist whose lineage in the craft spans over 800 years.
These artists, originally migrants from Andhra Pradesh, evolved the local style by integrating Tamil aesthetics and religious symbolism. Known also as Chitrapadaam—‘chitra’ meaning picture and ‘padaam’ referring to tracing—this form wasn’t just used on canvas. It adorned everything from temple canopies and umbrella covers to wall panels and even chariot decorations.
Rajmohan, who holds a BFA and has studied filmmaking, continues the family tradition from his home in Thanjavur. “I recreate old pieces with a touch of modernity, but I stay loyal to the traditional techniques,” he says. For Rajmohan, authenticity starts with the materials. His paints are made fresh daily using natural ingredients, as they lack preservatives and thus a long shelf life. “Paints with chemicals can never replicate the depth and richness of natural ones,” he insists. His tools are equally traditional—handmade kalams crafted from bamboo and tamarind twigs, the latter carefully charred and cured overnight before use.
