As a tribute to singer Pandit Jasraj, for Diwali, Bageshri Parikh, retired judge at the Family Court Mumbai, did a Rangoli portrait on the famous singer. From law to music, painting and rangoli portraits, Judge Bageshri Parikh is definitely a very colourful person.

She talks to Monarose Sheila Pereira and discusses her wonderful art.

Do you prepare portrait Rangolis every year?

Yes, I prepare one Rangoli portrait every year at Diwali. I normally feature a well known person about whom a major happening took place during the year. I am a classical Indian music lover and practitioner at home. I have great respect for the maestro who passed away this year. This is my humble tribute to him.

What is the size of the rangoli?

The size of the Rangoli portrait is 17 x 25 inches and done on a table at home. It took me 7 hours to complete it. I have been doing these types of Rangolis since the last 25 years but only one per year.

Have you have any formal training in painting?

No, I have no formal training in painting. My parental community of Pathare Prabhu has an age old tradition of drawing Rangolis during Diwali and other pujas. Therefore I grew up drawing various types of Rangolis.

Since how long have you been doing portrait Rangolis?

I have been doing Rangoli portraits since the last 25 years, but only one per year.

How do you go about making the Rangolis?

I use a small photograph, draw grids on it and enlarge the grid to the required size and then start to draw.

How long does it take to design one Rangoli portrait?

One Rangoli portrait takes me around 10 hours to do.

Which other personalities have you done Rangolis on?

I have done Rangoli portraits on Mother Theresa, Lokmanya Tilak , Mahatma Gandhiji, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda,  Leonardo da Vinci's  Mona Lisa, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, President  A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, PM Indira Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi and Amitabh Bachchan to name a few.

Do you paint portraits?

Yes, I have painted several portraits in oil and acrylic. I also paint landscapes and Tanjore work paintings. I have also attempted to reproduce a couple of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings.

Have you had any exhibitions of your art?

Yes, I did have an exhibition once, as a solo artist, which included Rangoli paintings and clay idols.

How do you choose your subjects for Ranjoli paintings?

The Rangoli portrait subject is chosen based on a major event that has occurred during the year concerning a celebrity,.

When was your first attempt at a Rangoli portrait for the general public?

My first attempt at public Rangoli was in Parle college and in British Council during Shakespeare’s quatra centenary celebrations. I had drawn the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford on Evon and Anna Hathway’s cottage.

Do you have any annecdotes to share about your Rangoli portraints?

Oh yes, I remember, once I had drawn a Rangoli portrait on a side table. A visitor thought it was a colourful tiled top table and placed his tea cup on it.

Interviewed by Monarose Sheila Pereira 

Monarose Sheila Pereira is an author, journalist and media lecturer. She has published several books and has written for all the major newspapers and magazines. She has worked for All India Radio and Doordarshan. She also conducts self improvement workshops.