M.F. Husain used to do poster painting for a while – when he was down and almost out. But Prithvi Soni did Bollywood painting because he liked to do it.
It was a Bollywood film which inspired him to paint posters of film stars. “As a school kid, my life revolved mainly around two activities. I would either be drawing or would be standing outside a cinema hall to hear the dialogue of the film running inside. As kids, we were strictly forbidden to watch all the films that were shown at the theatre. So listening to them on the sly was the only option. That is how I became fond of Bollywood films and music.
From working with the greatest of Bollywood legends to creating elegant, realistic works depicting beauty, music, age and nudes, the painter’s style has taken on a distinct earthiness and vibrancy. It is this long journey that we see at his exhibition from today at the AKs Art Gallery in Andheri.
Prithvi’s works have innocence, beauty and simplicity. It was actor Dilip Kumar who asked him to take up painting as a profession.
Prithvi Soni: “Whether it is old men, village women, or Indian music, I just can’t ignore their beauty and elegance. Due to the dizzy pace of our modern lives, we tend to either completely overlook this aspect or take it or take for granted. It is this essential beauty in ordinary images that I have always tried to highlight through my work.” The exhibition will close on March 27.
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