Thota Tharani

Thota Tharani was born into a family with strong ties to the arts as the second of eight children. His father, Thota Venkateswara Rao, was a well-known art director who worked on over 100 films, including Jayasimha (1955) and Panduranga Mahatyam (1957). Originally from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Venkateswara Rao started as a drama and film actor, playing female roles, before moving to Madras (now Chennai) to work as an assistant art director under Sudhansu Roy and A. K. Sekar.^[3]

Tharani’s interest in art emerged early in his childhood in Madras. He spent much of his time drawing with chalk on the floors of his home, and his father encouraged his talent by providing him with drawing books.^[3][1] Tharani pursued formal art education, earning a Graduate Diploma in Mural Painting in 1971 and subsequently a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting) from the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. He was later offered a fellowship from the Government of France to study printmaking.^[4] Additionally, he completed print making courses from the Royal College of Art, London.^[2]

Thota Tharani began his independent career in the film industry as a set designer for the Telugu film Nagamalli. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional work, creating realistic and larger-than-life sets for films across various Indian languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam. Tharani has worked on over 200 films, including foreign productions such as Pondichéry, dernier comptoir des Indes (French), Hanuman (French) and Branchie (Italian).^[2]

Some of his most notable contributions include the recreation of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple for the Telugu film Arjun (2004), the glass set for the song "Sahana" in Sivaji: The Boss (2007), and the realistic set of the Dharavi slums for Nayagan (1987). Tharani also created the Babylonian-inspired backdrop for the song "Vaji Vaji" in Sivaji: The Boss, and the set for the mythological Indralok in Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008).

Tharani's work extends beyond film. In 2010, he was commissioned to create an artificial dome for the Tamil Nadu Assembly complex, which was completed in 12 days with the help of over 500 workers. Tharani's expertise in both realistic and imaginative set design has earned him multiple accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Art Direction and the Padma Shri, awarded in 2001.^[5]

Throughout his career, Tharani has been known for his resourceful approach to set design, often creating elaborate effects on a limited budget. He has worked on several films where he recreated expensive materials, such as marble, using cost-effective alternatives that still maintained a high visual quality. This earned him a reputation as a "producers' man," valued for his ability to deliver outstanding work within budgetary constraints.^[1]

Beyond films, Tharani is also an accomplished painter and artist. His ink-on-paper artworks are typically non-figurative and vibrant, characterized by a bold use of colour. He has also experimented with calligraphy as a creative form of expression. One of his most renowned series is the Script Series, inspired by the alphabets of various languages, with letters intertwining to form abstract designs. In addition to this, Tharani is celebrated for his paintings of gods, goddesses, and Rajput figures.^[2]

Tharani has participated in several prestigious workshops and exhibitions both in India and abroad. In 1992, he was part of the Design Symposium at the Crafts Festival Living in Seasons in Toyama, Japan. He also took part in printmaking workshops at the British Council in Chennai and Atelier 17 in Paris. Additionally, he participated in a Fresco Painting camp in Rajasthan and a graphic workshop at Garhi Village in New Delhi.^[2]

Tharani's work has been showcased in various international exhibitions, including the Kanagawa International Print Exhibition in 1983 and the III & IV Mini Prints Biennale in Barcelona in 1983 and 1984. His works have been displayed in Paris, Bordeaux, Vienna, Yugoslavia, and Germany.^[2] His awards include recognitions from the Mysore Dasara Art Exhibition, Mysore Pradesh Chitrakala Parishad in Bangalore, and the Regional Lalit Kala Akademi for Graphic Prints.^[2]

Thota Tharani is known for his fast-paced working style. He excels at quickly completing designs, concepts, and visualizations. He focuses on key scenes, asking for the beginning, middle, and end of the script rather than reading it in full, allowing him to concentrate on specific moments with precision and creativity.^[6]

Tharani admires the work of Indian art directors Madhavapeddi Gokhale, Soorapaneni Kaladhar, and Ganga. Internationally, he draws inspiration from Ken Adam, known for his work on early James Bond films, and Cedric Gibbons, whose designs for The Wizard of Oz (1939) left a lasting impression on him.^[6]

Tiltles and honours

• 2001 – Padma Shri^[5]
• 2010 – Honorary doctorate (D.Litt) from Sathyabama University^[7][8]

National Film Award for Best Art Direction

• 1987 – Nayakan^[9]
• 1996 – Indian

Nandi Award for Best Art Director^[10]

• 1983 – Sagara Sangamam
• 1989 – Geethanjali
• 2004 – Arjun

Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director

• 1991 – Abhimanyu

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director

• 1991 – Thalapathi
• 1994 – Kaadhalan
• 2005 – Chandramukhi
• 2007 – Sivaji, Sringaram

Vijay Award for Best Art Director

• 2007 – Sivaji
• 2008 – Dasavathaaram

Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction

• 2024 - Ponniyin Selvan: II
• 1998 - Choodalani Vundi

• Thota Tharani at IMDb