Telangana: Thota Vaikuntam bags 32nd Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award

Vaikuntam is now one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary Indian folk art known for his unique blend of folk traditions and contemporary sensibilities which earned him international acclaim

Hyderabad: The 32nd Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award will be presented to Thota Vaikuntam for his outstanding contribution to art and for placing the Telangana region on the world map through his remarkable work.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will present the award on April 30 at KLN Prasad Auditorium, FTCCI, Red Hills. The award comprises a citation and a cash prize of Rupees One Lakh.

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Thota Vaikuntam is one of India’s most eminent painters in contemporary and post-modern art. Born in 1942 to Venkaiah and Satyamma in Boorugupalli, Karimnagar, he moved to the temple town of Vemulavada for his education.

Encouraged by his high school teacher, Thota Vaikuntam began painting, creating backdrops and costumes for school events, weddings, and village celebrations and enrolled at the College of Fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad in 1960.

He served as an art teacher at Hyderabad Bal Bhavan for 15 years and also worked as an art director on feature films such as Palleturi Pillagada, Maa Bhoomi, Matti Manshulu and Daasi, for which he received the National Award in 1989.

Vaikuntam is now one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary Indian folk art. His unique blend of folk traditions and contemporary sensibilities has earned him international acclaim.