“Long before cinema and screens, stories in India travelled through scroll paintings.

I belong to Cheriyal, a historic town of Telangana, where this storytelling tradition took shape. For generations, my family has practiced Cheriyal scroll painting as our main profession. Today, though we are based in Hyderabad, our work continues to reflect the heritage of our hometown.

In earlier times, travelling storytellers moved from village to village, narrating epics and folklore through songs, ballads, and performance traditions. Along with their voices, they carried long painted scrolls created by artisans like us. As the narration unfolded, the scroll would be unrolled frame by frame, allowing the audience to follow the story visually.

Apart from scrolls, our community of artists is also known for crafting traditional Cheriyal masks. These masks represent characters from mythology and regional folklore and are used in folk performances such as Bhagavatham and other village theatre traditions. Made using tamarind seed paste, sawdust, cloth, and natural adhesives, they are shaped by hand and painted in vivid colours that reflect Telangana’s visual language.

My father, Dhanalakota Vaikuntam garu, is a master craftsman and a National Awardee from Telangana. My mother and brother are also part of this practice. Today, only a few families continue this centuries-old craft, and we consider it our responsibility to carry it forward.

Our subjects range from mythology and folklore to stories of different communities and scenes from everyday life. Whether through scrolls or masks, the aim remains the same — to translate narrative into visual form while preserving the character of Telangana.

For us, this is not just art. It is a storytelling tradition passed down through generations. Through exhibitions and collaborations across the globe, we continue to present Cheriyal scrolls and masks to wider audiences, ensuring that the tradition evolves without losing its identity.”

— Dhanalakota Rakesh, Cheriyal Nakashi Artisan