029. Cheriyal Paintings

Cheriyal painting is a stylized version of Nakashi art, rich in the local motifs peculiar to Telangana. The art form has a history of more than 400 years and is closely associated with the storytelling tradition of the region. The scrolls are painted in a narrative format, much like a film roll or a comic strip, depicting stories from Indian mythology, Puranas and Epics. 

Traditional folk singers would narrate the stories using cheriyal as a tool for visual presentation. They would also use harmonium, tabla, and other instruments to bring about tune and music in their narratives. They acted as a wonderful means of communication and conveyed significant moral virtues.

The scroll would flow like a film roll. It was generally about three feet in width and went up to 40 – 45 feet in length, depending upon the story. The traditional scrolls are normally in vertical format, illustrating stories in a series of horizontal panels. A floral border in the middle separates the two panels. Like large sized comic strips, each panel of the scroll depicted one part of the story. 

The making of the canvas is a very elaborate procedure. The Khadi cotton is treated with a mixture of starch (from rice), suddha matti (white mud), a paste of boiled tamarind seeds and gum water thrice. It has to be ensured that every coating is thoroughly dried before the next one is applied. 

Once the cloth got ready, the figures and other elements were drawn on the cloth. Sharp outlines were then made directly by the brush to define the drawings. Lastly, the colours made from natural sources were filled in the paintings with brushes made with hair of squirrels tied to a stick.

Cheriyal Paintings can be easily recognised by the unique characteristics like painted in vivid hues with a predominance of red in the background. The costumes and settings in which the figures are depicted are typical and reflect the culture of Andhra, where these paintings originated.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 06 October 2010

GI Tag Number                         : 190

Certificate Number                  : 142

Geographical Area                  : Telangana

Special Cover Release Date   : 23 January 2021

Cancellation                             : Raj Bhavan PO 500 041

Type                                          : GI Tag Special Cover

Cover Identification Number  : TS/05/2021

Enlarged View of Illustration

Enlarged View of Cancellation