Tribute to Mr. V A Mali (1911-2011)

By Shriram Khadilkar

V A Mali with an Industrialist and his portrait

The great painter V. A. Mali was a living legend. Two monthsago, on 22^nd August 2011, he completed 100 years of age and embarkedon his 101st year.  A long and eventfuljourney; where the spirit was raring-to-go, even till this grand age. I hadbeen to his house to greet the doyen of Indian art.

     

vasaiwale (Boys from Vasai)

I am one the few fortunate ones who got to know the painterwell. Some years ago, I enjoyed my last privilege of working with him as memberof jury for a fine art competition. I was hesitant of his approval of my views,but everything sailed very smoothly. In fact, he lauded a few praises on me.And I felt rewarded.               

V A Mali on his 100th birthday

Artist Vasant Anant Mali was from Kolhapur. His father andgrand father were also painters. He came to Mumbai to study at Sir J. J. Schoolof Art and was highly impressed by Prof. Chudekar, who was known for applying colours in patches. Around the sametime, Prof. Walter Langhammer used to work with knife. Mr. Mali also started usinga similar technique of applying colours in bold patches. His brush strokes were bold, and there wasalways the white space of the canvas peeking through between two strokes. Theforcefulness of his brushwork was so unique that, till date, nobody is able tocopy his style.

mor viknaare tarunee (Peacock seller)

He was renowned for his talent and one of the highest paidportrait painters of that time. Many a celebrity was portrayed by Mali: Mr. Daftary(Attorney General), Mr. Chhagla (Justice - Bombay High Court), Industrialists ShriS. L Kirloskar, Valchand Hirachand, B. D. Birla and so on... The interestingthing was that he was painting portraits in a conventional style, but doingother paintings in his own patchwork style. In this distinctive style hepainted makadwala, a peacock sellergirl, kadaklaxmi, bairagi (sadhu), vasaiwale etc., which were a real treatfor his followers.   

tuntunewala (instrumental folk artiste)

He had a good friend circle too. Stalwarts like Mr. N. S. Bendre,S. M. Pandit, S. L. Haldankar, V. P. Karmakar, Gopal Deuskar, and Harish Talim wereclose buddies. He was an active and dedicated member of the Art Society ofIndia for a long time.  He won severalaccolades during his lifetime; among them were the Gold Medal each from Bombay ArtSociety and Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta and a Silver trophy from Art Societyof India. Bombay Art Society greeted him with the prestigious Roopdhar Award.

Shri S M Dahanukar

Smt.N S Dahanukar

Two months ago, on 22^nd August, I went to hishouse to personally wish him for his 100^th birthday. He looked physically tired buthis mind was agile. He told me that as soon as he becomes fit, he is going topaint a canvas in oils. He was very eagerly waiting to paint aportrait of his son Kiran. But kismet...His end came on 8^th Oct.’2011, around 10.30pm.

Nepali

Wehave lost a great painter. An adviser. A mentor. And a very honest and humblehuman being. 

Chief Justice Mr. Beaumont

kadaklaxmi