Age has not withered her or her enthusiasm. At 78, Malathi A Rao can transform the most mundane of items into artistic works par excellence.
Of the innumerable pastimes that she pursues, creating little pictures out of bindis is in the centre of it all. Her hands are still consistently accurate while her work is as imaginative as it can get.
Malathi's interest in craft work goes a long way back. In the midst of many adversities that she has faced, her skills have only grown and branched out. "I was always interested in craft. Years back, when UNICEF wanted volunteers to make greeting cards for a campaign of theirs, I was chosen. I made 22,000 cards in three months. These greeting cards, which came in unique boxes, fetched me much appreciation," she recollects.
However, her fascination for bindi art began quite recently.
"It was after I was confined to my house after a hip surgery that I developed an interest in this. To begin with, I made designs with bindis on diyas and presented to delegates from all over the world, who had come to attend a theatre festival at Ranga Shankara," she adds. Goes without saying that they went back impressed.
Malathi's eye for detail cannot be missed. She explains, "Once I get a whole box of bindis, I shape the bindis with a pair of scissors according to the picture that I desire and stick them on a surface. The surface can be either cardboard, plastic, glass, wood or mirror. If the gum behind the bindi dries up, I use a bit of glue."
Every one of her work is beautiful, both in design and execution. And it is not limited to one signature style. The pictures that she has made include a red macaw, a temple, diyas, birds, butterflies etc. And she has some complicated ones in mind like Buddha, Krishna and Ganesha.
The important thing is Malathi never sketches the pattern. "The image is in my mind and I work according to it," she says. Truly, this is one lady who is bursting with ideas. "I have also created ballerinas and warriors carrying shields. Of all those that I have made, it is only for the picture of the tribal dancers that I have done the sketching," she informs. Ask her how she gets the final picture so perfect, and she says modestly, "It just comes naturally."
She then talks more about her creations like a crown, a Chinese ball, a peacock etc. "The peacock was the trickiest one to make," she admits. Although she has not tried it, she says bindi art can also be done on tiles, metal etc.
Malathi, who had been doing a lot of voluntary work, always finds time for women and children. "I had some girls at home to take care of me after my surgery. I have taught them how to make a temple from discarded glue sticks using glazed paper. These are girls from poor families and teaching them gives me great satisfaction. I, now, wish to make a calendar with their pictures," she informs.
Looking back, there has always been plenty in her kitty — pencil sketches, about 32 of them, wall hangings and flower decorations.
"I have two children, who are now in London. When I was there sometime back, I had made items out of socks like Olympic rings, a boy reading a book etc,"' she says. And if that's not all, she continues, "But music is my first love, I have even given recitals at the Bangalore Club."
Jill of all trades and master of many? Well, Malathi Rao fits the bill perfectly.
If you are pursuing a unique hobby, do write to:
metrolife@deccanherald.co.in or dhmetro@gmail.com
Of the innumerable pastimes that she pursues, creating little pictures out of bindis is in the centre of it all. Her hands are still consistently accurate while her work is as imaginative as it can get.
Malathi's interest in craft work goes a long way back. In the midst of many adversities that she has faced, her skills have only grown and branched out. "I was always interested in craft. Years back, when UNICEF wanted volunteers to make greeting cards for a campaign of theirs, I was chosen. I made 22,000 cards in three months. These greeting cards, which came in unique boxes, fetched me much appreciation," she recollects.
However, her fascination for bindi art began quite recently.
"It was after I was confined to my house after a hip surgery that I developed an interest in this. To begin with, I made designs with bindis on diyas and presented to delegates from all over the world, who had come to attend a theatre festival at Ranga Shankara," she adds. Goes without saying that they went back impressed.
Malathi's eye for detail cannot be missed. She explains, "Once I get a whole box of bindis, I shape the bindis with a pair of scissors according to the picture that I desire and stick them on a surface. The surface can be either cardboard, plastic, glass, wood or mirror. If the gum behind the bindi dries up, I use a bit of glue."
Every one of her work is beautiful, both in design and execution. And it is not limited to one signature style. The pictures that she has made include a red macaw, a temple, diyas, birds, butterflies etc. And she has some complicated ones in mind like Buddha, Krishna and Ganesha.
The important thing is Malathi never sketches the pattern. "The image is in my mind and I work according to it," she says. Truly, this is one lady who is bursting with ideas. "I have also created ballerinas and warriors carrying shields. Of all those that I have made, it is only for the picture of the tribal dancers that I have done the sketching," she informs. Ask her how she gets the final picture so perfect, and she says modestly, "It just comes naturally."
She then talks more about her creations like a crown, a Chinese ball, a peacock etc. "The peacock was the trickiest one to make," she admits. Although she has not tried it, she says bindi art can also be done on tiles, metal etc.
Malathi, who had been doing a lot of voluntary work, always finds time for women and children. "I had some girls at home to take care of me after my surgery. I have taught them how to make a temple from discarded glue sticks using glazed paper. These are girls from poor families and teaching them gives me great satisfaction. I, now, wish to make a calendar with their pictures," she informs.
Looking back, there has always been plenty in her kitty — pencil sketches, about 32 of them, wall hangings and flower decorations.
"I have two children, who are now in London. When I was there sometime back, I had made items out of socks like Olympic rings, a boy reading a book etc,"' she says. And if that's not all, she continues, "But music is my first love, I have even given recitals at the Bangalore Club."
Jill of all trades and master of many? Well, Malathi Rao fits the bill perfectly.
If you are pursuing a unique hobby, do write to:
metrolife@deccanherald.co.in or dhmetro@gmail.com