From Charminar to Falaknuma, Hyderabad drawn by hand

Hyderabad: ‘Hyderabad ku Line Maarroon…’, a collection of line drawings by Deccan Chronicle cartoon editor Subhani Shaik, will be on display at an exhibition at the Nehru Art Gallery, JNAFAU College of Fine Arts, Masab Tank, from April 18 to 20, between 12 noon and 6 pm. Line drawings of the Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, High Court buildings, Chowmahalla Palace, Macca Masjid, Falaknuma Palace, historical monuments and places of interest in Hyderabad will be among the 70 works featured at the exhibition.

Subhani, who drew these sketches live, sitting near these monuments, said: “Cameras have limitations. But artists do not. They can cover all angles. A long shot on a camera can miss out on details, but the artist can capture them.”

He explained what brings life to his paintings. “Engineers make a draft of a building using instruments. However, an artist draws a freehand sketch with zigzag lines, bringing the monuments to life and creating an atmosphere with people in his work.”

Subhani has been creating free-hand sketches of Telangana’s landmarks and monuments for over three decades. His works, particularly popular for their detailed backgrounds, have been displayed at prestigious venues like Rashtrapati Bhavan and luxury hotels across the globe.

A 60-page book of sketches related to Telangana monuments and places will be released during the exhibition.

The government department of language and culture is organising the event on International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day.