Dr Gopinath Bandari embodies the beautiful convergence of science and soul
During his MBBS at Kakatiya Medical College, Dr Gopinath Bandari stumbled upon a YouTube video of sand art. Inspired, he experimented with fine salt, and later sourced beach sand from Udupi, refining it for smoother visual storytelling. Years later, in 2009, he gave his first public performance — a mesmerising depiction of Indian mythology. Since then, he has performed visual interpretations of epics like Ramayana and Bhagavatam. But that’s just one side of the multifaceted Dr Gopinath Bandari. He is among those rare gems who is a renowned microsurgeon at Apollo Hospitals. “Art made me a better surgeon,” smiles Dr. Bandari, who has also delivered a powerful monologue of Duryodhana, practised by reciting the dialogues during his daily hospital commutes. He says working under a microscope, stitching nerves finer than hair, needs patience, dexterity. “Every surgery is an act of precision, almost like drawing on a canvas with life at stake.” From saving limbs to drawing legends in sand, Dr. Bandari made headlines for leading one of the state’s first successful proximal limb reattachment surgeries, a complex microvascular feat performed beyond the conventional “golden hour” window. But behind the scalpel and microscope lies a lesser-known side. His journey in art began early. A state-level artist in school, he won several accolades in drawing and painting competitions. His passion followed him into his medical journey.
The self-taught artist
What sets Dr. Bandari apart is that he has received no formal training in sand art. “My skills were honed through YouTube tutorials, experimentation, and a passion fuelled by Anupa Vemula, my sister and a classical dancer and painter based in U.S.”
The doctor adds that the lack of proper audiovisual equipment, stage infrastructure, and trained musical support helped him improvise his art. Using hospital X-ray view box, he created a custom sand art lightbox. “Music editing, sound cueing, and even stage management became part of my DIY performance kit.” Balancing art and medicine is a challenge which gives him less time for stage performances. Yet, as a leading microsurgeon handling highly intricate procedures, the artist in Dr. Bandari remains alive. While he can’t pursue art as frequently, he believes his creative instincts guide his surgical finesse.
