VIRTUOSITY OF RAJA RAVI VARMA AND SHYAM BENEGAL’S BHUMIKA – A VISUAL RELATION

Aside from providing amusement and beauty, art and film have always served as a reflection of society and culture. Both the arts and film have had an impact on society. The works produced in both mediums have received recognition and acclaim on a global scale. Artists draw inspiration from the world around them to produce works of art. In his classical paintings, the well-known artist Raja Ravi Varma addressed "Art" and "Life" aesthetically by blending true Indian mythological sense with European Academic Art. Indian Modern Art Movement can be traced back to the exploration in Varma's works of art. Similar to this, film directors try to depict place, time, and common practices using their actors. This analysis of Bhumika1 (Role), a feature film by Benegal, aims to give a broad overview of the film's formal components as they symbolise the avant-garde ideal of balancing "Art" and "Life." The essay is an analytical attempt to look at art and life in relation to Raja Ravi Varma's artworks and the female character in the film Bhumika.