The preview of Silappadikaram: One of Five Tamil Epics – K.K. Hebbar Interprets the Classic at Art Magnum on 21st September 2025 was marked by an evening of art, literature, and performance. Curated by Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya in collaboration with the K.K. Hebbar Art Foundation, the exhibition reimagines the ancient Tamil epic Silappadikaram through the visual vocabulary of modernist master K.K. Hebbar. The evening also witnessed the launch of the book Illango Adigal’s Silappadikaram: The Poetic Narration in Lines by K.K. Hebbar.The highlight of the preview was a special performance titled The Song of the Anklet, where Padma Shri awardee Prathibha Prahlad and Dr. Sridhar Vasudevan brought alive verses from the epic through dance, narration, and music, creating a powerful dialogue between text, performance, and visual art. The opening also witnessed the presence of Hebbar’s children – Rekha Hebbar Rao, Rajani Hebbar Prasanna, and Ranna Hebbar, who continue to nurture his artistic legacy through the K.K. Hebbar Art Foundation.
(L-R) Rajani Hebbar Prasanna, Rekha Hebbar Rao, Ranna Hebbar
Rekha Hebbar Rao, daughter of the artist, shared, “My father, born in a modest South Indian family, found his artistic language after years of struggle, travel, and deep reflection. Though trained in Paris, he realized that his true voice lay in interpreting Indian life, traditions, and epics with honesty and heart. His drawings for Silappadikaram, commissioned in the 1960s, are not mere illustrations but timeless interpretations of human emotions and values. Through the Foundation, we continue to nurture young artists, offer grants and awards, and ensure that his legacy of bridging tradition with modernism lives on. This exhibition is a way of keeping his vision alive for future generations.”
The preview was graced by eminent personalities from the world of art, culture, and literature, including Roma Madan Soni (artist and curator), Manu Dosanj (art gallerist), Dipalee Daroz (artist), Vinod Bhardwaj (author and curator), Kanchan Chander (artist), Gitanjali and Upasna Wadia, Alka Pande (art historian and curator), among others
Speaking after the performance, Prathibha Prahlad said, “Classical arts have been my life since childhood, and I have grown up immersed in the many traditions of Indian culture. Performing at Art Magnum to depict the Tamil epic Silappadikaram allowed me to bring to life the story of Kannagi, with its themes of resilience, rage, and justice. Through this performance, I sought to embody these emotions while staying rooted in the authenticity of what I inherited from my gurus. It is vital that the younger generation understands this inheritance, our epics, poetry, paintings, and sculptures, and carries it forward with pride, nurturing a society that is sensitive, cultured, and deeply connected to its legacy.”
Prathibha Prahlad’s performance highlighted themes of resilience, rage, and justice
Curator Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya reflected, “Indian art history has always drawn deeply from epics and classical literature, and Hebbar’s interpretation of Silappadikaram is no different. Its relevance lies in its core theme, justice and injustice, which remains urgent even today. The exhibition is not about retelling a story, but about creating an experiential space where history, art, and performance converge. Hebbar’s lines carry strength, silence, and intensity in equal measure, much like the epic itself.”The preview was graced by eminent personalities from the world of art, culture, and literature, including Roma Madan Soni (artist and curator), Manu Dosanj (art gallerist), Dipalee Daroz (artist), Vinod Bhardwaj (author and curator), Kanchan Chander (artist), Gitanjali and Upasna Wadia, Alka Pande (art historian and curator), among others.The exhibition is now open to the public and will remain on view till 31st October 2025 at Art Magnum, New Delhi, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience Hebbar’s unique artistic interpretation of the Tamil classic.
