: One of the most common elements that art & music share is the power to evoke emotions. They have numerous similarities. Today in the real sense we witnessed a confluence of music, art and literature. As the world-renowned Mangeshkar family comes up with a book on paintings.
The book ‘Strokes of Harmony’ – A compilation of Paintings by noted legendary Singer Usha Mangeshkar and the celebrated Mangeshkar family, was launched today by the gracious hands of Shri Vasudeo Kamat- a noted internationally acclaimed painter. The book was done by 27-year-old Anuja Rhythm Wagholikar. Rachana Shah wrote the preface for Usha Mangeshkar.
Noted author Rhythm Wagholikar gave the introduction of the book while saying ‘The genius behind this book is Usha Mangeshkar whose paintings have the power to both find and lose ourselves at the same time. Well understanding the phenomenon that lies in the façade of Usha Mangeshkar is just like her art – empyrean and inexplicable’.
The wonderfully created coffee table book consists of 129 paintings in all. Largely painted by Usha Mangeshkar using various painting techniques. There are around 35 paintings based on watercolours, 16 with oil on Canvas, 28 pencil sketches, 7 with oil pastels, 13 record covers, 21 landscapes and 9 paintings done by the Mangeshkar family. This book shines through with the paintings of Usha Mangeshkar, Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Anuja Bhosle, Saanjali Khadikar, Zanai Bhosle, Ranjay Bhosle and two masterstrokes from Lata Didi make this book a collectors edition.
Published by Latika Creations and beautifully designed by Nutan Asgaonkar.
Mayuresh Pai of Latika Creations said, “As a matter of fact this book is the materialisation of Lata Didi’s heartfelt wishes to put Usha Tais, paintings out to the world which the latter had always hesitated to bring forth. I reminisce how things led to the present moment, as I bring the first offering by Latika creations – ‘The Strokes of Harmony’
The producer and presenter of the book Anuja Rhythm Wagholikar said ‘Every stroke in Usha Tai’s paintings bespeaks craft, elegance, dedication, completeness and communicates a story that probably will create a space in your heart forever. Honestly speaking it’s a difficult task to point out a painting that’s the best from this treasure, as each one is unique in its way, vastly different yet uncannily similar, both beautiful and infinitely rare.’
She further adds ‘This book in our little way is a humble offering to our Maa Sarawati the voice of the millennium Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar’.
The artist behind this book happens to be the voice behind hits such as ‘ Mungda’ and ‘Jai Santoshi maa’. Usha Mangeshkar says ‘ Through this book, I am revisiting and sharing with you all, a side of mine which I hold close to my heart-paintings.
To achieve proficiency in any art form, one needs an in-depth study of that art and the masters of that art. The paintings you will see in this book are the culmination of my understanding of this art form. This is not art in its entirety as no art can ever be punctuated with a full stop’.
The function was held at Prabhukunj, the residence of Legendary Playback singer and Bharat Ratna Awardee Lata Mangeshkar. Noted personalities like Rachana Shah, Dr Nishit Shah, Yogesh Khadikar, Adinath Mangeshkar, Sudhir & Anuradha Wagholikar, Prashant & Savita Dandavate, Aashay Wagholikar, Dr Kiran Gupta and others were present for the launch.
