Cheriyal scroll painting is a distinctive narrative folk art tradition from Telangana, created by artists known as Nakashi to accompany oral storytelling performances rooted in local epics and folklore. Painted in bold colours on long cloth scrolls divided into sequential panels, the tradition unfolds stories panel by panel, much as a performer would narrate them to an audience over the course of an evening. Cheriyal painting shares its narrative, panel-based structure with other Indian scroll traditions, including Pattachitra painting from Odisha, both reflecting how storytelling and visual art have long been intertwined in Indian folk culture. This guide explores the technique, themes and continuing legacy of Cheriyal scroll painting.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Region | Cheriyal, Telangana |
| Material | Handmade cloth canvas, natural pigments |
| Known For | Sequential narrative scroll storytelling |
| Artist Community | Nakashi painters |
| Recognition | Geographical Indication (GI) tag |
| Traditional Use | Accompaniment to oral storytelling performances |
Origins in Telangana
Cheriyal scroll painting takes its name from the town of Cheriyal in Telangana, where the tradition developed as a visual accompaniment to oral storytelling performances rooted in regional epics and folk narratives. The art form grew out of a broader tradition of travelling storytellers who used painted scrolls to illustrate the tales they narrated to village audiences, combining visual and oral storytelling into a single performance. Over generations, artists in and around Cheriyal refined a distinctive painting style suited to this narrative purpose, characterised by bold colours and simplified, expressive figures easily read from a distance. This regional origin remains central to the tradition’s identity, closely tying the art form to Telangana’s broader folk culture and performance traditions. The continued association between the scrolls and their place of origin has helped preserve a clear sense of the tradition’s historical roots. This connection to storytelling performance distinguishes Cheriyal from painting traditions created primarily for static display.
The Nakashi Community of Painters
Cheriyal scroll painting has traditionally been practised by a community of artists known as Nakashi, whose skills have been passed down across generations through direct family-based training and practical apprenticeship. This community developed specialised expertise not only in painting technique but also in the preparation of the cloth canvas and natural pigments used throughout the process. The Nakashi painters’ close association with this particular art form has helped maintain a distinct sense of craft identity, with families often known specifically for their scroll painting work within their communities. Training within this community traditionally began at a young age, with apprentices gradually progressing from simpler decorative tasks to the more complex figurative work central to finished scrolls. The continuity of the Nakashi community remains essential to the survival of Cheriyal painting as an authentic, living tradition. Their continued practice today reflects a direct connection to this specialised artistic lineage.
Storytelling Through Scrolls
The defining purpose of Cheriyal scroll painting is to serve as a visual accompaniment to oral storytelling, with painted panels arranged in sequence to correspond with the narrative being performed. Traditional performers would unroll the scroll gradually as they narrated a story, revealing each painted scene at the appropriate moment to enhance audience engagement and understanding. This performance-based function shaped many aspects of the painting style, including the use of bold, clear compositions that could be easily read even from a distance in an outdoor performance setting. The scrolls themselves functioned almost like a visual script, guiding both performer and audience through the sequence of events in a given story. This close relationship between visual art and oral performance distinguishes Cheriyal from painting traditions created purely for static viewing. This dual role as both artwork and performance tool remains a defining characteristic of the tradition.
Materials and Preparation of the Canvas
Creating a Cheriyal scroll begins with the preparation of a handmade cloth canvas, traditionally treated with a mixture including natural materials to create a smooth, durable surface suitable for painting. This preparation process, involving multiple stages of coating and drying, is essential to ensuring the canvas can withstand the handling involved in rolling and unrolling during storytelling performances. The resulting surface provides a stable base for the natural pigments used throughout the painting process, helping ensure the finished scroll remains durable over repeated use. Skilled preparation of the canvas is considered a specialised skill in its own right, often undertaken by experienced artisans before the painting stage begins. This attention to material preparation reflects the practical demands of a tradition originally intended for active performance use rather than purely static display. The durability achieved through this careful preparation has allowed some historical scrolls to survive for extended periods.
Natural Pigments and Colours
Cheriyal scroll painting traditionally relies on natural pigments derived from vegetable, mineral and other locally available sources, prepared according to techniques passed down within the Nakashi community. These natural pigments contribute to the distinctive, vivid colour palette associated with the tradition, dominated by bold primary colours that ensure visibility during outdoor storytelling performances. The preparation of these pigments requires specialised knowledge, since achieving consistent colour and durability demands careful attention to how materials are processed and applied to the canvas. Contemporary Cheriyal painting sometimes incorporates modern paints alongside traditional pigments, offering practical advantages in terms of consistency and availability while artists work to maintain the tradition’s characteristic visual style. The bold, saturated colour palette remains one of the most immediately recognisable features of Cheriyal scroll painting. This distinctive use of colour continues to distinguish the tradition from other regional folk painting styles.
The Painting Style and Composition
Cheriyal scroll painting is characterised by simplified, expressive figures rendered in profile, set against bold, flat backgrounds that prioritise clarity and visual impact over fine detail or naturalistic representation. This stylistic approach reflects the tradition’s performance-based origins, since figures needed to be easily recognisable and legible even when viewed from a distance during outdoor storytelling sessions. Compositions typically divide the narrative into distinct panels, each depicting a specific scene or moment within the larger story being told, arranged in a clear sequential order along the length of the scroll. Decorative borders and framing elements often separate individual panels, helping guide the viewer’s attention through the narrative sequence. This distinctive combination of narrative structure and bold, simplified visual style sets Cheriyal apart from more densely detailed painting traditions found elsewhere in India. This style has remained remarkably consistent across generations of practising artists.
Panels and Narrative Sequence
A complete Cheriyal scroll is typically divided into a series of connected panels, each corresponding to a specific episode within the larger story being depicted, arranged so that the narrative unfolds in a clear sequence as the scroll is unrolled. This panel-based structure requires careful planning by the artist, who must determine how to divide a lengthy oral narrative into discrete visual scenes that together convey the complete story. The transition between panels is often marked by decorative borders or framing devices that help distinguish one scene from the next while maintaining overall visual continuity across the scroll. This sequential structure reflects the scroll’s original function as a tool for guided storytelling, where the physical unrolling of the scroll corresponded directly to the progression of the narrative being performed. Such careful narrative planning distinguishes scroll painting from single-image painting traditions focused on a solitary scene or subject. This structural approach remains central to how Cheriyal scrolls are conceived and created today.
Themes from Epics and Folklore
Cheriyal scroll paintings traditionally depict stories drawn from Indian epics, regional folklore and local legends, reflecting the broader oral storytelling traditions that the scrolls were created to accompany. These narratives often centred on the deeds of legendary figures, moral tales or stories associated with specific communities and their historical or cultural identity within the region. The choice of subject matter reflected the storytelling traditions of specific performer communities, who commissioned scrolls tailored to the particular narratives they specialised in performing. This close relationship between subject matter and performance tradition meant that different scrolls could vary considerably in their specific narrative content while sharing a common visual style and structural approach. The rich variety of themes found within surviving Cheriyal scrolls reflects the diversity of Telangana’s broader oral storytelling heritage. This connection to regional folklore remains an important part of the tradition’s cultural significance.
The Scroll as a Performance Tool
Beyond their value as painted artworks, Cheriyal scrolls traditionally functioned as practical tools used by travelling storytellers to structure and enhance their performances for village audiences. The physical act of unrolling the scroll during a performance created a sense of anticipation and pacing, helping the storyteller control the rhythm and progression of the narrative being told. This performance dimension meant that scrolls needed to be durable enough to withstand repeated handling and travel, influencing choices around canvas preparation and overall construction. The relationship between painted scroll and oral performance represents a distinctive fusion of visual and performing arts within Indian folk culture. As traditional storytelling performances have become less common in contemporary settings, this original functional role has diminished, though the scrolls continue to be valued and produced as artworks in their own right. This shift reflects broader changes in how traditional folk art forms adapt to changing cultural practices.
Cheriyal Dolls: A Related Craft
Alongside scroll painting, the Nakashi community of Cheriyal is also known for producing wooden dolls and figures, painted in a style closely related to the scroll painting tradition and often depicting similar folk and mythological themes. These dolls are typically crafted from lightweight wood, carved into simplified figurative forms before being painted using techniques and colour palettes closely related to those used in scroll painting. The production of these dolls represents a related but distinct craft within the same artistic community, sharing stylistic sensibilities while requiring different technical skills related to woodworking and three-dimensional form. This connection between scroll painting and doll making reflects the broader creative versatility often found within traditional artisan communities, where related skills are developed and practised alongside one another. Both crafts have benefited from shared recognition and promotional efforts aimed at supporting the broader Cheriyal artisan community. This connected craft tradition adds further richness to the cultural heritage associated with the Cheriyal region.
Regional Recognition and GI Tag
Cheriyal scroll painting has received a Geographical Indication tag, formally recognising the connection between this distinctive art form and its place of origin in Telangana. This recognition helps protect the name from misuse and supports efforts to maintain quality and authenticity standards associated with genuine Cheriyal work. Government and cultural bodies focused on handicraft development have periodically extended support to artists working within this tradition, including training programmes, exhibition opportunities and market promotion initiatives. Such institutional recognition plays an important role in raising the profile of Cheriyal painting among audiences who may be unfamiliar with the tradition, both within India and internationally. The GI tag also contributes to greater consumer confidence regarding the authenticity of Cheriyal products sold in wider craft and art markets. These recognition and support efforts collectively form an important part of the ecosystem sustaining the tradition today.
Training and Continuity of the Craft
Becoming a skilled Cheriyal artist traditionally requires years of training within the Nakashi community, during which apprentices progressively develop skills in canvas preparation, pigment mixing and the distinctive figurative painting style associated with the tradition. This training has historically taken place within family workshops, with knowledge passed down directly from experienced practitioners to younger relatives over an extended period of practical learning. In more recent years, some structured training initiatives and craft development programmes have supplemented this traditional apprenticeship model, helping ensure broader access to skill transmission within the community. Maintaining this training pipeline is essential to the tradition’s continuity, particularly given the specialised nature of the skills involved and the relatively small size of the practising artist community. Efforts to document techniques and support ongoing training have become an increasingly important part of broader preservation initiatives. The continued transmission of these skills remains central to keeping Cheriyal scroll painting a living, practised tradition.
Museums and Preservation Efforts
Historical and contemporary Cheriyal scrolls have been collected and displayed by museums and cultural institutions, both to preserve examples of the tradition and to raise broader awareness of this distinctive folk art form. Such institutional collections serve an important documentary function, capturing the range of themes, styles and techniques found across different scrolls produced over time. Exhibitions dedicated to Cheriyal painting have periodically showcased both historical pieces and contemporary work, helping situate the tradition within broader narratives about Indian folk and performance art. Cultural researchers and institutions have also worked to document the specific techniques and materials used in traditional Cheriyal production, supporting efforts to preserve detailed knowledge of the craft. This combination of collection, exhibition and documentation contributes significantly to the tradition’s continued visibility and scholarly recognition. These preservation efforts help ensure that Cheriyal scroll painting remains accessible to future generations of researchers, artists and audiences.
Contemporary Adaptations
In recent years, Cheriyal artists have explored contemporary adaptations of the traditional scroll format, including smaller decorative panels, framed artworks and collaborations with designers seeking to incorporate the style into new products and formats. These adaptations have helped introduce Cheriyal’s distinctive visual style to audiences who may not encounter the traditional long-form narrative scroll through conventional channels. Some artists have also experimented with contemporary subject matter while retaining the traditional painting technique and stylistic conventions, broadening the range of themes addressed within the tradition. This blend of innovation and technical continuity has helped generate new sources of income for practising artists, supplementing more traditional forms of patronage and sale. Online platforms and craft promotion initiatives have further expanded market access, connecting Cheriyal artists directly with buyers across India and internationally. This adaptability has proven important in helping the tradition remain economically viable amid changing market conditions.
Challenges Facing the Art Form
Cheriyal scroll painting faces significant challenges related to its declining traditional function, since the oral storytelling performances the scrolls were originally created to accompany have become considerably less common in contemporary settings. This shift has required the tradition to reposition itself primarily as a visual art form and collectible craft rather than a functional performance tool, a transition that has not always been straightforward for practising artists. The relatively small size of the Nakashi artist community also raises concerns about the long-term continuity of highly specialised skills, particularly if insufficient numbers of younger practitioners choose to continue the tradition. Competition from cheaper, mass-produced decorative items further complicates the market for authentic, hand-painted Cheriyal work. Addressing these challenges requires continued support for artists, effective market access and sustained efforts to document and transmit traditional techniques to new generations. Recognising these pressures remains essential to ensuring the tradition’s continued survival.
Cheriyal Scroll Painting Today
Today, Cheriyal scroll painting survives as a distinctive folk art tradition maintained by a small but dedicated community of Nakashi artists in Telangana, valued both for its historical connection to oral storytelling and its striking visual style. The craft has adapted to changing circumstances through contemporary design collaborations, museum recognition and expanded market access, even as its original performance function has largely receded from everyday cultural practice. GI recognition and continued institutional support have helped sustain the tradition economically, providing a foundation for ongoing training and skill transmission within the artist community. Cheriyal’s related craft of painted wooden dolls further reflects the creative versatility of the Nakashi community and adds breadth to the broader artistic heritage associated with the region. Ongoing efforts to document, train and promote the tradition aim to secure its continuity for future generations of artists and audiences. Cheriyal scroll painting remains a vivid testament to Telangana’s rich heritage of narrative folk art.
Sources & Further Reading
- Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
- Sangeet Natak Akademi (sangeetnatak.gov.in).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cheriyal scroll painting used for?
Cheriyal scrolls were traditionally created to accompany oral storytelling performances, with sequential painted panels illustrating episodes from epics and regional folklore as a storyteller narrated the tale.
Who are the Nakashi painters?
Nakashi is the name of the artist community traditionally associated with Cheriyal scroll painting, whose skills in canvas preparation, pigment mixing and figurative painting are passed down across generations.
What materials are used in Cheriyal scroll painting?
The scrolls are painted on a specially prepared handmade cloth canvas using natural pigments derived from vegetable and mineral sources, producing the tradition’s characteristic bold colour palette.
Are Cheriyal scrolls still made today?
Yes, a small community of Nakashi artists in Telangana continues to produce Cheriyal scrolls and related crafts such as painted wooden dolls, supported by GI recognition and craft promotion efforts.
How is Cheriyal scroll painting related to Cheriyal dolls?
Both crafts are practised by the same Nakashi artist community and share a related visual style and colour palette, though scroll painting uses cloth canvas while dolls involve carved and painted wood.
