Video: Meet the Hyderabad artist making beautiful paintings on his nails

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Video: Meet the Hyderabad artist making beautiful paintings on his nails
Video: Meet the Hyderabad artist making beautiful paintings on his nails
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Narahari Maheshwaram from Hyderabad is an artist who creates paintings. However, what sets him apart from other painters is the canvas that he uses, i.e. his own nails.

Narahari grows his nails till they reach a certain length, then cuts them and paints them. And this has earned him recognition and admiration from far and wide over the last two decades since he began this unique journey.

In an interview to Barcroft TV, the artist, who is also a teacher at a private school, narrated how he got the idea of painting on his nails and what has kept him going.

His inspiration came from his father and brother, both of whom are artists.

"When I was in college, I noticed my brother grow two of his finger nails as a fashion statement so I started growing my nails as well. And while I was pursuing my Bachelors in Fine Arts, I saw that people were painting on different surfaces, from canvases to egg shells," he told the publication.

Image source: India Book of Records

The first nail art that he made was in 1995 and it was a portrait of a freedom fighter. Since then he has made numerous other portraits of famous personalities such as Jawaharlal Nehru, APJ Abdul Kalam, and Amitabh Bachchan. He has also painted monuments and structures such as the Charminar and the Eiffel Tower.

According to the Barcroft TV report, Narahari has collected over 100 nails, of which he has painted on 85 till now.

An inspiration to many of his students, Narahari attributes his success to patience and determination. Growing his nails to the size he wants takes a year or even more. And since he grows nails only on just one hand, he has to be extra careful not to chip or crack them.

But the artist says that his nails are naturally strong which works to his advantage.

"I refrain from hard work, too. Sometimes cracks do develop on nails, but I glue them up quickly. I take calcium tablets once or twice a month, so that the nails grow strong," he told The Hindu in an earlier interview.

Narahari, who has his name in the India Book Of Records, is also happy with the effect his art has on people.

"My art shocks people. There is no one else doing this. And I feel good about all the appreciation that I get. I got inspired by my father and brother, but I also worked hard. Hard work is compulsory. Only then success will follow," he told Barcroft TV.

Watch the interview here. 

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