ZFMOtis800669 at 11:30, 27 December 2025

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{{short description|Indian painter (1949–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. K. S. Varma
| image = Dr BKS Varma webinar (cropped).jpg
| caption = Varma in 2021
| native_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|09|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = Karnur, Attibele Taluk, [[Mysore State]], [[Dominion of India|India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|02|06|1949|02|06|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kannada.hindustantimes.com/karnataka/dr-bks-varma-no-more-bengaluru-based-international-famous-painter-artist-dr-bks-varma-passed-away-181675660049052.html | title=Dr B. K. S. Varma no more: ಮೇರು ಚಿತ್ರಕಲಾವಿದ ಡಾ.ಬಿ.ಕೆ.ಎಸ್.ವರ್ಮಾ ಅಸ್ತಂಗತ; ಇಂದು ಅಪರಾಹ್ನ 3ರಿಂದ ಸಂಜೆ 4.30ರ ತನಕ ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನ }}</ref>
| occupation = Artist
| relatives =
| website =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1987–2023
}}

'''Bukkasagara Krishnaiah Srinivas Varma'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Badiger |first=Ashwini |date=2023-02-06 |title=Bengaluru: Noted Painter BKS Varma passes away |url=https://newskarnataka.com/karnataka/bengaluru/bengaluru-noted-painter-bks-varma-passes-away/06022023 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=News Karnataka |language=en-US}}</ref> (5 September 1948 – 6 February 2023)<ref>[https://www.udayavani.com/article/popular-artist-bks-varma-no-more/1423601 BKS Varma: ಖ್ಯಾತ ಚಿತ್ರಕಲಾವಿದ ಬಿಕೆಎಸ್ ವರ್ಮಾ ಹೃದಯಾಘಾತದಿಂದ ನಿಧನ] {{in lang|kn}}</ref> was an Indian painter from [[Bangalore, India|Bangalore]], whose subject was mainly environment and social issues presented in a surreal form. His depiction of Indian Gods has taken a new dimension. He also specialised in painting pictures in front of a large audience, in a short span of time, usually for poetry or dance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=BKS Varma Paintings: ಕುಂಚದ ಮೂಲಕ ದೇವರನ್ನೇ ಧರೆಗಿಳಿಸಿದ ಖ್ಯಾತ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಬಿಕೆಎಸ್ ವರ್ಮಾ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ ನೋಡಿ |url=https://kannada.news18.com/photogallery/trend/bks-varma-famous-paintings-sng-960691.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=News18 Kannada |language=kn}}</ref>

==Early life==
Varma was born in 1948 at Karnur, Attibele Taluk, which is situated on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka. He began sketching as a hobby at the age of six. His mother Smt. Jayalakshmi was an artist herself, his father Sri. Krishnamacharya was a musician.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=ಚಿತ್ರ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಬಿಕೆಎಸ್ ವರ್ಮ ನಿಧನ |url=https://www.prajavani.net/karnataka-news/well-known-painter-dr-bks-varma-no-more-1012899.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Prajavani |language=en}}</ref> 1962 -68 – Varma was trained for painting and sculpture by Guru Sri. A.N. Subbarao at Kalamandir, Bangalore and by Sri. A.C.H. Acharya a sculptor from Devenahalli.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title='ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ' ಸಿನಿಮಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ 'ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ' ಫೋಟೋ ಕೂಡ ಇವರೇ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ್ದು {{!}} Tour To Dr. B.K.S. Varma Studio |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z3tprrtJtk |language=en |access-date=2023-02-06}}</ref>

1964-67 – Joined Kalamandir School of art. Travelled all over India twice and met a lot of eminent people which included Dr. Radakrishna (ex.president of India), Deviprasad Roy Choudry, [[Jamini Roy]], Nandal Bose, KK Hebbar, MF Hussien, Panikar, Rashtra Kavi [[Kuvempu]], Shivarama Karanth and many others. During his travel across India he visited Ajanta, Ellora and many art museums and galleries to gain more knowledge and experience in the field.<ref name=":0" />

1967 – Worked as an associate art director for the Bollywood movie "Aadmi". During the same time he painted the rocks in Hanumanth Nagar, Bengaluru (inspired by his visit to Ajanta) 1967-73 – He served as an artist for a number of journals and newspapers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

1977-1979 – He worked as an art director for Kannada movies "Banngarada Jinke", "Ninagagi Naanu", "Rajeshwari", "Chadurida Chitragalu" etc.

1988 – Two of his paintings were selected for Indian Festival at the Russia [[Utsav]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

1990 – Collaborated with Dr. Shathaavadhaani. R. Ganesh in a performance – "Kavya Chitra" (a duet of poetry alongside painting) for 24 hours nonstop creating an all-time record.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

1997 – He was invited by the Kuwait, for the event "Art Formula" at the Ambassador Bhavan wherein he exhibited his art works. During the same time he was also invited by the Bahrain King – Bin Kalifa, to exhibit his art works at the Bahrain Arts Society for the event "Bahrain Peace 2000".{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

1999 – He travelled to London and presented his art works at the "Art ‘n’ Auction" - Eastern Arts. He also exhibited his works at the "Nehru Centre", London.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

2000 – Was selected by the Karnataka Government to be a part of the "Vishwa Kannada Sammelana", Houston. He put forth "Kavya Chitra", over 30 performances at different cities in America.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

2005 – A performance – "Geeta Kuncha" at Singapore by the Kannada Sangha.<ref>{{Citation |title='ವೀರಪ್ಪನ್' ಜೊತೆ ಇದ್ದಾಗ 'ಅಣ್ಣಾವ್ರು' ಕಾಡಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದ ಹಾಡು ಯಾವುದಂತೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾ!? {{!}} Dr.BKS Varma Epi 7 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-JlI8hKvY |language=en |access-date=2023-02-06}}</ref>

2010 – Biography published <ref name=sapna/>

==On the spot drawing==
Varma specialised in paintings for specific topics given either in poetry or in dance form. He drew poetry of [[Shatavadhani Ganesh]] on topics suggested by audience.<ref name=ganesh/>
He also drew paintings for subjects discussed on a stage.<ref name=orator/> He used a piece of rope as brush, mainly to finish quickly. He produced multiple paintings during a flute concert on 19 December 2006 and the paintings' subjects were depicted in the lyrics used by the flutists.<ref name=flute/>

==Awards and recognition==
*1986 - "State Lalitkala Academy Award" Karnataka Chitrakala Partishath{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
*2001 - Honoured by the Karnataka Government with the prestigious award "Karnataka Rajya Puruskar".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-10 |title=Pride of Karnataka Awards presented {{!}} RITZ |url=https://www.ritzmagazine.in/pride-of-karnataka-awards-presented/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*2001 - He received the Rajyothsava award<ref name="rajyotsava" />
*2011 - Honorary Doctorate by Bangalore University<ref name="doctorate" />

==References==
<references>

<ref name=orator>{{cite news|title=Orator and artist jugalbandi leaves audience spellbound|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/orator-and-artist-jugalbandi-leaves-audience-spellbound/article3513992.ece?textsize=small&test=2|accessdate=1 December 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 June 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=doctorate>{{cite news|title=BU honorary doctorate for Nisar Ahmed, B.K.S. Verma|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/bu-honorary-doctorate-for-nisar-ahmed-bks-verma/article1154824.ece?textsize=large&test=1|accessdate=1 December 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 February 2011}}</ref>
<ref name=ganesh>{{cite news|title=Competitions, cultural programmes, mark Kala Utsav 2006|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121916070200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106230415/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121916070200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2007|accessdate=1 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=19 December 2006}}</ref>
<ref name=flute>{{cite news|title=When music inspired art|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/20/stories/2006122015510200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401232432/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/20/stories/2006122015510200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2008|accessdate=2 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=20 December 2006}}</ref>
<ref name=sapna>{{cite web|last=Moona |first=Suresh |title=Abhinava Ravivarma BKS Varma |url=https://www.sapnaonline.com/index.php?option=com_books&view=product&productID=KAN0025443&product=abhinava%20ravivarma%20bks%20varma%20vyakthi%20chitra%20by%20suresh%20moona |publisher=Sapna Book house, Bangalore |accessdate=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031105031/https://www.sapnaonline.com/index.php?option=com_books |archivedate=31 October 2012 }}</ref>
<ref name=rajyotsava>{{cite news|last=TNN|title=53 receive Rajyothsava awards|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-11-01/bangalore/27249162_1_awardees-rajyothsava-krishna|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516125303/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-11-01/bangalore/27249162_1_awardees-rajyothsava-krishna|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 May 2012|accessdate=2 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=1 November 2001}}</ref>

</references>

==External links==
*{{FaceBook |bks.varma}}
*{{Instagram |dr.b.k.s.varma}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, B. K. S.}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:Artists from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Painters from Karnataka]]

B. K. S. Varma - Revision history

ZFMOtis800669 at 11:30, 27 December 2025