Gandharvan – Two Legends and a Painting: Analysis

The documentary Gandharvan: Two Legends and a Painting tells the story of the friendship between artist Namboodiri and actor Mohanlal. It shows how two legends, one from art and the other from cinema, are bound by mutual respect and creativity. Akhil Sathyan’s documentary explores Mohanlal’s love for sketching, Namboodiri’s long journey as an artist, and the special story behind two paintings—one based on the Saundarya Lahari and the other, the mystical Gandharvan.

The famous artist Namboodiri’s real name was Vasudevan. However, he gained recognition as Namboodiri because he consistently signed his artworks with that name. Over time, the name itself became his identity in the art world.

Mohanlal, though known mainly as a great actor, has a personal interest in sketching. He shares that he sketches during critical moments of his life, not as a professional, but for the joy and reflection they bring him.

Once, Namboodiri travelled with Mohanlal during a night trip to Kozhikode. On this journey, he witnessed firsthand the immense love and attention that people gave to Mohanlal. This experience revealed to him the profound connection between the actor and the public.

Later, Mohanlal asked Namboodiri to paint a verse from the Sanskrit hymn Saundarya Lahari, written by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Parvati. Mohanlal waited patiently for four to five years for the painting to be completed. Even though he never reminded or pressed Namboodiri, the artist finally accepted the challenge and completed the work.

Later, Mohanlal made a second request. This time, he asked Namboodiri to paint Kamadevan, the god of love. However, while creating the artwork, Namboodiri altered the idea and painted a Gandharva, a celestial being. Their discussion about the painting reflected humour and admiration. Mohanlal even joked that the Gandharvan’s face looked like Namboodiri himself.

Mohanlal considers the Gandharva painting to be one of the most important in his collection. He describes it as spiritual and mysterious. Among his artworks, this painting draws the most attention from visitors.

For Namboodiri, painting the Gandharvan at the age of 96 was a remarkable achievement. He felt deeply fulfilled knowing that Mohanlal truly cherished the artwork. Interestingly, Namboodiri also designed the Gandharvan’s appearance in Padmarajan’s film Njan Gandharvan, showing his long connection with this image.

Thus, Namboodiri and Mohanlal’s journey shows how their friendship grew through mutual respect and shared creativity.

WORKS CITED

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.