Thota Tharani

Thota Tharani is an Indian film art director and production designer who has predominantly worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi cinema. As of 2013, he has won two National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. In 2001, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, for his contributions in the field of Art. His work consists of paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages, and installations.

Film career
Thota Tharani has been involved in the art of set design since he was just twelve when he helped his father. His work in the films Nayakan and Indian earned him National Film Awards. His works include construction of a huge set replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple for the Telugu movie Arjun, Dasavathaaram, Kanthaswamy and Leader. He has worked in more than 100 feature films as a production designer, including three foreign productions: Pondichéry, dernier comptoir des Indes (French), Hanuman (French) and Branchie (Italian).

In addition to being an art director, Thota Tharani has worked as a Production designer and in the art department of various films.

Background
Thota Tharani completed his Graduate Diploma in Mural Painting in 1971 and subsequently was offered a Fellowship from the Government of France to study print-making. Additionally, he completed print making courses from the Royal College of Art in London and New Delhi.

Awards
Tiltles and honours
 * 2001 – Padma Shri
 * 2010 – Honorary doctorate (D.Litt) from Sathyabama University

National Film Award for Best Art Direction
 * 1987 – Nayakan
 * 1996 – Indian

Nandi Award for Best Art Director
 * 1983 – Sagara Sangamam
 * 1989 – Geethanjali
 * 2004 – Arjun

Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director
 * 1991 – Abhimanyu

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director
 * 1991 – Thalapathi
 * 1994 – Kaadhalan
 * 2005 – Chandramukhi
 * 2007 – Sivaji, Sringaram

Vijay Award for Best Art Director
 * 2007 – Sivaji
 * 2008 – Dasavathaaram