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K.R. Venugopal Sharma (K.R.வேணுகோபால் சர்மா) (17 December 1908 – 31 July 1989) is one of India’s renowned artists whose work has gained a lot of recognition and appreciation throughout the world. He was the one to portray the celebrated world-renowned Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. Even today throughout the world this portrait of Thiruvalluvar is widely recognized and appreciated. In his lifespan of 81 years, Mr. Sharma has drawn 14 life-size paintings, of which 3 still adorn the assembly of Tamilnadu. His paintings were made for artistic and social well-being without any business intent. His paintings are eternal like the noble poet Thiruvalluvar.

Biography
K.R. Venugopal Sharma was born on 17.12.1908, in Kamakshi Patti, a small village near Salem, Tamilnadu, India to a literate and wealthy Ramaswamy Iyer and Janaki Ammal. Sharma belonged to the “Niyogi” clan that was started by “Tenali” Raman of Vijayanagar Empire. He lost his father when he was young. He was raised by his father’s elder brother  who was also a scholar.

Education
He was taught music and literature via homeschooling. By the age of 12, he became well versed in literature and music. Venugopal Sharma was given formal education in music and in Tamil based Nadu Eazhuthu Alangaram (நடு எழுத்து அலங்காரம்) and Venba and he also became a distinguished specialist in Tamil Kanathurai. He also pursued art and mimicry that later helped him to be recognized by the Maharajas of Mysore and Gadhyeaval. Seeing the multi-talented young Sharma, the then Maharaja of Mysore Nalvadi Krishnaraj Udayar conferred on the title of “Bala Vikadakavi” aka “Young Genius”. Sharma could speak 10 different languages because of his wide travel to various states of India.

Early Paintings, Freedom Fighter
His first painting was at the age of 17, he drew of Shri. Swayam Prakasha Bramendra Saraswathi Swamy who was a Siddha from Sennamangalam.

At the age of 17, he met Mahatma Gandhi in Salem, where he drew a portrait of Gandhi and presented to him. Gandhi was truly impressed by his art and greatly appreciated it. The portrait was auctioned in the gathering, the proceedings were donated to the 1935 Quetta earthquake relief. He also started Swadesa Drama party on the behest of Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari for the freedom fight. When Britishers were about to arrest him, he flew to Bombay (Mumbai).

Career
In Bombay (Mumbai) he got close acquaintance with the yesteryear renowned film maker ‘Bhagwan Das’. He mastered film making skills and came back to Salem where he started ‘Chitrakala Studios’. Later he started ‘Green Pictures” in Madras (Chennai). Films like ‘Nadha Vijayam’,’ Deiveegam ‘and ‘My Son’ were produced by him. He introduced artists like Madurai Mariyappa Swamigal, Dr. BalaMuralikrishna, Nataraj Shakuntala and many more. His film career ended after constant persuasion from his close friends like the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu C.N.Annadurai, Writer Tamizhvanan, N.S. Vasan to continue his contribution in art.

Films Produced
As Producer
 * Nadha Vijayam (year to come)
 * Deiveegam (year to come)
 * My Son (year to come)

Works
In his lifespan of 81 years, Mr. Sharma has drawn 14 life-size paintings, of which 3 still adorn the assembly of Tamilnadu. His paintings were made for artistic and social well-being without any business intent. His paintings are eternal like the noble poet Thiruvalluvar himself. The remaining artwork that were produced by Venugopal Sharma are Godess Bhuveneshwari, Kamakshi, Meenakshi, Tamil Thai, Maha Ganapathi, Lord Krishna, Lord Muruga on the golden peacock, Sage Thyagaraja who is celebrated as the god of music, portrait of a  child during Diwali , Dhamayanthi and Bharatha Shakuntala.

Bharathanatyam
Venugopal Sharma was also adept in the art of Classical Bharatanatyam with its deepest understanding to perform it flawlessly. He has done several research in that art form. He was a friend of Kancheepuram Ellapa Natwar and was also a guru of the venerated Udupi Sri. Laxminarayan. He also composed and authored many Sahisthyams for him and taught it to him. Those Sahithyams which were created for Udupi Sri. Laxminarayan was staged by his disciple, the world famous Tamil cinema dance choreographer Prabhu Deva. Prabhu Deva staged it for the first time and until today Shrimathi Madhumathi Prakash, a renowned guru and teacher of Bharatanatyam performs these Sahithyams, and compositions of Venugopal Sharma on stage. Aadum Mayil Meedhu ,Varum Yadhava Bala, Vanodum Megham, Aanandha Muga Vilasam are some of the songs that were choreographed by Shri. Venugopal Sharma which are being staged till date.

The following are the Dance Dramas that were created by the great Shri. Venugopal Sharma Shilpi en Kanavar, Krishna Leela ,Sandhya thandavam, Rathi Manmadhan, Dharma Moorthi , Raagu Chandra, this dance drama is particularly unique portraying a fight between a peacock and a dragon representing the war that happened between India and China.

Honours
In 1959 he completed his first portrayal of Thiruvalluvar which was awed by many. His works were acclaimed by noted personalities like Pavendhar Bharathidasan and Bhakthavatsalam. The Government of Tamilnadu accepted his portrayal as the official portrait of Thiruvalluvar. In 1967 the Government issued an order and made it mandatory to have the portrait of Thiruvalluvar in all the government offices throughout Tamilnadu.

Venugopal Sharma had published a white paper to the portrait of Thiruvalluvar which gives a complete description of the drawing of the great poet Thiruvalluvar. No artist has ever made such a publication on their art. He passed away on July 31 1989. His legacy still lives in every portrayal of thiruvalluvar that continues to adorn Tamilnadu and beyond.