Each year during the Bonalu festivities that coincide with the monsoon in Hyderabad, an ordinary man transforms into Potharaju, a folk deity and soothsayer, his face painted in vivid strokes of turmeric and vermillion. Vedika Bonakurthy’s photograph captures these Potharajus in the moments before the Bonalu procession, documenting their act of becoming. Titled ‘Body Before The Spirit’, the image distills the essence of local culture.

This photograph, along with several others, forms part of an exhibition curated to mark World Photography Day. Opening on August 19 at the State Art Gallery in Madhapur, the show features landscapes, architecture, street photography, and portraits by Hyderabad-based photographers. It is organised by the Hyderabad Centre for Photography in association with the Telangana Government, Telangana Tourism, the State Gallery of Art, and the Indian Photo Festival.

Sudhakarsingh Bondili’s photograph Shades of Bagan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“We did not want to be bound by a theme. The criteria was strong images that reflect the cultural landscape,” says Aquin Mathews, director of the Indian Photo Festival. From more than 500 submissions, 44 photographs from Hyderabad and Telangana were chosen.

The selection ranges from portraits to architectural landmarks that act as cultural markers. While the photographers hail from Hyderabad and Telangana, their lenses often wander farther afield, bringing in visual narratives from their travels.

Deepika Daparthy’s image of the Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Among the highlights is ‘Echoes of the Past’ by Deepika Daparthi, a black-and-white image of the Qutb Shahi tombs framed by lush greenery, with domes and arches that speak to the monument’s historic grandeur. Ramdalai Tilak contributes an aerial shot of young wrestlers training at an akhada in Kolhapur, a nod to the region’s thriving kusti tradition. Ravi Kumar Saxena’s work turns to the Rann of Kutch, where a trader in handmade garments stands out against the stark white sands. Meanwhile, Sudhakarsingh Bondili’s ‘Shades of Bagan’ captures the rustic charm of Myanmar’s villages set against the backdrop of ancient UNESCO-recognised temples.

The exhibition runs from August 19 to 26 at the State Gallery of Art, Madhapur. Entry is free.