Rice Cultivation in Cheriyal Scroll by Dhanalakota Rakesh

This vividly composed Cheriyal Scroll painting presents a scene of agrarian labor expressed through the coordinated motion of three figures bent to the work of rice cultivation, rendered within an atmosphere of rhythmic toil and seasonal abundance.

Cheriyal Scroll Painting is a vibrant and endangered folk art tradition from Telangana. Historically crafted on vertical Khadi cloth scrolls (up to 45 feet long), these stylized, comic-strip-like panels use bright primary colors and bold outlines to visually narrate Indian epics and local village folklore. 

The composition is organized around a continuous field of deep rust-red, textured throughout with rippling white and black striations suggesting the surface of a flooded paddy, and dotted with small upright clusters of green-and-yellow seedlings scattered across the entire ground. This unbroken chromatic field collapses the distinction between earth and water characteristic of the transplanting season, when the rice field is submerged and the seedlings are set by hand into the shallows.

Within this field, a male figure rendered in a distinctive blue complexion stands at the lower left, wearing a white-and-grey striped turban and a white dhoti patterned with fine red dots. His body bends forward at the waist, one arm extended and the other drawn back, his hands caught mid-gesture in the act of taking up or setting down a bundle of seedlings, his layered gold jewelry, armbands and beaded necklace rendered with the same careful geometric precision as the surrounding figures despite the labor of his posture.

Opposite him, two women occupy the upper right and lower right of the composition, both bent at the waist in mirrored postures of transplanting labor, their arms extended toward the seedlings scattered across the field. Each wears an elaborately patterned garment, one rendered in warm maroon-and-yellow striping, the other in olive-and-gold, with jewelry, layered necklaces, nose ornaments and ornamented hair gathered at the crown, an ornamentation that persists even amid the bent, working postures of the figures. Their coordinated stooping, echoed across the diagonal of the composition, generates a visual rhythm that mirrors the repetitive, communal motion of the actual labor being depicted.

Unlike compositions organized around a static, frontal authority figure, this scene is structured entirely through active, off-balance postures, bodies caught leaning, reaching, and bending, that convey continuous physical motion rather than ceremonial stillness. The absence of any elevated or centrally enthroned figure, and the equal visual weight given to all three laborers, reinforces the communal and cooperative nature of the work.

The scene is bordered by a bright yellow band patterned with black scrollwork and alternating red-and-white rosettes, framing the field of labor as a discrete, self-contained unit within the larger scroll narrative. This composition expresses a recurring theme in Cheriyal village painting: that agricultural labor, though physically demanding and unglamorous, is rendered with the same dignity, ornamentation, and formal care as scenes of courtly or divine significance, affirming the cultivator's own body as a legitimate subject of decorative and narrative attention within the visual language of the tradition.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

This artwork will be Made to Order and will take 2-3 weeks to be made and shipped. Returns are not applicable on Made To Order artworks.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.