Pune painter attempts to turn city into open-air art gallery dedicated to legends

Artist Nilesh is making 15 paintings at public spaces across Karjat as part of a project supported by a local MLA Rohit Pawar.

Life-size portraits made on the face of the water tank in Karjat. (Express Photo)

Artist Nilesh climbed to the top of a water tank in Karjat a few weeks ago and watched people — crowds at the bus stop, women at home, and children in schools. He dedicated a series of artwork to them — life-size portraits of Jijabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Savitribhai Phule — made on the face of the water tank, 70 feet high. The artist hopes that when people look at these legends, they will be inspired. He is making 15 such paintings at public spaces across Karjat as part of a project supported by local MLA Rohit Pawar.

“When I make paintings of great people, I want everybody to see them. The legends of history should not be restricted to books,” he says. A number of walls in Pune bear Nilesh’s signature as the artist strives to acquaint people with their past.

At a wall of the College of Engineering Pune, he created a mural of Sir Visvesvaraya in four hours to remember the statesman who had studied at this institute. A mural of Balasaheb Thackeray is present at the leader’s birthplace, Sadashiv Peth. Large works of Shivaji, too, remind the people of Pune that the warrior was born in the city.

“One of the outcomes of working in a studio or gallery is that only some people get to see a work. Public art is accessible to everybody, from a beggar to a connoisseur,” he says.

Nilesh was introduced to art on his way to school in Solapur, where painters made hand-made posters of films starring Amitabh Bachchan and other stars of the era. He used to stand and stare at the billboards.

Artist Nilesh

“After I finished school, my family insisted I get a government job. I tried to explain that I was not interested but they did not understand. There was only one thing I could do — at the age of 18, I ran away from home and came to Pune, the city where MF Husain once worked and painted film posters in. I began to assist a signboard painter and also completed a four-year course in drawing,” he says.

His father did not talk to him for five years. “It was only after I worked on a mural of Dadasaheb Phalke in Mumbai, for non-profit organisation St+art India, which Bachchan inaugurated, that my father was impressed with my work,” says Nilesh.

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For several years, he made paintings on canvas but the wall was calling him with its unlimited potential to convey messages about history and social concerns. Recently, when the Australian bush fires were raging and the Amazon forests was covered in flames, Nilesh drew attention to global warming and climate change on a wall in Wagholi by making a 25- foot paintings of sparrows.

“When I was in my village, I would see a lot of sparrows but, when I came to Pune, there were barely any. The painting is intended to inform people about the importance of sparrows and the environment,” says the artist whose works can also be seen on the social media platforms of Nileshartist.

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As India stands in the middle of the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, Nilesh wants more attention on artists who have been left without work or financial support. “No politician talks about us but the truth is that, if there were no artists, life would lose its colour,” he says.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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