Summary:
Celebrating the charisma of the Indian royalty, Moolagundam Art Gallery presented a rare exhibition of a collection of vintage photographs of the kings and rulers of 81 princely states of India taken by the royal photographer Raja Deen Dayal (Musavvir Jung) during the 19th century. “Raja Deen Dayal, also known as the ‘Father of Photography in India’, was popular in various courts and darbars across the country for his signature style of photography. All the 81 portraits of Indian royalty happen to belong to the personal collection of the owner of the gallery, Krishna Moolagundam. While some of the exhibited pictures were purchased by me at various auctions, the others belong to my ancestors’ collections. The exhibition not only brought people closer to the rich lifestyle of the erstwhile rulers but also helped them understand their culture..