Santosh Bayaluseeme Raghunath and Pooja Santosh: Reviving Indian Art with Perfection

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“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”- Edgar Degas, French Impressionist and Artist

Art is a form of expression that dates back to the earliest days of human civilization, with the oldest evidence of art dating to around 45,500 years old. Since then, art has taken on numerous forms, each with its unique style and technique. From the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux to the Renaissance masterpieces of Michelangelo, art has evolved and flourished throughout history. Today, artists continue to create works that inspire and captivate us, using a wide range of mediums and techniques including sketching, painting, sculpture, and more.

Every region in India prides to have a unique methodology, materials, and most importantly, the concept, behind its version of doll-making. However, handcrafted dolls are getting harder to obtain due to various reasons like people’s preferences, technological advancements, and others. Revivalists of these arts like Santosh Bayaluseeme Raghunath and Pooja Santosh utilize their talents by engaging in their love for crafting dolls and this has become their shared passion. “What started as a hobby quickly blossomed into a passion project that has brought immense fulfilment to our life. We were fortunate to be crafting dolls for housewarming ceremonies, baby showers, naming ceremonies, thread ceremonies to wedding/anniversary celebrations”, shares the couple in joy.

In their words, “Every doll that we create is a labour of love, meticulously crafted with attention to detail and a sprinkle of creativity and imagination”. They spend a lot of their free time perfecting their skills and selecting the finest materials.  They recall recieveing training from Shantha Aunty, a known acquaintance of Santosh, with him being her only male student and Pooja, her determined student. Their quest to craftmanship led them to exploration tours and it has also taught them many valuable lessons.

  

Armed with this knowledge and expertise of doll making, Santosh and Pooja gradually began sharing their beautiful dolls inspired by Indian culture (mythology/dance forms) and posting them on their social media profiles [FaceBook: Santosh Bayaluseeme Raghunath/Pooja Santosh and Instagram: @santoshpoojadolls), eventually attracting customers. Working from home, they used to not take bulk orders. However, they are looking to scale up in the coming years. They believe that as long as their artistic space is not compromised, they can aim for absolute customer delight. "They stay passionate about creating unique dolls customized to their customer's preferences”, resonated in their words and actions.

The COVID-19 Pandemic was a turbulent era with travel restrictions implemented, causing inconvenience for people in their daily lives. People were stuck due to the travel restrictions. Santosh and Pooja enthusiastically talked about creating lookalike dolls and the stories/emotions that resonated through their words on how they made many people’s special occasions extra joyous while their loved ones missed important occasions.

They aim to take bulk orders as a gift for a loved one or a cherished keepsake for collectors. Most of their orders typically range from two dolls to theme-based dolls. Their customers are always eager and willing to wait patiently for expertly crafted dolls that are tailored to their unique preferences and tastes. They have dolls are decorated with intricate details and made with top-quality materials to ensure their longevity and beauty. The customers' satisfaction is always a top priority, and the makers take great care in ensuring that every order is fulfilled to the highest standard.

Santosh and Pooja are establishing plans to propel their doll-making towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable path with the implementation of nature-friendly materials and conservational methods. In addition, they desire to preserve Indian Arts and Crafts with their passion by implementing methods native to the region and reaching as many people as possible. We at Icons of Indian Business wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope they attain success at each stage.

Order Santosh&Pooja dolls: brsantosh4u@gmail.com or through their social media names provided below:

FaceBook: Pooja Santosh, LinkedIn: Santosh Bayaluseeme Raghunath. Instagram: @santoshpoojadolls