Art as an imitation of imitators

India is a land of demigods. Politicians, actors, cricketers turn superheroes. Scores of people worship their larger than life image try to emulate them, adopt their mannerisms, even dress like them. BS Shivaraju aka Cop Shiva's exhibition at Bangalore’s Gallery Sumukha, Face Two Face, documents two such diehard fans — 46-year-old Bagadehalli Basavaraj as Mahatma Gandhi and 63-year-old Vidya Sagar as Tamil movie star turned politico MGR. Face Two Face features 23 photographs and two videos on these two people who have tried to copy their heroes in every way possible.

“Who remembers Gandhi today but a few old folk sporting Gandhi caps, or opportunistic politicians trying to score points? So when I found a Gandhi imitator who is not from the usual categories, I decided to let my camera follow him,” says Shiva. Bagadehalli Basavaraj is a school teacher in Bagadehalli village, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka — one of the two places in India with a temple for Gandhi. He belonged to a very poor family, and was struggling to educate himself when another family helped him. This spirit of giving led Basavaraj to Gandhi and his credo of simplicity.

For the last 14 years, Basavaraj has adopted a unique way to create awareness about Gandhi. He douses himself in silver paint, dresses in Gandhi gear — bare-chested and dhoti-clad, round-rimmed spectacles on the nose and a walking stick in hand — and walks through the streets of villages and nearby cities. He sometimes stands still as a statue for hours together. Some dismiss him as insane, some throw money at him, and many quiz him. To them, he talks about Gandhi and his teachings.

Shiva’s other protagonist Vidya Sagar's transformation as MGR began over 40 years ago. Super-hit movies had many styling themselves after MGR. For Vidya Sagar, it became his everyday get-up, complete with pancake make-up, kohl-lined eyes, fur cap, flashy clothes and MGR mannerisms. He was soon called MGR in the Shanthinagar area where he lived.

“Their act is on the street, and that’s what I found interesting. In fact, to their mind, it isn’t even an act — they have become Gandhi and MGR,” says Shiva, whose own story is no less remarkable. He is a police constable moonlighting as a documentary photographer. It all began when a distant cousin, Suresh

Jayaram, came to visit Shiva’s father who had been admitted in a Bangalore hospital with cancer. Suresh offered to put up Shiva at his house in Bangalore so that he could take care of his father. Jayaram's ‘house' was 1 Shanthi Road, an alternative art space. “It was a complete culture-shock for me. Foreigners and Indians alike were pursuing art of all sorts. I didn't understand any of it. But slowly, their sense of abandonment and dedication to their art drew me in.”

Shiva started photographing the art events there, often after  night shifts at the police station. H e would pour through books on photography, scour the Internet to study works of famous lensmen, and ask for help from photographers he knew. His hard work has paid off. He has had seven group shows, including one in the UK. Face Two Face is his solo debut. "I dream big," Shiva says, smiling broadly.