It’s a sign

“All night you hear the Ramayana, and in the morning, you ask how Rama and Sita are related.” This popular Kannada proverb is used as a gentle scolding to those who miss the obvious. Ranganatha renders it in the style of hand-painted signboards, reminding us how embedded the epics are in everyday speech. Hand-painted signage is a craft woven into India’s visual landscape in its bold letters and ornate brushstrokes. Long before vinyl and flex arrived, it was India’s public handwriting and is often full of idiosyncrasy and local pride.