Raja Ravi Varma, the legendary Indian painter, had two sons. While his elder son Kerala Varma embraced spirituality and renounced worldly life, his younger son Rama Varma inherited Ravi Varma’s artistic talent. Rama Varma carried forward the family’s artistic legacy quietly, contributing notably to Indian art as both painter and teacher.
Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) is hailed as one of India’s most iconic painters, renowned for blending Indian themes with European techniques. Though his artistic genius is widely celebrated, one lesser-known story is that of his son Rama Varma, who inherited his father’s creative talent and continued the family’s artistic legacy.
Ravi Varma and his wife Bhageerthi Bayi had five children—two sons and three daughters. The elder son, Kerala Varma, was spiritually inclined and renounced the world in 1912, leaving home unmarried. The younger son, Rama Varma, was a gifted artist who studied at the prestigious JJ School of Arts in Mumbai, following closely in his father’s footsteps both stylistically and professionally.
Known affectionately as "Artist Thampuran," Rama Varma also played the role of a teacher and social activist, quietly making his mark in the art community. He married Gowri Kunjamma and fathered seven children, continuing the family’s cultural influence through generations.
Rama Varma often worked in the shadows of his famous father but was instrumental in preserving and promoting the artistic heritage of the Ravi Varma family. His contributions, though less celebrated, remain vital to sustaining the rich legacy of one of India’s greatest painters.
Sources: Wikipedia, Google Arts & Culture, Sahapedia, AstaGuru, Raja Ravi Varma Temple of Arts, Facebook Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation.