In a quiet lane near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, one artist continues the fading craft of hand-painted Bollywood posters and hoardings. Digital printing has largely replaced this tradition, yet Kafeel Ahmed Ansari, known as Painter Kafeel, keeps the practice alive at age 70.
Born in Aonla, Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, Kafeel developed an early interest in art. His father supported his ambitions. He learned calligraphy in school and observed local painters after classes. After his father’s death in 1980, Kafeel moved to Delhi with limited funds. He later trained under artist Faiz Siddiqui for 19 years before opening his own studio in Matia Mahal in 1999.
Kafeel created posters for classic films including Deewaar, Pakeezah, Mughal-e-Azam, and Ram Aur Shyam. His work also covered portraits and commercial signs. In the early 2000s, flex boards and digital methods reduced demand for hand-painted pieces. Many artists left the field, but Kafeel survived by combining painting with calligraphy.
He briefly tried digital work but returned to hand-painting. Kafeel notes that Western collectors value the tactile quality and durability of such pieces, which can last decades outdoors or over a century indoors. He sees the bold colors and lettering as symbols of India’s diversity and cultural depth. The style still appears on trucks and older signs.
Kafeel’s main concern is the lack of a successor to continue the tradition. The alley in Old Delhi maintains this visual heritage for now, though its future remains uncertain.
