J. M.S. Mani was born in 1949 and graduated in Drawing and Painting from the Ken School of Art, Bangalore. He has won the Karnataka Lait Kala Akademi Award in 1981 and 1983. Mani's art beautifully portrays the rustic folk of the Deccan Plateau, focusing on their distinctive Dravidian features, like the balloon seller and women with a rooster. He would use vibrant colours to bring drama to his compositions, allowing the characters' essence to shine. With 19 solo shows in India and London and participation in 43 group exhibitions, including the SAARC Exhibition and the Bharat Bhavan International Biennale of Prints, Mani has shared his unique artistic vision.