Asit Kumar Patnaik’s Radiant Truth draws inspiration from the 1978 Bollywood classic Satyam Shivam Sundaram, a film that profoundly influenced him. Starring Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman, the movie explores themes of beauty, love, and acceptance, which Patnaik interprets through his signature semi-realistic figurative style.

The three male figures on the canvas embody Rajeev’s evolving emotions: his enchantment with Rupa’s voice, his infatuation with her perceived beauty, and his internal conflict upon discovering her scars. Patnaik’s textured brushwork and nuanced palette highlight the depth of these stages, culminating in the climactic embrace, where Rajeev recognizes the essence of true beauty.

Patnaik’s recurring motif of red hair symbolizes Rupa’s resilience, mirroring the film’s exploration of inner strength. By blending traditional techniques with a modernist sensibility, Radiant Truth is a poignant visual narrative of love transcending appearances and resonating with the film’s message.