This picture is from a wall on Royapettah High Road, near Woodlands Theatre. The green mosque is flanked on the left by the Tamil god Murugan; and on the right by baby Krishna. Just beyond Krishna, outside the frame, Jesus displays his sacred heart.
This painting signifies the high degree of religious tolerance which we enjoy here, unlike in some other parts of India (and the world). It's one of the very good things about Chennai.
I also reminds me of Such a Long Journey, a movie based on Rohinton Mistry's book. The movie stars Roshan Seth as a Parsi in Bombay. In one of the sub-plots, people are always 'making nuisance' - urinating -- against the wall surrounding his apartment building. Seth notices a man who makes religious paintings on the footpath, and collects offererings for a living. He suggests to the man that he come and paint on the wall instead. The man agrees. As soon as the gods are painted no one can urinate there. In fact, the wall becomes a popular shrine, and the painter makes a better living than before.
I don't know if this painting was made for that purpose - it could have been to prevent people from covering it with political slogans and posters. Here's another painting from a nearby side-road, a couple of politicians. They look remarkably untrustworthy -- don't they?
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