Anantnag, Nov 19: Suhail Ahmad Bhat (27), a native of Madam Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, has an inspiring story to share with the world. By day, he works as a carpenter, and by night, he transforms into a shadow artist.

Suhail told Rising Kashmir, that he has been honing his shadow crafting skills for the past four years.

“I have the ability to create shadows of anyone. This talent has been with me since birth – from painting and innovation to the art of shadow play,” Suhail said.

Despite having only completed his 10th grade education, Suhail's determination to support his family led him to take up carpentry during the day.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Suhail has a knack for innovation. He has crafted an apple cutter, a working JCB, a power project, and keeps some of his creations as mementos.

“My family supports me, and over time, people have come to appreciate my work. In my early years, they would sometimes get frustrated with my creative endeavours, questioning why I spent my time this way. So, I started working on my projects in secret,” Suhail said.

Suhail's first order for a shadow art piece came in 2021 when someone reached out to him to craft their own shadow.

"I just want to continue developing this art form. I dedicate my nights to perfecting it. I have numerous other innovative ideas in mind, but I lack the necessary support. With the right backing, I could introduce ground-breaking new artistic concepts and inventions. If the district administration could extend a helping hand, I would be immensely grateful and committed to furthering this art form,” he added.

Meanwhile, DC Anantnag, SF Hamid, also felicitated shadow artist Suhail Ahmad Bhat in his office.