The paintings are commonly known as palagai padam, meaning picture on a wooden plank, and are created on boards of jackfruit or teak wood. They use embellishments, particularly gold foil. Other decorations include cut glass, pearls, and precious and semi-precious stones. The themes of these paintings are drawn from the pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses, and saints. These paintings include rounded faces, almond-shaped eyes, and graceful bodies. Other distinct features include flat colours, arches, drapes, and ornate borders, as well as shading on faces to add depth.