Medium oil length Mahua oil-based pentalkyds are prepared with varying degree of excess hydroxyl. These alkyds are subsequently converted into liquid crystalline form by copolymerizing with p-hydroxy benzoic acid (p-HBA). Esterification is facilitated by dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC). Graft efficiencies of copolymers are calculated and reported. Characterization of grafted alkyds is carried out using IR, DSC, and polarizing microscope techniques. A sharp melting point indicates liquid crystalline characteristic of p-HBA grafted alkyds. DSC and polarizing microscope study results further substantiated the observation. Mechanical film properties of LC resins viz., hardness, impact resistance, and adhesion are also reported and compared with the amorphous counterparts. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 2648-2654, 2009