Kerala turns Kottayam into India’s first mural city

Thiruvananthapuram: Over the weekend, India’s first town to be completely literate over two decades ago, had a transformation – Kottayam district in Kerala has staked a claim to be the nation’s first mural city, altering itself into a virtual art gallery with murals adorning just about every wall around town.

When chief minister Oommen Chandy declared it a mural city, it was another feather in Kottayam’s cap with the town already priding itself for its beautiful lakes, total literacy and rubber plantations that had given it the label of “Land of lakes, letters and [rubber] latex”.

By coincidence, Kottayam’s elevation happened at the same time that Malayalam was accorded the title of a classical language by the federal authorities.

The mural city concept was realised by around 300 artists from different states and some from abroad, who worked side by side with artists from Kerala, turning the whole town into a canvas of sorts and enriching every wall with a rich collection of mural paintings.

Interestingly, the colours required for the mural paintings were prepared in the traditional manner using stones and leaves, thus avoiding synthetic colours. Nearly 20 structures including temples, churches, a library and public places felt the creative touch of mural painters, which has brought a colourful ambience to the whole town.

Among the highlights is the gigantic mural on the wall of the Pushpagiri Church at Thellakom in the town, on which a team of artists combined to paint Noah’s Ark. The 300-feet painting at the church is considered to be the biggest of its kind in the country.

Rajasthan is known to have a town that has paintings all over, but Kottayam mural city project is unique in the sense that this is the first time that painters from all over the country and from some foreign countries have worked together to realise a city project.

Among those who worked behind the scenes were Kerala Kalamandalam vice-chancellor VN Suresh, KU Krishankumar of the Institute of Mural Paintings, Lalithakala Academy chairman KA Francis and Suresh Muthukulam of the Aranmula Vastu Vidyalayam.

The mural city tag is expected to distinctly benefit the tourism sector in the district, which is best known for the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom. It is estimated to have cost Rs15 million (Dh990,000). A committee is proposed to be formed to ensure the conservation of the paintings.