Colourful feast for the eyes
R. MADHAVAN NAIR
|
Suresh Babu's series of paintings capture the colourful history of erstwhile Travancore.
|
VISUAL BANQUET: `Thulapurushadanam' is one of the images of the past that has been recreated on canvas by S. Suresh Babu;
A feast for the palate as well as the eye is what Mohanlal wants to serve at Travancore Court, his hotel coming up in Kochi.
This is why the superstar has asked S. Suresh Babu to prepare a series of paintings that will bring to life the history of erstwhile Travancore.
Mohanlal plans to display these paintings in his hotel.
And Suresh Babu, better known for his script for the Mammootty starrer `Dada Saheb,' has just completed a series of paintings that capture the colourful history of Travancore.
It all began one evening in Thiruvananthapuram. "I was working on my script for the Mohanlal flim `Kanal' when he dropped by. He spoke of his venture and asked me to do the series of paintings on the history of Travancore," says Suresh.
The award winning artist, an alumnus of College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, had worked for five years as an illustrator for a Malayalam newspaper.
The artist with Mohanlal who has commissioned the series of paintings.
His series on Travancore history is going to be in the form of two huge paintings. One is on the `Life of Chembaka Raman Pillai.' Raman Pillai had devoted his life to wage a relentless war against the British.
He had gone to Germany in pursuit of his dream of driving the British from India with the help of the Germans.
But the rise of Hitler wrecked his plans. He is believed to have been poisoned to death in Germany. The urn containing his ashes, wrapped in the Indian tricolour, was brought by ship to Kochi, after the country was freed of British rule.
"The story of his eventful life is reminiscent of an action-filled film script. I brought it to life in oil on canvas," says Suresh.
Another painting is on Dutch soldier Eustachius Benedict De-Lannoi, who later became the chief of staff of the army of erstwhile Travancore.
De-Lannoi had come to conquer Travancore but later fought and laid down his life for Travancore. His son John De-Lannoi also died in the battlefield.
His memory has faded from the minds of most Malayalis. But Suresh wants to immortalise this intrepid fighter through his painting.
Series of paintings
Suresh's series of paintings will also capture other cameos from Kerala history. One depicts bogies of trains taken by bullock carts to Kollam from Tootukudi after these were unloaded there from a ship that brought them from Britain soon after a railway track was laid in Shencottah.
Another is on Dr. Kite's demonstration of a balloon flight, a display he had arranged for the Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore.
Another depicts Tipu's army, marching towards Travancore after its conquest of Malabar and turning back, abandoning its plans to invade Travancore.
The battle with Ambalapuzha Raja, the theme of another painting, is fascinating. This battle was unique. Rumours were set afloat amongst Nair soldiers of the Travancore Army that Lord Krishna from the temple in Ambalapuzha was participating in the war.
To lend a semblance of credibility to the rumour, soldiers dressed as Krishna were sent into the battlefield.
The strategy paid off. Hindu soldiers in Travancore Army withdrew from the battlefield. However, later, the battle was won by sending out Christian and Muslim soldiers.
Painting has always been a passion for Mohanlal. But the superstar is modest when he speaks of his interest in paintings.
Avid collector
"I collect paintings. I have a good collection of paintings in my private art gallery at home. I have with me a Tagore painting that finds mention in the Limca Book of Records. But I am only a custodian of these paintings. I cannot call myself their owner. Because these works will be there even after I am gone," said Mohanlal, in a telephonic interview from Ottappalam where he was busy shooting for his latest film.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
