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Royal dedication

Sasikumar tells SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN how he achieved his ambition of painting a portrait of Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma

PHOTO: S. MAHINSHA

BRUSH WITH ROYALTY Sasikumar with two of his portraits of Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma

Right from the time Sasikumar took up painting as a profession, his ambition was to paint a portrait of Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma, the ruler of erstwhile Travancore.

He believes it was a natural extension of his love for the city built on seven hills like Rome.

However, his efforts to earn a living and carve out a career as an artist forced him to postpone his dream. Soon, Sasikumar acquired a reputation for painting portraits and for skilful pen-and-ink reproductions that captured the grace and architectural elegance of many of the monuments in the city.

Says Nicholas, owner of Gallery 21, where Sasikumar displays his paintings, "Some of his works in pen and ink that were displayed here attracted many tourists and invariably they would place orders for his sketches. Similarly some private and Government organisations also bought a few of his works."

Pen and ink sketches

Fine black lines and shading capture the grandeur of the Museum building and Kuthira Malika in the city. The gables, decorative work and ornate façade of the building have been faithfully reproduced by the artiste, who believes that painting is in his blood.

"My grandfather O. Velayudhan, an artist and sculptor, had his own shop called `O.V. Arts Studio near Overbridge, on the main road leading to East Fort. Although my father was in the army, he also used to paint. Many of his paintings were bought by the army top brass," says Sasikumar.

After his retirement from the army, Sasikumar's father began running the shop and Sasikumar was all set to follow in his father's footsteps when the road widening of M.G. Road put paid to his plans. After dabbling in business and as a commercial artist, Sasikumar went to Muscat as a commercial artist. It was here that his artistic career acquired a thousand hues.

"The royalty in Muscat used to buy a lot of paintings to adorn their palaces. Pleased with my portraits, I was appointed as the palace artist. In addition to drawing portraits and landscapes, I also used to reproduce the works of the masters. Sometimes it was scenes of Oman, which were gifted to visiting dignitaries."

The years rolled by and by the time Sasikumar returned to Thiruvananthapuram, Chitira Tirunal had passed away.

"I was very disappointed but I was determined to paint a portrait of the monarch who is still revered by many senior citizens as god incarnate," says Sasikumar.

Patiently, he collected photographs of the ruler during different periods of his life and then painted them. The result is four portraits in oil of Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma in different costumes, moods and periods. However, the artist has no idea when the photographs were taken or the occasion for which the snap had been taken.

While one portrait shows him as a young man, another painting depicts him in his royal regalia. The portrait of him in the uniform of a scout is a rare one; the fourth portrait has him wearing a dhothi and kurta.

Sasikumar's face mirrors his satisfaction on achieving his ambition. The artist firmly believes that these portraits are his crowning glory.

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