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ARCHIVAL GEMS Left, Sudharani Raghupathy, Padma Subrahmanyam, Chitra Visweswaran, top right, Ramankutty Nair and Gopi, M. Balamuralikrishna in concert

To mark this point BEAME has chalked out a whole year of celebrations. A lot of special events, along with the regular monthly programmes have been slated.

It was in April 1983 that the bank employees in Ernakulam deliberated on the need for a cultural wing for their newly formed union. That was a time when cable television and the Internet had not made inroads into the lives and thinking of people. A handful of cultural organisations in the city, most of them now extinct, were the only source of solace. BEAME was then the latest among them.

“In Thiruvananthapuram, we had an organisation called Beam. We formed one on similar lines. The formal inauguration was by the late Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall. This has been our permanent venue since then. Originally, the plan was to conduct one programme every month. Later, we expanded our activities with special programmes. And this has been going on, without break, for 25 years,” says R. Venkiteswaran, president.

What makes BEAME different from most other organisations is that it has always gone in for quality programmes. “That has been our watchword. We have never compromised on quality. Surely, it has been quite a huge burden, financially at least, but we have managed to pull through. Also, we have not stuck to the popular items like music and dance. Every year, we have seen to it that the traditional art forms, like Kathakali, Koodiyattam are given a slot,” informs A. N. Ravindran, programme coordinator.

The musical event incorporating songs of S. D. Burman and R. D. Burman to be held this month will be the 300th programme organised by BEAME. “Looking back, there have been so many memorable moments. Some of them like Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna’s concert, Bharatanatyam by Padma Subrahmanyam, Chitra Visweswaran and Sudharani Raghupathy, staging Raghotaman’s ‘Siddhartha,’ introducing Baul music to Kochi, Kathakali with some rare combination of actors, exhibition of O. V. Vijayan’s cartoons, come to mind,” recollects Ravindran.

Numerous charitable activities have also been part of BEAME’s policies. They have also been quick to respond to assist artistes in times of need. “We helped 25 needy students of the Govt. Girls High School, Ernakulam, by paying their fees, cost of books and uniforms. It was not just for a year. We must have continued this assistance for these children for a couple of years. When the late Kathakali singer Unnikrishna Kurup was bedridden we made a collection during the course of a programme. The response was overwhelming and we were able to give the artiste a good amount,” says C. K. Asokan, secretary.

With more than 1,000 members BEAME also organises a Pookalam competition during Onam, summer camps for children, and various competitions for members and their families. “In 2005 we realised our dream to have our own building. We have a hall that can seat around 200 people and an office at Nareshpal Centre, near Lisie Hospital. Our meetings, seminars and workshops are often held here,” says Asokan.

The Silver Jubilee comes as a time to pause, and reflect on the work done. It also illustrates on how much more needs to be done.

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