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An artistic retreat

Creative energy At Aurodhan

The cot is an original Chettinad four-poster. I have to climb down three wooden steps to reach the floor. This room down the historic Rue Francois Martin has a mix of heritage furniture and modern fixings, but what catches the eye hangs on the wall — works of art. And, there are several, staring you down.

Try “live-in art gallery” to describe Aurodhan, a retreat in Puducherry. Eight years ago, Lalit Verma, a former Tata Steel employee, bought a small kalyana mandapam, added a couple of floors, arranged his collection of art in areas where weddings were solemnised, and opened one of the first art galleries in Puducherry. He furnished the nine rooms, and encouraged artists to stay, create and exhibit their works. To get viewers in, he organised intimate art do’s — film screenings, music concerts, and mobile exhibitions. Two years ago, he opened the rooms to tourists. Verma says his aim is to raise art consciousness all around. He began to source paintings and exhibit them. His art empire has spread to the beautifully-lit “Garden”, where sculptors cast during day, and artistes perform at night, and the “Corner House” with seven more rooms and more contemporary art.

After the “art experience”, if you’re buying, Verma will help you choose.

Art gallery, heritage hotel, cultural events in the Garden — yours could be a heady stay. Walk around to admire Hussain, Jamini Roy, Nandalal Bose, Laxma Goud, Krishen Khanna, Paritosh Sen, Sachindranath Jha, Adimoolam, Yusuf Arakkal, Santhanam or Satish Gupta (fantastic pencil sketch!), old Puducherry masters, and a load of upcoming artists.

Ask to see Verma’s collection of priceless art books such as “Eyes of the Thar” on Satish Gupta’s paintings, and an anthology of photographs by Rajesh Parikh. Flip through the guest book to find comments by Oprah Winfrey’s team, actor Hema Malini or singer Hariharan.

At the Corner House, you will run into stone busts, coloured glass panels and lovely multimedia pictures by Surya Moorthy on the walls up the stairs. Business groups have conferences in the dining / kitchen area on all the floors, and use the wi-fi connection and take in the view of the sea.

In the season, you could strike a conversation with French or German artists staying here or watch Ramli Ibrahim’s troupe practising for an upcoming show.

Down a flight of steps, you could be in the current art exhibition in the first floor gallery. “Masato Tanaka exhibited his mobiles here,” says Verma. “Their symmetrical movement stirred a German guest to play the flute. Someone joined in with a violin, children danced, and we had an unforgettable cultural event.”

Aurodhan is getting ready for a display of photographs. It is business all right, but one built around beauty.

As Ajit Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Tourism, Rajasthan, wrote: “It’s like staying in your dream house. One felt like living amongst the great contemporary artists of India.”

Call 0413-2222795 or 2222449 for details, or e-mail aurodhan@satyam.net.in

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