Artist Basanth Peringode takes Keralam’s murals to Rashtrapati Bhavan

You don’t have any Active Subscription.

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

President Droupadi Murmu looks at a painting of artist Basanth Peringode created for permanent display at the presidential museum in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: special arrangement

Keralam’s rich mural tradition has found a prestigious new canvas at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with renowned mural artist, art director and production designer Basanth Peringode creating works for permanent display at its museum.

Mr. Peringode was among a select group of eminent artists chosen from across the country and specially invited by Rashtrapati Bhavan authorities for the project. His works, rooted in Keralam’s distinctive artistic and cultural heritage, will now form part of the museum’s permanent collection, offering thousands of visitors from across India and abroad a glimpse of the State’s celebrated mural tradition.

A former faculty member of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Mr. Peringode has made his mark across several creative fields. He has served as art director for numerous films and has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to the arts. His works have been showcased in exhibitions in India and abroad, while his artistic interventions have also featured in beautification projects at several airports across the country.

For the Rashtrapati Bhavan project, Mr. Peringode spent several days in Delhi, staying at the presidential estate and working under the direct supervision of the authorities to complete the commissioned works.

It was his Keralam mural paintings that emerged as a major attraction of the project. The works, which bring together the distinctive aesthetics, iconography and visual vocabulary of the traditional mural tradition, drew appreciation from both Rashtrapati Bhavan authorities and visitors.

Mr. Peringode received a special honour and acknowledgement from President Droupadi Murmu in appreciation of his artistic contribution.

“This is the second time I have been invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan. I have also been invited to participate in another major project to be organised at the presidential estate,” Mr. Peringode said.

For Keralam, the inclusion of its traditional art in the permanent display of the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum is more than an individual artistic achievement. It places the State’s mural heritage on one of the country’s most prestigious cultural stages.

For Mr. Peringode, it marks another significant milestone in a career that has traversed murals, cinema, exhibitions and public art — carrying the colours and visual legacy of Keralam to a national audience.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.