I became a painter because I had no other option. After my class ten, I couldn’t study further owing to the poor financial condition at home and this is the profession I ended up in. We are a team of 10 painters who work on the same project, be it apartments or individual houses. If it is a big house, it takes at least three months for us to finish the job.
I have been working for the same engineer for the last 22 years. The field is not the same anymore and we have to keep ourselves updated with the changing demands of the clients. With people investing a lot of their savings in their houses, a lot of attention is given to every aspect of construction, including painting. In fact, people are now open to experimenting with new colours. Earlier, they chose only light colours such cream, light blue or white. Now, they opt for shades such as red, yellow and even green. Also, some people like to get designs done in certain rooms.
These days, labourers from West Bengal and other parts of the state are employed in painting, especially in apartment buildings. But my team doesn’t have migrant labourers because I am more comfortable working with people from Kerala.
I met with an accident four years back and had to put a steel rod on my left leg which is still there. Because of that it is not possible for me to climb the ladder to do painting. So that is taken care of by other members of the team. The best part of the job is that there is no lean season as such. Work comes to us, we don’t have to hunt for the same.
However, I have an unfulfilled dream – to make my name as a lyricist in movies. I have released two devotional musical albums for which I’ve written the lyrics as well. The first one was for the deity of Vaishnava Thampuran temple at Punchakkiri (Vaishnava Thampuran) and the second one, for the deity of Karikkakam Devi Temple ( Sathyathinu Sakshiyayi Ente Karikkakathamma ).
After completing my class ten, I wanted to do something related to films, but circumstances were really bad at home. Meanwhile I’ve acted in a telefilm by Adam Ayub, titled Irulum Velichavum and could meet the great Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair. I used to be in touch with him till he passed away.
I never had the confidence to meet people in the industry seeking a break. Eventually, I resigned myself to fate. But even now I write poems, the latest being on the killing of T.P. Chandrasekharan. I also write short poems for children, some of which have been published.
It was from the profit of the first album that I released out the second one. But all my savings was lost after the accident. I was planning to bring out two more albums, but since I couldn’t raise enough money I had to drop the plan.
I am 46 now and stay with my wife, Sajitha, and son, Adityan S. R., at Karimankulam near Vattiyoorkavu. I am happy that my son also writes poems.
Even as I hope to get a break in the film industry, my greatest desire is to have K.J. Yesudas sing the songs I’ve written on Lord Ayyappa. I had written 10 of them in 1988 and Thikkurissi sir had corrected the copies. I wanted to approach Tharangini Cassettes with the lyrics. But that never took place. So I have decided that I would go to Sabarimala only when Dasettan sings those songs. Every year, during the Sabarimala season I observe the 41-day penance, but don’t go on the pilgrimage. But I hoping that some day I would be able to go to Sabarimala.
(A weekly column on men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)
