The illustrious history of Kerala Fine Arts Society and major events that marked its growth come alive in an exhibition of photographs that opened here on Thursday on the occasion of its diamond jubilee.
It was on November 17, 1956, that the Fine Arts Society was born at a meeting chaired by retired judge of the High Court P.K. Subramanya Iyer. Those associated with the society recall that the idea of the Fine Arts Society was first conceived by Chakiatt M. Unnikrishna Menon, who had a deep knowledge of music.
He shared his ideas with his close friends and the Fine Arts Society was formed with a membership of around 300 people from different walks of life. The first programme organised by the society was a concert by Madurai Mani Iyer in February 1957.
In those days, the programmes under the aegis of the Fine Arts Society were held either at the TDM Hall or on the SRV High School premises. Considering the difficulties associated with holding the programmes at different venues, a panthal was erected on the spot where the BTH Hotel now stands. Eminent artistes who have performed at the Fine Arts Society programmes include M.S. Subbulakshmi.
Famous contest
It is part of the musical lore of Kerala that K.J. Yesudas was adjudged second in the senior category in the first Carnatic music contest organised by the Fine Arts Society in 1959. V. Ramachandran was adjudged the first in the category.
The society was allotted a piece of land measuring nearly 53 cents by the Kerala government on Foreshore Road in 1962-63. The then chief minister, R. Shankar, laid the foundation for the Fine Arts Society building in May 1964. The government provided a grant of ₹1 lakh for the theatre building. The society also raised ₹1 lakh through a concert by K. J. Yesudas. The hall was commissioned in February 1971.
Governor P. Sathasivam will inaugurate the diamond jubilee celebrations on Saturday. M.T. Vasudevan Nair will deliver a special address on the occasion. The inauguration is scheduled for 5.30 p.m.
