There is nothing remarkable about this dusty workshop and a modest dwelling off the main road at Arasumoodu in Karamana. The monotonous sound of a drill and the thuds of a hammer can be heard from somewhere behind the house. As Padmakumar takes you around the building to his house at the rear, the dying light of the day casts a dull golden sheen that is reflected in hundreds of brass mementos in various shapes, myriad trophies and awards that are crammed on a crowded shelf. For more than 15 years now, Padmakumar has been making various trophies, statuettes, mementos and plaques in brass and alloys that are usually given away as awards at official functions of the government and private agencies. At present, the crowning glory of his workshop is an idol of Buddha in brass alloy that has been made for the Sir Buddha College of Engineering in Nooranad.
What is keeping him on his toes now is making the mementos that will be given away to dignitaries and guests of the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala that begins on Friday. Showing us a magnificent brass figurine of the shadow puppet, the logo of the International Film Festival of Kerala, Padmakumar says that this is the memento that has been chosen for this year. “It is different every year. But this time Bina Madam (artistic director Bina Paul) and the chairman (S. Priyadarsan) of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy wanted something that represented the festival and both of them were happy when I showed them this,” says Padmakumar.
“We make all the mementos of the film and television awards of the Kerala government, Swati Puraskaram, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Pallavoor Appu Marar Puraskaram, J.C. Daniel award…,” he reels off. He also makes the alloy, brass or copper mementos for mega functions such as the Asianet Ujala awards, those conducted by public and private banks and so on.
Many of the major temples in Thiruvananthapuram such as Attukal, Udayannur, Pazhavangadi and so on have various offerings to the deity, including the Anki, that were made at this workshop that employs 12 people.
“I belong to the Viswakarma community and the craft of metal art is something I have inherited from my forefathers. My grandfather Chami Achary settled in Karamana some 50-60 years ago. It is believed that he was a member of the skilled bell metal artisan community of Aranmula. My father Chellappan Achary studied at the College of Fine Arts and he retired as an instructor from the institution,” says Padmakumar, pride writ large on his face.
The moulds are handmade and it requires years of practice and skill to get it right. Work begins at 9 a.m. and though the workers leave by evening, work goes on till Padmakumar decides to call it a day.
“There is no lean day as such. I have work on all days,” says this B.Com graduate who hopes his two sons will follow in his footsteps.
And does he grace any of the functions in which his work is so proudly handed over? “No, there is no time. I do my work and stay from all that,” says a beaming Padmakumar.
