The wall of the government buildings, across the city, have been posing a colourful look with eye-catching paintings depicting facets of Tamil Nadu’s art and culture, thanks to the beautification taken up by the Pudukottai Municipality as part of its centenary celebrations.
The initiative will not only beautify the town, but also keep out graffiti and posters.
Ten artistes brought from Chennai are painting the walls with colourful images of folk games, landscapes, heritage buildings, and cultural sites that existed when Pudukottai was a samasthanam, and animals.
The paintings depict the heritage, cultural and historical scenario in the backdrop of the Pudukottai samasthanam.
Those using the Town Hall Road, Government Girls Arts College, and H.H. The Rajah’s College Road, will not miss the walls embellished with eye catching images.
Pudukottai, during the samasthanam era, was a well laid out and planned town. It has many heritage buildings and they have been brought alive by the artistes.
The folk games entertained the people of the State, particularly those who were residing in the villages. Every house hold would have pallankuzhi, thaayam chart, and so on.
Women were engrossed in playing these indoor games, apart from the outdoor games such as ‘nondi’ and ‘skipping’. ‘Pambaram’ and ‘gilli’, and ‘kite flying’ were the famous pastime of the rural youths.
Pudukottai Municipality has created awareness among the present day younger generation and the womenfolk on these games with colourful paintings. They reflect the amalgamation of various incidents and domestic environment.
The paintings bring out the various roles being played by women — right from working in the fields down to operating a computer. A few paintings describe women in professional such as doctors and police officials.
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, a native of Pudukottai, brought laurels to the country by having many firsts to her credit. She was the first woman to enter medical college, first woman doctor of the country, first woman legislator, and a renowned social reformer. The life and achievements of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy have been brought in pictures and they will serve as an eye opener to the entire younger generation. As for men, the paintings on preparation of siddha and ayurvedic drugs are bound to attract one and all.
The completion of this project, taken out from the special centenary celebration fund sanctioned by the State government, will provide added attraction to the town, says S.A.S. Said alias Abdul Rahman, Municipal Chairman in-charge.
