A. Ramachandran's works a big draw in Kochi

The first ever exhibition of the works of renowned artist A. Ramachandran in his home state was a big hit among art lovers. Many flocked to see the exhibition at the Durbar Hall Gallery in Kochi.

The works of the septuagenarian painter-sculptor, created over the past half century, attracted top cultural figures from across the state.

Fifty-six years after he left Kerala to study art that eventually brought him world renown as a painter-sculptor, 100 works of Ramachandran, also a Padma Bhushan awardee, were exhibited here.

Among those who attended the 15-day show that began Sunday was acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who said art lovers got a rare chance to trace the evolution of one of India's tallest icons.

"Behind the splendour, you sense layers of artistic heritage which he imbibed from Attingal (Ramachandran's birthplace in south Kerala) to Ajanta (caves of Aurangabad)," said the veteran film maker who added that some of the exhibits sought to blend the spirit of Kerala murals with modern thoughts.

Mumbai-based Bose Krishnamachari, president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, found the curatorial work exemplary: "It is great that Kerala could finally host such a momentous show requiring vast space," he said.

CPI-M politburo member M.A. Baby, who met Ramachandran at the venue, noted that artists of international stature were almost always not-quite-recognised in their home state.

K.A. Francis, chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi said that Ramachandran's early tryst with (classical) music too was reflected in his paintings.

"If the visuals are musical in totality, the lines are so bold that you can make out his obsession with murals," he said.