Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal has said that the Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex here will be made the best cultural centre in the country. Inaugurating a three-day cultural festival at the complex on Tuesday, he added that its activities will be extended in future.
“The complex, which showcases the cultural heritage of Kollam, will be expanded in a phased manner. The tourism potential of Ashtamudi and the proximity of Asramam Maidan, where all important trade fairs and exhibitions of the district are held, will be beneficial to the complex,” said the Minister.
Along with Vidyarambham, a string of other programmes that include a book fair, film and documentary festival, music night, painting camp and exhibitions also began on Tuesday in connection with the event. While sculptures by tribal artists of Bastar are on display, an exhibition of 116 artists including Sudhir Patwardhan, Manu Parekh, R. B Bhaskar, Bose Krishnamachari, M. V. Devan, C. N. Karunakaran, Puninjithaya, Kattoor Narayana Pillai, C. Bhagyanath and Rajan Krishnan is also ongoing. The heritage village exhibition of the Vasthuvidya Gurukulam features Peruvempa handloom, Aranmula mirror, Onavillu (ceremonial bow), wood sculptures, bronze sculptures, clay vessels, bamboo products, straw and screwpine mats and mural paintings for display and sale. Land of Mine, a war drama film directed by Martin Zandvliet, was screened at John Abraham theatre and the Library Council exhibited Ravi-Kalayum Jeevithavum, a documentary on on the late industrialist and film producer K. Ravindranathan Nair. At the Vidayarambham ceremony organised by the District Child Welfare Committee, poet Murugan Kattakada, Knowledge Economy Mission Director P. S. Sreekala and former Pro vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University S. Ayoob initiated children into the world of letters. M. Mukesh, MLA, presided over the inaugural ceremony and Culture Department Director N. Maya, Additional Secretary Janardhanan, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy vice-chairman Prem Kumar and secretary C. Ajoy were also present. The festival will end on October 26.
