CHENNAI:Walking into the Poompuhar showroom on Mount Road, its dimly lit rooms filled with sculptures, bronze statues and a myriad other samples of the state’s artistic accomplishments, is always a lesson in discovery. Tuesday was no different. Because Poompuhar has something new to show off.
The state handicrafts development corporation’s Chennai showroom is sporting a brand that is fast becoming quite prominent, for good reason.
One whole section of the Poompuhar showroom in Chennai has been set aside to display and market wares made by inmates of Puzhal Central Prison. All under the Freedom brand, which has seen the prison market its inmates’ work in everything from baking and textiles to vermicompost and now, of course handicrafts.
The Prison Bazaar at Puzhal Central Prison has quickly made a name for itself. Now, it is finding other avenues to market its products. From oils to watercolours, it has the whole range and they are breathtaking.
“They are many beautiful paintings. We have anywhere from 30 to 40 paintings on display and for sale every day. The volume of sales has been impressive,” said a senior official of Poompuhar.
In fact, Poompuhar has been marketing and retailing Freedom branded wares for a month — planning for which began a few months before that.
“There are a few other types of handicrafts that the Freedom section at Poompuhar’s showroom displays, but the focus is primarily on paintings, which are priced between Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.
“Frankly, if Freedom prices these properly, they could go for several times the prices quoted,” said a Poompuhar official. Pricing policy is the prison authorities’ right.”
The Freedom section also sports a large bronze-coloured sign stating that proceeds from the sale of Freedom branded products, products of Tamil Nadu State Prisons, would benefit the prisoners and their families.