KOCHI: The city which is known by different names will get another one. The city will now be also known as the ‘City of Colours’. The name was given by Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi on Tuesday. And if everything goes right the people of Kochi will soon be assaulted by a riot of colour. This will eventually cloth the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’ in a myriad of colours.
And that too in a matter of ten days. Proposal has also come up to use the metro rail pillars as canvasses wherein the painters can give wings to their artistic imagination. A high level meeting which will be held on September 30 at Ernakulam guest house will make a decision on the proposal. The elected representatives, Kochi corporation, KMRL and DMRC representatives will take part in the meeting.
The proposal was announced by MP Prof K V Thomas during a press meet at the Press Club. “After discussing the proposal with the akademi chairman and other representatives in New Delhi, I called up the officials of Kochi corporation, KMRL and DMRC seeking their coordination in this regard,” said Thomas.
As many as 1,000 artistes will take part in the ten day infusion of colours. The akademi has also decided to tag the old toll booth on the way to Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, as the ‘Gateway to Kochi’ while Aroor toll gate will be called ‘Kochi Gate’. “Around 500 metro pillars and 27 stations will be maintained as art galleries. Moreover, the outer walls of Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium too will get a touch of colours highlighting the history of Kochi city,” said K A Francis, chairman,Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi.
The rented house at Marine Drive will be renamed ‘Clint museum’. The akademi is also planning to build a statue on the lines of ‘Statue of Liberty’ at New York.
According to the akademi chairman, Kozhikode is now a city of statues and Kottayam,the city of mural paintings. Kochi is a big city. Since the city is bustling with hectic schedules, this artistic depictions will provide a respite to the people of Kochi,” Francis added.