THANJAVUR: The municipal corporation has adorned walls, medians and parapet structures along key thoroughfares of the city with colourful graffiti, attracting residents and tourists alike, as part of the “Poster-free city” initiative.
Launched in July 2026, the initiative has transformed stretches of Government Raja Mirasdar Hospital (RMH) Road leading to the 11th-century UNESCO monument, the Thanjavur Big Temple, with vibrant artwork. Similar efforts are under way along arterial roads including Gandhiji Road, Old Collectorate Road, Santhapillai Gate Road and Government Arts College Road.
The graffiti features a variety of themes, ranging from natural scenery with animals and floral patterns to traditional art forms such as Karagattam, Poikkal Kudhirai Attam and Kathakali. Social messages on rainwater harvesting and sports are also depicted. At the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), the walls showcase technical drawings.
“The initiative is welcomed. The walls near the Big temple are beautifully painted,” said R Ravichandran, project director of the “Azhagiya Thanjai” movement. He said walls along the Thanjavur Palace complex on East Main Street still remain defaced with posters. “These walls also need to be painted with colourful graffiti as a large number of tourists are visiting the palace com plex,” he said.
Corporation officials said no separate funds were allotted for the project, which is being carried out through sponsorships from textile showrooms, jewellery marts, furniture outlets and NGOs. Sponsors have been permitted to include their emblems in select panels between the artworks.
However, concerns remain over maintenance and prevention of defacement. “Earlier also such paintings were done on public walls which were subsequently defaced. So, strict monitoring is needed and action has to be taken against who deface the walls,” said V Jeevakumar, legal advisor to the Thanjavur People Welfare Forum.
Commissioner of Thanjavur City Municipal Corporation V Deepanavisveswari said the town planning section has been entrusted with monitoring the initiative. “Those who paste posters over the paintings will be warned first,” she said, adding that a cut-off date will be announced after which fines will be imposed for defacing the decorated walls. “Licences of establishments that continue to deface walls even after being fined will be cancelled,” she added.
