Artist Basanth Peringode takes Keralam’s murals to Rashtrapati Bhavan

Keralam’s rich mural tradition has found a prestigious new canvas at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with renowned mural artist, art director and production designer Basanth Peringode creating works for permanent display at its museum.

Mr. Peringode was among a select group of eminent artists chosen from across the country and specially invited by Rashtrapati Bhavan authorities for the project. His works, rooted in Keralam’s distinctive artistic and cultural heritage, will now form part of the museum’s permanent collection, offering thousands of visitors from across India and abroad a glimpse of the State’s celebrated mural tradition.

A former faculty member of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Mr. Peringode has made his mark across several creative fields. He has served as art director for numerous films and has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to the arts. His works have been showcased in exhibitions in India and abroad, while his artistic interventions have also featured in beautification projects at several airports across the country.

Sojourn in Delhi

For the Rashtrapati Bhavan project, Mr. Peringode spent several days in Delhi, staying at the presidential estate and working under the direct supervision of the authorities to complete the commissioned works.

It was his Keralam mural paintings that emerged as a major attraction of the project. The works, which bring together the distinctive aesthetics, iconography and visual vocabulary of the traditional mural tradition, drew appreciation from both Rashtrapati Bhavan authorities and visitors.

Mr. Peringode received a special honour and acknowledgement from President Droupadi Murmu in appreciation of his artistic contribution.

“This is the second time I have been invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan. I have also been invited to participate in another major project to be organised at the presidential estate,” Mr. Peringode said.

For Keralam, the inclusion of its traditional art in the permanent display of the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum is more than an individual artistic achievement. It places the State’s mural heritage on one of the country’s most prestigious cultural stages.

Another milestone

For Mr. Peringode, it marks another significant milestone in a career that has traversed murals, cinema, exhibitions and public art — carrying the colours and visual legacy of Keralam to a national audience.