Kalamezhuthu is the traditional ritualistic painting done on the floor using the natural powders (five distinct colours made from turmeric, rice, soot and dry leaves are used). Even nowadays the right to perform this art is restricted to certain families. However, I was determined to learn this because without the knowledge of the traditional art of her country, the artist is never complete.
With a lot of effort I finally succeeded in finding a guru for the same. My teacher Theeyadi Raman Nambiar is a traditional ‘Kalamezhuthu’ artist who normally does not teach outside the community: but he was willing to teach me the same to preserve it for posterity as many of the members of the traditional performing families were no longer interested in learning it. Now, I have not only learnt it but am even performing with my guru on many different venues! I have also integrated this technique into my paintings and installations.