KOCHI: Kerala Fine Arts Society, Kochi, one of the oldest and premier institutions promoting art in Kerala, is celebrating its diamond jubilee next month from 7 to 11. Started in a thatched shed on November 17, 1956 on the initiative of Chakyath Unnikrishna Menon who had in-depth knowledge in music, T.D. Viswanatha Iyer, T.D. Venkiteswara Iyer and others, the society’s first cultural event was a concert by Madurai Mani Iyer. Now it hosts monthly premier art events at its own Fine Arts Hall. First president of the society was Mr P.K. Subramania Iyer. TDM Hall or SRV High School initially hosted programmes.
Later the thatched shed was made at the plot owned by one of the patrons of the society Govinda Rao at the place where his BTH Hotel is now situated. The first programme held in the shed was dance by Kamala Lakshman on September 1, 1957. M S Subbalakshmi held her concert on October 7 as the second programme. The major programmes that ensued included flute by T.R. Mahalingam, and concert by G.N. Balasubramaniam. In the Carnatic concert conducted by the society for the first time in 1959, K.J. Yesudas finished second.
In 1958-59, Kerala Government gave Rs 1500 as grant to the society while the Kochi King gave Rs 500 also. In 1962-63, Kerala Government allotted 52.75 cent on lease on Foreshore Road for the society and in 1964, the then Chief Minister R. Shankar laid the foundation stone for the Fine Arts Hall on May 3, 1964 and granted Rs 1 lakh for its construction. A fund raiser concert in 1970 by K.J. Yesudas could raise Rs 1 lakh for it. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer opened the theatre on February 5, 1975. ‘Snehanidhi’ by the society gives a grant of '1000 to financially backward artistes monthly now. Currently V.N. Venugopal is the patron of the society, P.S. Sukumaran is the president and T.P. Ramesh secretary.
