A brown and red Bulbul perches on a mammoth green leaf, against the backdrop of the blue sky. This enamouring frame, on display at Kochi's Durbar Hall last week, had an interesting caption: A heart bubbling with joy and a restless tongue'.
What makes this stunning frame even more interesting is the beautiful bird picture clicked by none other than Malayalam superstar Mammootty. This picture was auctioned for Rs 3 lakh for the Induchoodan Foundation. It will now grace a five-star hotel owned by industrialist Achu Ullattil, who heads the Leena Group of businesses, in Kerala's Kozhikode.
Besides the bulbul picture, 60 other images were on display at the exhibition titled 'Padiparakkunna Malayalam' held as part of the birth centenary celebrations of the late Indian ornithologist and writer K K Neelakantan, better known as Induchoodan.
From Oriental Honey Buzzard to the Malabar Trogon, the exhibits include snaps of 62 different species of birds, clicked by bird photographers like Dijumon K.P, Jainy Kuriakose, Dr Mahesh K and Rajeev Kuttettan Munnar.
The exhibits also include excerpts from Induchoodan's book.
The event hosted by the Induchoodan Foundation exhibits these photographs to promote Induchoodan’s book 'Keralathile Pakshikal' (Birds of Kerala). The Induchoodan Foundation dedicates the work to bring awareness to Induchoodan’s work and his writings.
Actor V.K Sreeraman, who graced the event, said Induchoodan’s way of writing even influenced his bird-watching hobby.
Dijumon K P, whose work was on display, said the photographs were the results of his tremendous skill and patience. Some birds in this exhibition are rarely caught on camera, he added.
According to M. Ramachandran, one of the curators of the foundation, the idea was to elevate the idea of photography as a professional medium of art. "The event promotes the writing and culture of Induchoodan and it is achieved through the lenses of 23 photographers," he added.