It’s indeed going to be a visual treat for anyone stepping into the swanky Kannur International Airport as its interiors are a true reflection of the culture and history of North Malabar.
The travellers arriving at the airport, to be commissioned on December 9, can get a slice of the cherished moments in history through exquisite murals and paintings at the facility.
The hand-painted pictures which depict various art forms, festivals and traditional vocations are an ode to the rich past of North Malabar.
The Kannur International Airport Limited authorities were particular to go with the uniqueness of the region’s topography while aesthetically designing the greenfield airport located at Moorkanparambu near Kannur.
The garden that stretches from the entrance gate to the passenger terminal is captivating.
Tenor of Kalari
The walls of the baggage section of the airport are adorned with paintings illustrating the 18 techniques followed in the ancient martial art form of Kalaripayattu. These not only create an interest among domestic and international travellers but only speak volumes about the glorious cultural heritage of the region.
The selfie spot
The 35x55 ft mural that captures the essence and ethos of the popular Vishnumurthy theyyam, occupying the back of the passenger terminal, is a cynosure of all eyes.
The art work was completed to perfection by a team of artists from the Sree Sankaracharya Unveristy of Sanskrit, Kalady. The giant mural, made in cement along with paints and metal, was a favourite selfie spot among the visitors when the airport was opened for a week for public visit.
Culture of North Malabar
The paintings on the subsequent walls portray the traditional art and dance forms, and festivals. They are a microcosm of the pre-eminent past of North Malabar. The art works on popular ritual forms of worship such as Bhagavathy theyyam and Gulikkan theyyam as well as on temples and scared groves (kavu) ooze with reality.
Kalamezhuthu, chenda melam, Kavu adiullsavam, Payyannur pavitra mothiram, Laksham vilakku and even Onam pookalam are detailed in the drawings.
Another attraction is a painting that gives a glimpse of the life in a typical Malabar village in the pre-Independence days. This art work by Hareendran Chalad shows bullock carts, hand-drawn carts, kalapura (granary), thatched houses, ponds and a bustling market place of an earlier time. The painting was completed in a month.
Laterite bricks, used extensively for building construction in the Malabar, too finds place in the airport, built in an area of 2,300 acres. These bricks were used for the construction of flyover, pillars, main entrance and culverts at the airport site.
