Young and Bright

Prayagh Sanjeev Krishna, at just age nine, has held a solo exhibition

Photos by Albin Mathew 

By Shevlin Sebastian

At the Durbar Hall, Kochi, recently, a boy was running around the halls of the art gallery. He was of slight build, with an innocent cum mischievous look. So, it comes as a surprise when artist Bindhi Rajagopal says, “He is having his own show.”

Yes, Prayagh Sanjeev Krishna, who is only nine years old, is having a full-fledged exhibition, with 28 of his works on display.

The majority are acrylic on canvases, while the rest are crayon drawings. One such crayon drawing is of a boy standing next to a teddy bear. “Prayagh had drawn this for an inter-school competition and was awarded the third prize,” says Bindhu, Prayagh's mother.

Most of the works are of nature and animals. There is a black and yellow butterfly against a bright and colourful backdrop of numerous flowers. Another one is of a river between high hills. Then, there is a cat looking with enlarged eyes at an aquarium full of fishes.

A few are from his own life. There is one acrylic work of a scene in a park. It is a simple work of a yellow sun against an azure sky, and lots of black birds flying around. Down below, just beside a mud path, a man is standing. He is dressed in a pink shirt and red trousers. “That is my father,” says Prayagh. On a swing sits a small boy, while on a slide, a bigger boy is lying down. “I am on the swing, while my elder brother is on the slide,” he says. A young girl in a blouse and paavada is sweeping the leaves off the grass. There are several flower bushes all around. “The girl is my neighbour,” he says.

Another work is a night scene. The sky is full of stars and sitting on a mound is a boy with a cat next to him. Prayagh has drawn them from the back. “This is also my neighbour Nihad and his cat,” he says.

Prayagh's interest in painting was inspired by his elder brother, Pranav, who is ten years older than him. Pranav would take part in art competitions in school. And Prayagh, from age three onwards, would tag along. Just to keep the toddler quiet, Pranav would give him a piece of paper along with some crayons. Then he would do some drawings. And the habit continued.

Today, as a student of the Mar Thoma Public School, at Kakkanad, Prayagh gets lots of support and encouragement from his art class teachers, Thomas and Shirley.

And he is a boy on a ceaseless creative flow. “Prayagh does his paintings in the evenings when he returns from school,” says Bindhu. “Sometimes, when he is playing outside, with his friends, he will get inspired and rush home and start drawing. On other days, when he gets up in the morning, he will get an idea and immediately do a work.”

Artistic talent runs in the family. Prayagh's father Sanjeev K is a Carnatic vocalist who teaches children in a freelance manner. On the other hand, Bindhu is a vocal trainer at the Mar Thoma school. Pranav is learning animation design. The family have a troupe and they go all over Kerala giving performances. “Prayagh can also sing very well,” says Bindhu.

The family will offer full support as Prayagh grows older. “We might enrol him in an art school,” says Sanjeev. Adds Bindhi, “By holding an exhibition, Prayagh is already an artist. He has a bright future.”

Already making a mark

Winner of All India Clint Memorial Award

Balarama Odissia State winner

Balarama YMCA State winner

Has won Kerala Fine Arts Society Award five times

Has won Fresco Best Artist Award three times

FACT All Kerala Competition winner five times.  

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)