K.M. Adimoolam, Chennai’s best known painter, is dead
One of the state’s best known painters, K.M. Adimoolam, died at his home at the Cholamandalam Artists Village on Tuesday evening. He was 70 and is survived by his wife and two sons.
Here’s the Wikipedia entry on the painter known for his portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and some of the Tamil literary world’s best known writers, past and present.
It might a little out of place here to go on a personal trip, but my grandfather and the Tamil writer Sundara Ramaswamy knew Adimoolam quite well. If I remember rightly, the first edition cover of J.J.: Sila Kurippugal (JJ: Some Jottings, in English) of a footballer was done by Adimoolam. The full length portrait presumably of the fictional JJ in shades of grey and black was quite a hit when the novel was released in the early 80s.
Through the years I have seen many of Adimoolam’s portraits, some of them repeatedly, and all of them look awesome, even to my untrained eye. SuRa had a few at his house too. Even the latest issue of Kalachuvadu (you can see the image if you click the link), Adimoolam’s sketch of Gandhi was on the cover.
very sad indeed. I knew him personally too. A great humanist and a very noble person. No need to mention about his paintings. Such a remarkable use of colours. He would continue to live in his art.
After missing La Sa Ra, now we loose Adhimoolam too …. but their work will remain ….
Dear Nandhu,
I would be interested to talk to you about this article. I hav ebeen in close association with Mr adimoolam for a few years now and have promoted a lot of his work at my gallery. Can you please email me at ashvita@hotmail.com
Sad to hear about the demise of Admoolam, one of the best known and versatile painters of Tamil Nadu. He is better known for his portraits on Mahatma Gandhi and some of the Tamil literary luminaries. Lay people like me would love to know more about the great painter’s contributions. Some people are born great and Adimoolam falls into that category. May his soul rest in peace.
Sad to hear about the demise of Adimoolam, one of the best known and versatile painters of Tamil Nadu. He is better known for his portraits on Mahatma Gandhi and some of the Tamil literary luminaries. Lay people like me would love to know more about the great painter’s contributions. Some people are born great and Adimoolam falls into that category. May his soul rest in peace.
Sad to hear about the demise of mr.k.m.Adimoolam, one of the best known and versatile painters of Tamil Nadu. let hi soul fly out in air as he painted on canvas . tamil fine art history can’t breath with out adhimoolam lines and washes
I had the great honour of meeting this great artist in 1984.
We moved to Chennai in 1996 and there developed a friendship only to discover what a wonderful human being he was.
I moved back to Mumbai on 8th January, and will always treasure the last meeting I had with him on 30th December 2007, when he very kindly agreed to meet me since I was leaving Chennai.(I will treasure the photographs I took with him on that day).
The world has lost a great artist and an even greater human being and I have lost a dear friend who has helped me through difficult times in my life, I write this with a very heavy heart.