We turn our attention to one of India’s most remarkable painting traditions—mural art—evolving steadily over the past 35 years. Alongside this journey stands Dr. Saju Thuruthil, an artist who has become one of the country’s most significant painters during this time. Though rarely seen in mainstream art markets, his works are found in over 2,000 private collections across 38 countries, including many prestigious collections in Kerala. Notably, he remains the only muralist whose paintings are displayed in all of Kerala’s airports.

His achievements are vast: numerous state awards, national and Kerala Lalithakala Akademi fellowships, the first Ph.D. in mural painting, an authoritative textbook on the art, the first Central Fellowship in Kerala for murals, and a role on the Kerala State Curriculum Steering Board. Over nearly three decades, he has trained close to 2,000 students and has led the Mural Painting Department at a top Sree Sankaracharya University for 27 years. He also directs the Kerala Mural Heritage Conservation Centre and has established a private gallery at his home in Kalady, Ernakulam.

A crowning jewel in Dr. Saju Thuruthil’s illustrious journey came when he authored the book "Keralīya Chumarchitra Kalayile Soundarya Darshanam".  This remarkable work, the culmination of his 35 years of experience in mural art, is a rare and timeless gift—not just for today but for generations to come. Today, it proudly holds its place in the academic curriculum of colleges.

For 35 years, Dr. Saju has worn many prominent roles, gaining international notice yet choosing a life immersed in his studio. Recognising early on that art deserved its own space, he set up a gallery solely for his paintings 27 years ago. Likely Kerala’s—and perhaps India’s—first residential art gallery, it transformed his home into a gallery and studio. Living among his works, he drew countless visitors, inspiring many local artists to build their own studios.

Dr. Saju began with Kerala’s traditional mural style, once limited to temples, palaces, and churches, and reimagined it for new contexts. His first major break came at the 1990 SAARC summit in Kerala, where he represented the state and showcased its heritage to a global audience. As interior decoration trends grew, he adapted mural art for modern spaces, bringing it into corporate offices, airports, public venues, and luxury hotels across India.

His move from temple walls to canvas was groundbreaking. Traditionally, these paintings could only be seen in temples, but by shifting them to canvas, Dr. Saju opened doors to global exhibitions and invited art lovers worldwide to explore Indian mural art. As he ventured further, his works began to reflect social concerns, emotional depth, and imaginative beauty, fueling demand. His “Roots” series explored heritage and community, earning academic recognition in the 1990s. His painting “Vinayaki,” a female form of Ganesha, won his first Kerala Lalithakala Akademi award and became a touchstone for later works.

When the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram underwent restoration around 1995–96, Dr. Saju led efforts to revive its murals. As an Archaeology Department consultant, he restored murals in more than 12 temples across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Pazhoor and Ettumanoor, spending a year on Srivilliputhur alone. By 2000, he was managing large mural projects across India and gaining global collectors.

His “Lady with Bird” series, also called “Birds and Women,” featured over 250 charcoal paintings, many displayed in hotel rooms where soft lighting brought a nostalgic glow. The “Yakshi” series, with about 85 paintings, celebrated the divine, romantic, and maternal facets of femininity. His work based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s novel "Pathummayude Aadu" beautifully captured its characters and charm.

One of his most emotionally powerful pieces, “Vastraapaharanam,” portrays Krishna stealing the gopis’ clothes, not with lust, but a pure appreciation of beauty. This six-by-four-foot canvas continues to spark discussion in art circles.

His landmark series “Chayamukhi,” or “Shadow-Faced,” earned him global fame. These paintings delve into nostalgia, joy, love, and longing, with over 500 works now held in private collections worldwide. Collectors include Tata Group, Union Bank, TVS Sundaram, Ramco Cements, Medimix Group, Chandrika Group, and CP Art Foundation. More than mere paintings, they offer immersive emotional experiences.

His “Sri Chakra Kundalini” series, inspired by tantric philosophy and Kerala mural traditions, draws on Saundarya Lahari, kundalini energy, and the six yogic chakras. Using traditional colours—saffron red, green, yellow, black, and white—these works radiate spiritual energy, guiding viewers through vivid inner journeys. Nearly 40 paintings from this series are now housed in collections in India and abroad.

Equally striking is “Radhika,” a 12-by-4-foot mural at Hotel Royal Resoi in Mumbai. For over a decade, it has depicted Radha’s longing for Krishna along the Yamuna, becoming part of the hotel’s unique atmosphere. His painting “Three Girls” from the Chayamukhi series left a lasting impression when Soumini Ramesh of TVS said it reminded her of her own childhood. Surrounded by yellow allamanda flowers, this six-by-four-foot canvas continues to enchant.

In Dr. Meera’s “Prana” collection, his works like “Lotus Pond” and “Lily Pond” stand out for blending nature and emotion, with moonlit waters blooming with lilies that capture love’s gentle calm.

Despite widespread demand for his art, Dr. Saju remains humble, determined never to let protest, negativity, or vengeance slip into his work. Instead, he fills his paintings with love, joy, and self-reflection.

Among his grand historical works is a 140-foot-long mural on a single canvas depicting the Mughal dynasty’s history from Babur to Aurangzeb, spanning 280 square feet—likely the only painted record of its kind. He also completed a full Ramayana mural in Kerala style, 140 feet long and two feet wide, kept carefully rolled due to its scale.

Dr. Saju has also brought literary classics to life through his art, interpreting Kumaran Asan’s “Chandalabhikshuki,” O.V. Vijayan’s “Khasakkinte Ithihasam,” Ayyappa Paniker’s “Gothrayaanam,” and Basheer’s “Pathummayude Aadu.”

His creation of the world’s largest Vishnumurti Theyyam mural, over 5,000 square feet, went beyond art to showcase Indian culture itself. This masterpiece now stands at Kannur International Airport as a vivid identity of Kerala. At Cochin International Airport, the private jet terminal features his iconic 70-foot mural “Kerala Culture,” capturing the very soul of the state’s art forms.

Dr. Saju’s story also comes alive through the documentary “Varayadayalamgal,” which traces his life from humble beginnings, including early school days and family roots, to becoming a torchbearer of Kerala’s mural tradition. The film captures how his journey weaves traditional disciplines, spiritual influences, and academic milestones. With brush and colour, he does more than paint; he channels philosophy, devotion, and cultural memory onto walls that breathe with life.

By revitalising this heritage, Dr. Saju transformed it into a thriving livelihood, honouring the legacy of past masters while ushering the mural tradition into a new era. His work drew global art lovers to support this movement in just a few decades. For him, change was simply the natural growth of art. Restless yet patient, he continued to imagine, sketch, and craft dreamlike worlds on vast canvases, offering breathtaking beauty. Today, art enthusiasts eagerly await the mystic peacocks of his next creations, drawn by the enduring charm of his vision.

The story of Dr. Saju Thuruthil’s more than 35 years of artistic work as a preserver, innovator, promoter, and technical master of mural painting stands as a powerful testament to his lasting contribution to this timeless art form.