Kerala Budget 2025: centre in memory of MT among new cultural projects

An MT study centre, in memory of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair who passed away earlier this year, is one of the major budgetary proposals for 2025-26 in the cultural arena. The centre with an allocation of ₹5 crore, to be set up near Thunchan Parambu at Tirur in Malappuram, will focus on the history and the culture of Malayalam language along with the life and works of MT. The State government has also reached an agreement with the family of renowned artist A. Ramachandran for handing over his paintings worth around ₹300 crore free of cost. The paintings will be housed at an art gallery to be set up at the Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex, Kollam. The Vaikom Satyagraha memorial and study centre will be established at a cost of ₹5 crore to celebrate the history and the importance of the struggle. An amount of ₹6 crore is earmarked for the conservation activities of various structures having archaeological value, while an amount of ₹10 crore has been set aside for the protection of ancient buildings in the State and ₹5 crore for the conservation of old Buddhist centres at Mavelikkara and Thakazhi. Arteria, the public art project that adorns the walls in Thiruvananthapuram, will be expanded to other cities utilising an allocation of ₹2 crore. A photography museum is proposed to be established for which an amount of ₹50 Lakh has been allocated for preparatory work. An amount of ₹21 crore has been allocated for the developmental activities of Kerala State Film Development Corporation, out of which an amount of ₹3 crore is set apart for the construction of new theatres at Palayad (Kannur) and Munnar (Idukki). The KSFDC also gets an allocation of ₹2 crore for developing e-ticketing system for theatres in the State. For the 2025-26 edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, an amount of ₹7 crore has been earmarked. An amount of ₹14 crore is earmarked for Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, the main organiser of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Out of this, ₹1.40 crore is expected to be set aside for projects to promote women in cinema. An amount of ₹3.45 crore is set apart for Kerala Sahithya Akademi, ₹9 crore for Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, ₹5.75 crore for the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and ₹3.25 crore for the various activities of Kerala Folklore Academy.