T K Padmini

T.K Padmini (12 May 1940 – 11 May 1969) was a famous Indian painter and artist from Kerala. She was born to an orthodox family in Kadanchery, Kaladi panchayath of Ponnani taluk, Malappuram district. Padmini completed her lower primary education from Kadanchery school and then joined A V high school Ponnani. Teachers in A V high school observed Padmini’s aptitude in painting and art. Her aspiration was to get admission in prestigious Chennai Government College of Fine Arts, the oldest art institution in India established by Alexander Hunter in 1850. Her family opposed this move that it was unbelievable that a girl leaving for Chennai for education in those days. Padmini approached her uncle T.K Divakara Menon and told him about her ambition. Divakara Menon urged the famous malayalam poet Edesseri Govindan Nair and he allowed her to stay his house. After completion of SSLC examination, Padmini was trained under famous painter Artist Namboothiri.

In 1961, Padmini joined Chennai Government College of Fine Arts with assistance of Devan and Edesseri Govindan Nair. She had a good talent in learning so she finished six years course in just four years, as she got double promotion.

In 1963, Padmini was awarded Madras state Lalithakala Academy award for her painting “Growth”.

Padmini lived like a normal village woman but her decisions and paintings were like a revolutionary. In 1950s even male artists in Kerala were afraid of drawing half naked body of women , but Padmini dared to draw the paintings what she wished.