Kerala VIII Kalyani’s Kutty by MF Husain

A playful scene: Kalyani, Husain’s muse of Kerala, holds a painted universe of Ganesha. Around her, shapes and colours sparkle with intimacy, suggesting both devotion and daily life. The title inscribed in Malayalam, “Kutty Kerala” (Little Kerala), turns the work into an affectionate celebration.

Lines remain strong but light, guiding the eye to the orb of Ganesha. Blue, Orange and yellows brighten the scene, while greens of foliage frame it as homely and fertile. The painting feels like a small festival, where the divine is present in simple gestures.

This is Husain’s Kerala reduced to essence: woman, devotion, play, nature. For all its intimacy, it still carries universality. The script on the sheet anchors it in Malayalam soil, but the image, a woman holding her god, is legible across cultures.