How creating art helped the inmates of Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai

Explore the transformative power of art created by inmates at Puzhal Central Prison showcased at Madras Literary Society.

Sandhya Ramachandran from San Francisco, who is back in Chennai for a break, watched an Instagram reel and decided to visit the Madras Literary Society (MLS) on February 10. She came for the high ceiling but stayed to peruse through glazed pottery work, sketches and murals done by the inmates of Puzhal Central Prison. “I did not know of this exhibit but the sketches, cyanotypes and murals seemed amazing. I want to know more about who created it and what the process was like,” she said.

A quick left turn at the hallowed entrance of this 1814 library is enough to answer her questions. Through posters and standees, we learn of the journey of the inmates who took part in theatre performances, created stellar art, sang, danced and made pottery as part of The Art in Prison project. The initiative by Project 39A, National Law University, Delhi and Sumansa Foundation, is one of the invited projects of the ongoing Chennai Photo Biennale.

The objective of the project, which will continue to display their work and showcase a documentary until March 15 at the MLS campus, is simple. Carnatic musician and head of Sumanasa Foundation, TM Krishna, says, “Art needs to be for everybody and everybody must be able to create art.”

“Project 39A and us have been in conversation regarding an initiative like this since before COVID. Back then, it was to be just for prisoners on death row. However, over time, it evolved and became a larger initiative. We conducted auditions and selected around 60 inmates who engaged with different art forms. All of us have no idea what goes on inside a prison. One cannot go inside with a saviour syndrome. It is why 18 facilitators of the project took part in a workshop before we began the initiative to educate ourselves,” he says.

Rahimunisa Begam, project coordinator, who has been visiting the prison since the inception of the project says that the best part of this initiative has been inmates forging vulnerable friendships. “Some of the exercises in theatre demand letting one’s guard down. The fact that they felt safe enough to do so and experience heightened emotions including crying was great to see. This is especially because it is often taboo for grown men to shed tears,” she says.

Both TM Krishna and she add that the only repeat request they received from the inmates was to extend practice hours.

Visitors who have seen this short display at the MLS have been left wanting more but this is a start. “People are now interested to know how things function inside the prison,” Rahi says.