THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ∙ The world’s largest mermaid statue is the world’s largest mermaid statue for the conch-faced mermaid designed by renowned sculptor Kanai Kunhiraman. Shilpi is happy with the recognition she got without asking.
Sagarakanyaka is 87 feet long and 25 feet tall, with the face of a conch lying in a shell on the seashore looking at the sunset. It was built in concrete with an iron frame lowered about six feet to the ground.
In 1990, the Department of Tourism commissioned Kanai to build the statue. After much discussion, it was decided to build the mermaid to suit the landscape. After construction began, there were crises.
“The District Collector at the time ordered to stop the construction of the statue saying that there was a complaint that the statue was obscene. I went and met the then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. He called the collector and gave strict instructions to do what was necessary to complete the statue. The collector apologized later” – remembers Kanai. The sculpture took 2 years to complete. Not paid.
Kanai’s sadness is that the government still does not understand the value of the statue. During the lockdown, a large platform was built on the mound of earth near the statue and a helicopter was installed. After telling the Tourism Minister of the day, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called on the phone to no avail. Nothing happened except that they said they would intervene after the local elections. Kanai said that even after calling him several times, he could not be reached.
English Summary: Guinness World Record for Kanayi Kunhiraman
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