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A record that could leave you tongue-tied

PUDUCHERRY: What you are about to read might leave you tongue-tied! After entering one’s name in the Limca Book of Records, what naturally follows is attempting to get one’s name into the Guinness Book of World Records. And, that’s what this 26-year-old youngster from Puducherry is doing.

An artist who paints by holding a brush with his tongue, R. Rajendran entered the Limca Book of Records for painting 1,330 human heads (symbolising the 1330 Thirukkurals) on a 10 x 7 ft canvas in 2006. It took him 127 hours. He is now attempting to portray the service of Mother Theresa to mankind through a painting on a 600-square-foot (20 x 30 ft) canvas. The extraordinary feat would be attempted at Chennai’s VGP Trade Centre, where Rajendran, using 40 kg of paint, would finish the painting in 11 days.

“I have received a proper ID from the Guinness people and they have given me a set of guidelines to be followed. Though there is no time limit for this painting by mouth, it must represent a recognizable image and it must be completed to a high quality finish. They have also said that it must be done on canvas or any suitable material using brushes and oil or water-based paint,” he explained. The painting will be a multi-colour piece, and in an abstract style. “Though I haven’t done a formal course in art I have studied art in school under the guidance of my art teachers, and have also sought the guidance of artist Upendra Rathra, who taught me about the different colours, schemes and compositions,” said Rajendran, who has done his B.Sc in Information Technology.

In 2003, Rajendran painted the image of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on a 4 x 5 ft canvas in 100 hours, and in 2005 he painted continuously for 51 hours to collect clothes and money for tsunami victims.

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