Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Blocks Cultural Show Featuring Singer Pushpavathy

The BJP-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has blocked permission for a cultural event featuring singer Pushpavathy at Manaveeyam Veedhi on Saturday, sparking strong anger among local artists and activists. The gathering was planned as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the city's well-known cultural corridor. A group of cultural workers who helped build the space since its start accused Mayor V.V. Rajesh of trying to block free speech.

Application and Rejection

Veteran theatre artist D. Raghoothaman, who filed the request, stated that the group handed in their papers to the Corporation way ahead of time on November 3. He noted that prior to recent changes, nobody ever faced rejection for hosting events at the street. The approval system itself only started a few years back after the area was fixed up via the Smart City project, and it used to be a simple check. Organizers had already set up everything for the weekend show before learning they had to cancel because police will not allow microphones without municipal clearance.

Wider Dispute

Tensions at the street first spilled over on October 16 when police tried to grab a microphone ahead of a protest meeting targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The local civic body later stated its goal to keep the venue free from protests and use it only for arts, drawing pushback from long-time artists. Meanwhile, CPI(M) leaders argue that the road belongs to the Public Works Department and that management powers were never handed over to the city body. Artists are now preparing a memorandum for the State government to shift control of the street to the Culture department and take it away from the Corporation.

Context

Manaveeyam Veedhi serves as a key public platform in the city where artists and groups from poorer or marginalized backgrounds can share their work or views without paying high rental fees for private halls. Local civic bodies in urban areas frequently balance the management of public streets between promoting cultural life, maintaining public order, and regulating commercial or political gatherings.