Ponnani Unit
AKPA was initially constituted by veteran photographer Sri. Joseph Cherian, way back in 1984, with a group of photographer friends in Kochi. The primary objective of this initiative was to provide the member professionals with enough stock of photography materials and accessories. Because, it was a time when the market experienced severe scarcity and restricted sales in quality photography materials. A handful of photographers led by Sri. Joseph Cherian moved a representation in 1980 to M/s. Hindustan Photofilms, a Govt. of India enterprise, who were the monopoly suppliers of films and other photography materials, that resulted in a system of controlled supply of materials to the approved studios through an agency in Kerala. Later, this led to a number of anomalies like black-marketing and even the established professionals were not able to procure enough materials. Photographers were on a war path and they moved a mass representation to the Hindustan Photofilms. The authorities made it clear that they would pay attention to the complaints of registered organizations only. This situation turned out to be an impulse to the photography professionals in Kerala to unite and lead a mass movement against the unavailability of materials. And this movement at the able stewardship of the founder president Sri. Joseph Cherian and general secretary Sri. Sarangapani was the foundation stone of AKPA. It was their impeccable leadership that materialized the unification of a number small regional groups of photographers spread across the state, into a single brand identity AKPA.
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