His sketches, all made with a ballpoint pen, are now on display at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

Now 35, Surendran from Kerala’s Kannur district, who had to fight years of frustration, tried to explore his talent as a painter. But using a brush did not work, as his only functioning hand, the right, did not have enough power.

“I could not use the brush. So I tried a pencil. But that also failed and I took up the ballpoint pen,” says the artist who has been holed up in his small room most of his life.

That was 20 years ago.

Surendran, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, now has made around 200 sketches of which around 60 are on display at the Jehangir Art Gallery till January 24. The exhibition began on Monday.

He takes around three months to make a sketch.

Surendran feels his works are a manifestation of his “struggle with fate”. “Sketching had earlier dissuaded me from the thought of suicide. Today I live for it.”

Speaking to reporters, he said he hoped his paintings would boost the morale of people with disabilities like him.

Back home, his paintings first won praises from friends and acquaintances. Gradually, word spread and the Kerala Chitrakala Parishad exhibited his works. Later, the Lalit Kala Akademi granted some money for his treatment.

Surendran has also been felicitated with the Kesari-Kiyaf Award instituted by the Kodankkandath International Art Foundation.

His works reached Mumbai with the help of friends in Kerala and likeminded Malayalees in Mumbai. They are providing food and accommodation for him as well as a chance to display his works in the famous gallery that has a wider audience.