Kochi, Mar 11 (UNI) Equally at home in the kitchen and behind a computer, the Kerala woman is slowly coming into her own, depicts a photo-exhibition of news events collated by a leading photographer here.

''Sthree Sakthi:From Background to Centrestage'' is the theme of a four-day exhibition, mounted by Razack Thazhathangadi, Chief Photographer with the Malayalam daily 'Madhyamam', to mark the International Women's Day.

The collection of 70 photographs, taken during the past three years shakes the common perception of a staid, sober and submissive Malayalee woman.

Be it climbing a coconut tree to chop the nuts, puffing at a 'beedi' after a day of fishing at the sea, leading protests as a politician or putting them down as a policewoman, the exhibition captures the contemporary Kerala woman in all moods and moments.

Yet, she has not lost touch with her roots and culture and is equally at home dishing out a traditional meal or playing a traditional instrument.

''All these photographs were taken during the course of my regular assignments in the past two to three years. Going through the collection, I was struck by the changing face of the contemporary Kerala woman and thus decided to put up the exhibition,'' Razack says.

UNI