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{{Short description|Indian Kathakali dancer (1940–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mathoor Govindan Kutty
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|10|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nedumudi]], [[Alappuzha district]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|02|04|1940|10|05|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Kottayam]], Kerala, India
| occupation = [[Kathakali]] artist
| known_for = Kathakali Stri Vesham
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2005); Kerala State Award for best Kathakali Artist (2011)
}}
'''Mathoor Govindan Kutty''' (5 October 1940{{Spaced en dash}}4 February 2021) was an Indian [[Kathakali]] artist from the state of [[Kerala]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=4 February 2021|title=Kathakali maestro Mathoor Govindan Kutty dead|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindan-kutty-dead/article33753605.ece|access-date=5 February 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204183156/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindan-kutty-dead/article33753605.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> In a career spanning over six decades, he specialized in ''Kathakali Stri Vesham,'' the portrayal of female characters on stage. He was the recipient of the 2011 Kerala State Award for the best Kathakali artist, 2010 [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] and the 2005 [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for contributions to the Kathakali art form.

== Early life ==

Kutty was born Narayana Govinda Kunju Panicker on 5 October 1940 in the [[Nedumudi]] village in [[Alappuzha district]] to Karthyayani Kunajamma and Damodaran Namboodiri. His name was later changed to Mathoor Govindan Kutty.<ref name=":5" /> He graduated from high school in Mathoor and later moved to Kudamaloor (near [[Kottayam]]) after his wedding.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|author=Jaikrishnan Nair|date=4 Feb 2021|title=Kerala: Kathakali maestro Mathoor Govindankutty passes away {{!}} Kochi News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindankutty-passes-away/articleshow/80691041.cms|access-date=5 February 2021|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204214747/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindankutty-passes-away/articleshow/80691041.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kathakali Artists – Mathoor Govindan Kutty|url=http://www.cyberkerala.com/kathakali/artists/mathoor.htm|access-date=5 February 2021|website=www.cyberkerala.com|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630073250/http://www.cyberkerala.com/kathakali/artists/mathoor.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
Kutty started his training in the classical South Indian dance and theater form, [[Kathakali]], with Nedumudy Kuttappa Panicker at the age of 14 and went on to train under artists including Kurissi Kunjan Panicker, Ambalappuzha Shekharan at the [[Mathoor]] [[Kalari]], a traditional Kerala arts training space.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9yYqAQAAIAAJ&q=Mathoor+govindan+kutty|title=Sruti|date=2006|publisher=P.N. Sundaresan|language=en}}</ref> He later trained under [[Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair]] at the Thekkan Chitta [[Gurukula]]m.<ref name=":0" />

Under Nair's tutelage, he specialized in ''Kathakali Stri Vesham,'' or the portrayal of female characters, and would continue to do so through his career of over six decades.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He credited Nair's portrayal of [[Damayanti]] as an inspiration for his choice of female characters. Some of his lead roles included performances with other prominent artists including [[Kalamandalam Gopi]], [[Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair]], and Mankulam Vishnu Namboothiri.<ref name=":0" /> Some of the popular characters that he portrayed included [[Damayanti]] in ''Nalacharitram'' ({{Translation|A Good Character}}), [[Kunti]] in ''Karnasapatham'' ({{Translation|[[Karna]]{{'s}} Resolve}}), and [[Panchali]] in ''Duryodhana Vadham'' ({{Translation|[[Duryodhana]]{{'s}} Execution}})''.'' As a teacher, he also trained many artists at the Kudamaloor ''Kalakendra'' (center for the arts).<ref name=":2" /> He also portrayed the role of [[Shiva]] in disguise as a hunter in Irattakkulangara Rama Varier's ''Kiratham.''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nayar|first=V. R. Prabodhachandran|date=20 March 2014|title=Act of submission|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/act-of-submission/article5809753.ece|access-date=5 February 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=23 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323151151/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/act-of-submission/article5809753.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He also portrayed the role of [[Sukracharya]] in 19th century composer Thazhavana Govindan Asan's ''Devayaniswayamvaram'' ({{Translation|[[Devayani]]'s [[Swayamvara]]}}). In a review of his performance, ''[[The Hindu]]'', called out his emoting and the subtle humor that he infused into his role.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nayar|first=V. r Prabodhachandran|date=14 June 2018|title=Bittersweet love|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/kalamandalam-sreekumar-and-kalamandalam-vijayakumar-brilliantly-portrayed-the-tragic-romance-between-devayani-and-kacha-in-a-recital-of-devayaniswayamvaram/article24143334.ece|access-date=5 February 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043214/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/kalamandalam-sreekumar-and-kalamandalam-vijayakumar-brilliantly-portrayed-the-tragic-romance-between-devayani-and-kacha-in-a-recital-of-devayaniswayamvaram/article24143334.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The same newspaper, in a review of his portrayal of [[Kripacharya]] in ''Utharaaswayamvaram'' ({{Translation|Uthara's wedding}}) praised his delivery, and the conscious interspersing of acting with realism.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|last=Nayar|first=V. R. Prabhodachandran|date=8 November 2012|title=Vanquishing Utharan's vanity|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/vanquishing-utharans-vanity/article4077203.ece|access-date=5 February 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He also portrayed the role of [[Narada]] in ''Balivijayam'' ({{Translation|[[Vali (Ramayana)|Bali]]'s victory}}). Kutty made a switch towards portraying male characters in the latter portion of his career attributing it to advancing age.<ref name=":6" />

He led the performance of Kudamaloor Kalamandram group at the opening ceremony of the [[1982 Asian Games]] and at the 1993 Kathakali Mahotsav.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> In addition to performances in India, he had also performed internationally in England, France, and Germany.<ref name=":3" /> His last performance was two weeks before his death, where he portrayed the role of [[Kunti]] in ''Karnasapatham.''<ref name=":3" /> Speaking later on his death, his contemporary, artist [[Kalamandalam Gopi]], praised his proficiency and ease in portraying a wide range of characters in addition to calling to the role of imagination and improvisation that he brought along to his works.<ref name=":3" />

Kutty was a recipient of the 2011 Kerala State Award for best Kathakali artist, 2010 [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] and the 1993 Guru Chenganoor award.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/kathakali-a-ksna/468|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> He was also the recipient of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for advancing his contributions to advancing the Kathakali art form.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Citation – Mathoor Govindan Kutty|url=https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=721&at=2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812201647/https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=721&at=2|archive-date=12 August 2020|access-date=5 February 2021|website=sangeetnatak.gov.in}}</ref> The citation from the Akademi called him "one of the foremost exponents" of the art form.<ref name=":2" /> Some of his other honors included the [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] award, Madavoor Vasudevan Nair award, and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award.<ref name=":3" /> He was also a member of the governing body of the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]], had held a central fellowship from the Union Government and was the recipient of the 2014 Kalamandalam fellowship.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Daily|first=Keralakaumudi|title=Kathakali Acharyan Mathur Govindankutty dies|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=485450&u=kathakali-acharyan-mathur-govindankutty-dies|access-date=5 February 2021|website=Keralakaumudi Daily|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=5 February 2021|title=Noted Kathakali artist Mathoor Govindan Kutty passes away at 81|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/noted-kathakali-artist-mathoor-govindan-kutty-passes-away-81-142814|access-date=5 February 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205040905/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/noted-kathakali-artist-mathoor-govindan-kutty-passes-away-81-142814|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=21 October 2015|title=Kalamandalam honours announced|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kalamandalam-honours-announced/article7786689.ece|access-date=5 February 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207075101/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kalamandalam-honours-announced/article7786689.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He was nominated by the Kerala state government for the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth highest civilian award in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=26 Nominated for Padma Awards|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/jan/14/26-Nominated-for-Padma-Awards-564050.html|access-date=5 February 2021|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207075102/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/jan/14/26-Nominated-for-Padma-Awards-564050.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Kutty was married to Rajeswari, his teacher [[Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair]]'s daughter, and had two sons.<ref name=":1" /> His wife died in 2011.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=മാത്തൂർ ഗോവിന്ദൻകുട്ടി അരങ്ങൊഴിഞ്ഞു|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2021/02/04/kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindan-kutty-dies.html|access-date=5 February 2021|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205105953/https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2021/02/04/kathakali-maestro-mathoor-govindan-kutty-dies.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He died on 4 February 2021, in [[Kottayam]] after a period of brief illness from [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Kathakali doyen Mathoor Govindankutty passes away|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/05/kathakali-doyen-mathoor-govindankutty-passes-away-2259774.html|access-date=5 February 2021|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205055330/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/05/kathakali-doyen-mathoor-govindankutty-passes-away-2259774.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was 81, and was cremated with state honors.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutty, Mathoor Govindan}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

Mathoor Govindan Kutty - Revision history

TanyaBertrand6: added new info