EverettJat: Creating new info

2026-02-12T03:22:37Z

Creating new info

New page

{{Short description|Indian Maddalam exponent (1937–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri
| caption =
| image_size =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = Kathakali music
| instrument = [[Maddalam]]
| years_active = 1952-2002
}}
| alias =
| alma_mater = [[Kerala Kalamandalam]]
| citizenship = India
| occupation = instrumentalist
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1937|1|20}}
| birth_place = [[Mavelikkara]], [[British India]]
| birth_name =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2020|1|28|1937|1|20}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvalla]], [[Pathanamthitta district]], India
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Vadya Award, [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] Gurupooja award
| website =
| spouse = Saraswati Antharjanam
| parents = Narayanan Namboodiri, Draupati Antharjanam
| children = 2
}}
'''Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri''' is a [[Maddalam]] exponent from [[Kerala]], India, best known for playing Maddalam for [[Kathakali]] performances. He received several noted awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja Award and Kerala Kalamandalam Award.

==Biography==
Vishnu Namboothiri was born on 20 January 1937, in [[Mavelikkara]] in present-day [[Alappuzha district]] to Varanasi Illam Narayanan Namboothiri and Draupadi Antarjan.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite news |title=വാരണ‍ാസി വിഷ്ണു നമ്പൂതിരി അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/01/28/varanasi-vishnu-namboothiri-passes-away.html |work=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> He is the brother of famous Kathakali [[chenda]] artist [[Varanasi Madhavan Namboothiri]].<ref name="Manorama"/> They were known as the ''Varanasi Brothers''.<ref name="Manorama"/>

He started practicing Maddalam during his high school years.<ref name="Madhyamam">{{cite news |last1=ഡെസ്ക് |first1=വെബ് |title=വാദ്യകുലപതി വാരണാസി വിഷ്ണു നമ്പൂതിരി നിര്യാതനായി {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/obit-varanasi-vishnu-namboothiri-kerala-news/662698 |work=www.madhyamam.com |date=28 January 2020 |language=ml}}</ref> Karuvatta Kumarapanikkar and Vennimala Ramavaryar introduced Vishnu Namboothiri to play Maddalam.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |author=Staff Reporter |title=Maddalam maestro Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri is dead |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/varanasi-vishnu-namboothiri-passes-away/article30675627.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=28 January 2020 |language=en-IN|accessdate=6 May 2023}}</ref> He received his expert Maddalam training from [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] under Kalamandalam Appukutty Pothuval and Kalamandalam Nambisankutty and from Unnai Warrier Memorial Kalanilayam under Chalakudy Narayanan Nambisan.<ref name="Hindu"/>

Vishnu Namboothiri is well known for playing Maddalam for Kathakali and has performed with renowned Kathakali artists such as [[Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair]], [[Chengannur Raman Pillai]], [[Mankulam Vishnu Namboothiri]], [[Kudamalur Karunakaran Nair]], [[Guru Gopinath]], [[Champakulam Pachu Pillai]] and [[Kurichi Kunjan Panicker]].<ref name="Hindu"/> He made his debut in 1952 at the Mavelikkara Mannur Math Palace Shiva Temple.<ref name="Madhyamam"/> He stopped his performances in 2002 with the death of his brother.<ref name="Manorama"/> But later, in 2012, at the time of ''Lavanasura Vadham'' Kathakali in Mavelikkara Kandiyoor temple, he again played Maddalam at the insistence of the audience.<ref name="Manorama"/>

He is a former board member of Kerala Kalamandalam and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]].<ref name="Manorama"/> He was ''Mel Santhi'' (head priest) of Mavelikkara Mannur Math Palace [[Lord Shiva]] temple.<ref name="Manorama"/>

===Personal life and death===
He and his wife Payyannur Koroth Velliyott Illam Saraswati Antharjanam have two children.<ref name="Manorama"/> He died at a private hospital in [[Thiruvalla]] on 2020 January 28.<ref name="Manorama"/> The funeral was held in the courtyard of his house with official honors from Kerala government.<ref name="Manorama"/>

==Awards and honors==
*Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2015)<ref name="Manorama"/>
*Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja Award (2007)<ref>{{cite web |title=Gurupooja, Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Akademi, Culture Department |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/gurupooja/454 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en}}</ref>
*Kerala Kalamandalam Vadya Award (2009)<ref>{{cite news |title=Kalamandalam fellowship for Narayanan Nambeeshan |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/nov/06/kalamandalam-fellowship-for-narayanan-nambeeshan-101553.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>
*Kalamandalam Hyderali Memorial Award<ref>{{cite news |title=Bags Kalamandalam Hyderali award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2011/jan/06/bags-kalamandalam-hyderali-award-216953.html |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
*Travancore Devaswom Board's Kalaratnam<ref name="Manorama"/>
*Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has been awarded him the title ''Asthana Vidwan'' (Head Scholar)<ref name="Manorama"/>
*Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Memorial Award<ref name="Madhyamam"/>
*Kalamandalam Padmashree Krishnan Nair Memorial Award<ref name="Madhyamam"/>
*Kalamandalam Appukutty Pothuval Memorial Award<ref name="Madhyamam"/>
*Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Pothuval Memorial Kalasagar Award<ref name="Madhyamam"/>
*Kannur Neelakanthar Memorial Kathakali Award<ref name="Madhyamam"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vishnu Namboothiri, Varanasi}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:Carnatic instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]

Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri - Revision history

EverettJat: Creating new info