Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar: Difference between revisions

'''Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar''' (1928–2009) was an exponent of [[Koodiyattam]],<ref name="The Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre">{{cite book | url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001/acref-9780195644463-e-0107 | title=The Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre | publisher=Oxford University Press | author=Ananda Lal (Ed.) | year=2004 | isbn=9780195644463}}</ref> a traditional form of Sanskrit theatre from [[Kerala]], which has been recognised by [[UNESCO]] as an ''Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind''.<ref name="Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival">{{cite web | url=http://www.welcomekeralaonline.com/events/09-12-apr-2015-guru-moozhikkulam-kochukuttan-chakyar-memorial-kutiyttam-festival-moozhikkulam | title=Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival | publisher=Welcome Kerala | date=April 2015 | access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> Born in a family of Koodiyattam performers, in 1928, at Ammannur, a small hamlet near [[Irinjalakuda]], in [[Thrissur district]] in the south Indian state of Kerala, Chakyar had his early training in the art form from within his family. [[Ammannur Madhava Chakyar]], a renowned Koodiyattam performer and a [[Padmabhushan]] awardee, was his cousin and the two, later, would evolve a new school of performance, popularly known as the ''Ammannur tradition of Koodiyattam''.<ref name="Centre for Excellence in Kudiyattam">{{cite web | url=http://kudiyattam.huji.ac.il/innerpage.php?p=12 | title=Centre for Excellence in Kudiyattam | publisher=Nepathya | date=2016 | access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> When ''Margi'', an institution promoting traditional art forms of Kerala, started their Koodiyattam training centre in 1981, he was the first residential guru.<ref name="History - Margi Theatre">{{cite web | url=http://www.margitheatre.org/history.html | title=History - Margi Theatre | publisher=Margi Theatre | date=2016 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> The institution imparted training to many aspiring performers<ref name="Carrying forward a rich legacy">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/moozhikkulam-kochukuttan-chakyar-memorial-koodiyattam-festival/article7177037.ece | title=Carrying forward a rich legacy | publisher=The HIndu | date=7 May 2015 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Maestro of the Mizhavu">{{cite web | url=https://bhawanicheerath.wordpress.com/tag/guru-moozhikulam-kochukuttan-chakyar/ | title=Maestro of the Mizhavu | publisher=Bjawani Cheerath | date=2016 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> which included two sons of Chakyar, Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar<ref name="Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar">{{cite web | url=http://thiraseela.com/artist/profile.php?perfmrid=140 | title=Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar | publisher=Thiraseela | date=2016 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> and Margi Madhu<ref name="Margi Madhu: Nepathya is my dream project">{{cite web | url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrv109c.html | title=Margi Madhu: Nepathya is my dream project | publisher=Narthaki | date=26 November 2008 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> and both of them are known exponents of the art form. In 1998, Chakyar joined ''Nepathya'', a centre for excellence in Kudiyattam, as the ''Mukhya Acharya'' (Head Teacher), and continued his association with the institution till his last.<ref name="About Us">{{cite web | url=http://koodiyattam.org/about-us/ | title=About Us | publisher=Nepathya | date=2016 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Shri]], in 2008, for his contributions to Arts.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2016 | access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref> He died in 2009, at the age of 81.<ref name="Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival" /> He is remembered by an annual festival, ''Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival'', at Moozhikkulam, a suburb of Kochi where Nepathya is headquartered in,<ref name="Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival" /><ref name="A visual treat">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article270729.ece?service=print | title=A visual treat | publisher=Indian Express | date=2010 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> and through orations organised by Nepathya.<ref name="Programme sheet">{{cite web | url=http://www.margitheatre.org/documents/programme-july-2013-2.pdf | title=Programme sheet | publisher=Nepathya | date=2013 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>