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{{Short description|Indian dancer (1914–1990)}}
{{For|those of a similar name|M. Krishnan Nair (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{For|those of a similar name|M. Krishnan Nair (disambiguation)}}
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<!--as Krishnan Nair redirects here-->
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| imagesize          =  
| imagesize          =  
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|03|11}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|03|27}}
| birth_place        = [[Cheruthazham]], [[Kannur]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Kerala]], India)
| birth_place        = [[Cheruthazham]], [[Kannur]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Kerala]], India)
| nationality        = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1990|08|15|1914|03|27}}
| death_date        = {{Death date |df=yes|1990|08|15}}
| death_place        = [[Tripunithura]], Kerala, India
| death_place        = [[Tripunithura]], [[Kerala]], India
| years_active      =  
| years_active      =  
| birth_name        =  
| birth_name        =  
| spouse            = [[Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma]]
| spouse            = [[Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma]]
| website            =  
| website            =  
| awards            = {{ubl|1967: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]|1970: [[Padma Shri]]}}
| awards            = {{ubl|1967: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]|1969: [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]|1970: [[Padma Shri]]|1977: [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]}}
}}
}}


'''Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair''' (11 March 1914 – 15 August 1990) was one of the most renowned [[Kathakali]] artists of any time, and arguably the greatest in the history of the four-century-old classical dance-drama from [[Kerala]] in southern [[India]].<ref name="hindu2"/> He had fleshy, flexible and clean-cut facial features that were powerful to launch any emotion with amazing power and ease, and was intelligent enough to acquire and exhibit varied styles of Kathakali that were in vogue across Kerala during his lifetime.<ref name="hindu2">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3230591.ece | title=Unmatched range of expressions | publisher=The Hindu | access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref>
'''Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair''' (27 March 1914 – 15 August 1990) was a [[Kathakali]] dancer from [[Kerala]] in India.<ref name="hindu2">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3230591.ece | title=Unmatched range of expressions | work=The Hindu | access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref>
 
A [[Padma Shri]] and [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]ee, <ref name="SNA Awardees' List">{{cite web|url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA Awardees' List |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |date=2016 |access-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=30 May 2015 }}</ref> Krishnan Nair was a genuine all-rounder who had the caliber to emote any role in Kathakali and, what's more, add his signature flair to it. Even so, he was most widely celebrated for his playing of the virtuous and romantic pachcha (green-hued) roles like [[Nala]]n, [[Bhima]]n, [[Arjuna]]n, [[Rukmangada]]n and [[Karna]]n.
 
A native of [[Cheruthazham]] in [[Payyanur Taluk]] of [[Kannur district]] in North Malabar, Kerala he was initiated into Kathakali in his early teenage years under the tutelage of Guru Chandu Panikker. By 19, he got noticed by [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] co-founder, poet [[Vallathol Narayana Menon]], and inducted Krishnan Nair into his institute, then near Mulankunnathukavu, north of [[Thrissur]] in central Kerala. It was there that Krishnan Nair was trained under gurus of varied style—like [[Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon]], Thakazhi [[Kunchu Kurup]], [[Kavalappara Narayanan Nair]] and [[Mani Madhava Chakyar]].
 
Krishnan Nair had his higher studies on ''[[Rasa (aesthetics)|Rasa-abhinaya]]'' (facial emotions which stressed on eye exercises) from the celebrated [[Kudiyattam]] maestro Natyacharya [[Māni Mādhava Chākyār]], who too won the Padma Shri.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121110064956/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/15/stories/2008081550640300.htm ]</ref> Krishnan Nair was deeply influenced by Shri. Chakyar.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TXt1AAAAIAAJ&q=koodiyattam+mani+madhava&dq=koodiyattam+mani+madhava&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VkenUfeVEYiTrgfQhoHoDA&ved=0CFoQ6AEwCTgK|p131, Malayalam Literary Survey - Volume 13, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, 1991]</ref>


With his calibre to perform any challenging role and a flexible mindset that prompted him to occasionally do minor roles (with some new elements), Krishnan Nair was probably the pioneering Kathakali artiste who was a hardcore professional—in the sense that he was the arguably the first to dictate the rate for each of his performances. It was a watershed move in an art form that had huge feudal hangovers and its entailing element of servility that patrons expected from the artistes.
==Life==
He is a recipient of [[Padma Shri]], [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]],<ref name="SNA Awardees' List">{{cite web|url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA Awardees' List |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |date=2016 |access-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=30 May 2015 }}</ref> [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]],<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> and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/kathakali-ksna/460|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship: Kathakali|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala |access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref>


Krishnan Nair had a penchant for realistic portrayal of characters and situations that made him more popular in the [[Travancore]] belt of south Kerala. In fact, his outlandish style had made him a less acknowledged master in central and north Kerala—the very places that groomed his art in his early days.
A native of [[Cheruthazham]] in Payyanur Taluk of Kannur district in North Malabar, Kerala he was initiated into Kathakali in his early teenage years under the tutelage of Guru Chandu Panikker. By 19, he was noticed by [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] co-founder, poet [[Vallathol Narayana Menon]], who inducted Krishnan Nair into his institute, then near Mulankunnathukavu, north of [[Thrissur]] in central Keralawhere that Krishnan Nair  trained under [[Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon]], Thakazhi [[Kunchu Kurup]], [[Kavalappara Narayanan Nair]] and [[Mani Madhava Chakyar]].


Krishnan Nair, towards the second half of his life, had made [[Tripunithura]] near [[Kochi]] his home. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030630185821/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/23/stories/2002092300320200.htm The Hindu : In honour of the thespian couple]</ref> Kathakali was always traditionally performed by men. In 1975 a women's group was formed and they were trained by Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking Stereotypes,all-woman Kathakali Troupe Going Strong|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2015/feb/26/Breaking-Stereotypesall-woman-Kathakali-Troupe-Going-Strong-722121.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The [[Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe]] went on to national recognition.
Krishnan Nair had his higher studies on ''[[Rasa (aesthetics)|Rasa-abhinaya]]'' (facial emotions which stressed on eye exercises) from the [[Kudiyattam]] maestro Natyacharya [[Māni Mādhava Chākyār]], who too won the Padma Shri.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/15/stories/2008081550640300.htm |title=The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Tribute : Unmatched thespian |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110064956/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/15/stories/2008081550640300.htm |archive-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Krishnan Nair was deeply influenced by Shri. Chakyar.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TXt1AAAAIAAJ&q=koodiyattam+mani+madhava&dq=koodiyattam+mani+madhava&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VkenUfeVEYiTrgfQhoHoDA&ved=0CFoQ6AEwCTgK|p131, Malayalam Literary Survey - Volume 13, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, 1991]</ref>


Krishnan Nair married the Mohiniyattam exponent [[Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma]]. His children also went on to become artists. The stage, television and film actor [[Kalasala Babu]] was his son. His two daughters Sreedevi Rajan and [[Kala Vijayan]] are Mohiniyattam artists. His grand-daughter [[Smitha Rajan]] is also a Mohiniyattam artist.  
Krishnan Nair, towards the second half of his life, had made [[Tripunithura]] near [[Kochi]] his home.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030630185821/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/23/stories/2002092300320200.htm The Hindu : In honour of the thespian couple]</ref> Kathakali was always traditionally performed by men. In 1975 a women's group was formed and they were trained by Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking Stereotypes,all-woman Kathakali Troupe Going Strong|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2015/feb/26/breaking-stereotypesall-woman-kathakali-troupe-going-strong-722121.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=The New Indian Express|date=26 February 2015 }}</ref> The [[Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe]] went on to national recognition.


Krishnan Nair died on [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], 15 August 1990, aged 76.
Krishnan Nair died on 15 August 1990, aged 76.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Kalamandalam Krishnan}}
[[Category:Kathakali exponents]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
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[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:People from Kannur district]]
[[Category:People from Kannur district]]
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

Latest revision as of 04:47, 8 February 2026


For those of a similar name, see M. Krishnan Nair (disambiguation).
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair
Born(1914-03-27)27 March 1914
Cheruthazham, Kannur, British India (present-day Kerala, India)
Died15 August 1990(1990-08-15) (aged 76)
Tripunithura, Kerala, India
Spouse(s)Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma
Awards

Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair (27 March 1914 – 15 August 1990) was a Kathakali dancer from Kerala in India.[1]

Life[edit | edit source]

He is a recipient of Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award,[2] Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award,[3] and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship.[4]

A native of Cheruthazham in Payyanur Taluk of Kannur district in North Malabar, Kerala he was initiated into Kathakali in his early teenage years under the tutelage of Guru Chandu Panikker. By 19, he was noticed by Kerala Kalamandalam co-founder, poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, who inducted Krishnan Nair into his institute, then near Mulankunnathukavu, north of Thrissur in central Keralawhere that Krishnan Nair trained under Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, Thakazhi Kunchu Kurup, Kavalappara Narayanan Nair and Mani Madhava Chakyar.

Krishnan Nair had his higher studies on Rasa-abhinaya (facial emotions which stressed on eye exercises) from the Kudiyattam maestro Natyacharya Māni Mādhava Chākyār, who too won the Padma Shri.[5] Krishnan Nair was deeply influenced by Shri. Chakyar.[6]

Krishnan Nair, towards the second half of his life, had made Tripunithura near Kochi his home.[7] Kathakali was always traditionally performed by men. In 1975 a women's group was formed and they were trained by Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.[8] The Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe went on to national recognition.

Krishnan Nair died on 15 August 1990, aged 76.[citation needed]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Unmatched range of expressions". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "SNA Awardees' List". Sangeet Natak Akademi. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Tribute : Unmatched thespian". www.hindu.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Malayalam Literary Survey - Volume 13, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, 1991
  7. ↑ The Hindu : In honour of the thespian couple
  8. ↑ "Breaking Stereotypes,all-woman Kathakali Troupe Going Strong". The New Indian Express. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
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