Kalamandalam Rajan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 Ezhikkara, North Paravur, British India |
| Died | 14 June 2012 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Kathakali exponent |
| Spouse(s) | Sulochana |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Sreedhara Panikar, Kochukuttiamma |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Kalamandalam award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award |
Kalamandalam Rajan was a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Kalamandalam Rajan was born in 1931 at Ezhikkara, North Paravur in Ernakulam district of Kerala to Sreedhara Panikar of Nellipuzha house in Aroor and Kochukuttyamma of Ezhikkara Kadakkara Erappath house.[1][2] After school, he studied and paracticed dance. During this period, he saw Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Ashan performing Poothanamoksham Kathakali.[2] Seeing that performance, Rajan decided to learn Kathakali.[2] He joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1955 and studied kathakali under noted kathakali artists like Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair and Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.[3][1] in 1965 he joined Tripunithura RLV college as an assistant dance master in kathakali and retired from there as head of the Fine Arts Section.[3] In 1985 he was re-appointed as visiting Professor in the same institution.[4]
In Kathakali Rajan was expert in pacha, kathi and minukku roles.[3] His performances as Bahuka, Nala and Dharmaputra have been critically acclaimed.[4] He had performed in many stages India and abroad with Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and was part of the Kathakali Festival conducted by Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi in 1993.[3]
He died on 14 June 2012, at the age of 81 at his house in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam district.[3]
Family[edit | edit source]
He and his wife Sulochana had one daughter.[3]
Awards and honors[edit | edit source]
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009[3]
- Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006[3]
- Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Memorial Award 2001[4]
- Kalamandalam Karunakaran Smaraka Award 2007[4]
- Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Memorial Kathakali Award bestowed by Kerala Kalamandalam 2008[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "ശ്രീ കലാമണ്ഡലം രാജന് മാസ്റ്റര് - ഒരു അനുസ്മരണം | Remembering Kalamandalam Rajan | കഥകളി.ഇൻഫൊ | Kathakali.info | കളിയറിവുകളുടെ തിരമൊഴി | The internet Kathakali hangout". kathakali.info. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Staff Reporter (14 June 2012). "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Kalamandalam Rajan" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.