Created by Ajay Kumar
Last edited August 25, 2023
Pathiyoor Sankarankutty
Pathiyoor Sankarankutty
Born (1964-12-30) 30 December 1964 (age 61)
NationalityIndian
OccupationKathakali musician
Spouse(s)Manju
Children2
AwardsKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award
Kerala Kalamandalam award

Pathiyoor Sankarankutty is a Kathakali musician from Kerala, India. He received many awards including Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2018 and Kerala Kalamandalam award 2009.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Sankarankutty was born on December 30, 1964, as the fourth child of Mathiltheketil Krishna Pillai who was a Kathakali singer and Mazhupeil Lakshmikuttyamma in Keerikad, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha District.[1][2] Although Krishna Pilla did not interested to teach his son Kathakali music, seeing his love for Kathakali he decided that the stage would be better for him.[3] While studying in the 5th standard, he studied Kathakali acting under the tutelage of Parameswaran Nair and Shankarapilla.[1] In 1978, he made his Kathakali acting debut as Sri Krishna in 'Gurudakshina' at the Avur Sri Krishna Swamy Temple.[1] After that, he played many child roles in various Kathakali programs.[1]

After his pre-degree studies in commerce, he passed Ganabhushanam diploma from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts and then attended a short term music class at Kerala Kalamandalam to study Kathakali music.[4][3] It was his guru Gangadharan who encouraged him to take Kathakali music seriously.[4] At Kalamandalam he studied Kathakali music under many noted artists including Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri, Kalamandalam Ramawaryar and Kalamandalam Gangadharan.[2]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Sankarankutty and his wife Manju have two sons Shyamkrishna and Yadukrishna.[1]

Career[edit | edit source]

Pathiyoor Sankarankutty is one of the disciple of Kalamandalam Hyderali.[5] Sankarankutty also followed the Carnatic touch given to Kathakali music by musicians including his guru Hyderali.[6] Besides performing in Kerala and outside Kerala, he has also performed in countries like Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany and France.[5] For nearly twenty five years he has sung the accompaniment music for kathakali performances of Kalamandalam Gopi.[1]

In 1990, Shankarankutty became a music teacher in Pakalkuri near Kottarakkara.[7] From 2003, he is working as a music teacher at Sandarshan Kathakali Vidyalaya, Ambalapuzha.[8]

Awards and honors[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Vinod, Kandemkavil (11 August 2019). "കഥകളിയിലെ ശങ്കരസംഗീതം". Janmabhumi. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "പത്തിയൂര്‍ ശങ്കരന്‍കുട്ടി". kathakali.info.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The master singer". The New Indian Express. 20 August 2017.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Picturesque, lyrical notes". The Hindu. 24 August 2017.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Pathiyoor Sankarankutty: Kathakali sangeetham should not dominate the performance". The Times of India. 1 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "A maestro rewinds". Deccan Chronicle. 24 August 2017.
  7. ↑ TK, Achuthan (15 April 2022). "ദ്വിബാണീ സംഗമം – കഥകളി ഇൻഫോ" (in മലയാളം).
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Paeans to Kathakali music". The Hindu. 4 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "പന്നിശ്ശേരി പുരസ്കാരം പത്തിയൂർ ശങ്കരൻകുട്ടിക്ക്". Kerala Kaumudi Daily.