Deepa Palanad

🪔 About

Deepa Palanad, born on April 17, 1982, in Pulamantol village, Malappuram district, Kerala, India, is a distinguished Kathakali musician and one of the few women to excel in this traditionally male-dominated classical dance-drama form. Her immersion in Kathakali music began at an early age, influenced by her father, Palanad Divakaran, a prominent Kathakali vocalist who trained under the legendary Unnikrishna Kurup. Deepa started learning Carnatic music basics from her father at age three and received her initial Kathakali music lessons from her father's guru, Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Kurup. She further honed her skills in advanced Carnatic music under V. V. Sadanandan, Velnezhi Subramanian, Punnapuzha Ramanathan, and Vechur Shankar, and studied Kathakali music under Madambi Subrahmanyanambuthiri and Kottakkal Madhu. She also briefly trained in Kathakali dance under Kalamandalam Sudha. Deepa Palanad made her arangettam (debut performance) in 1999 at the Guruvayoor Temple, singing padams from Kuchelavrittam, a milestone she shared with her brother Sudeep Palanad, who accompanied her due to the scarcity of other female vocalists at the time. Her talent was recognized early, winning first prizes in Kathakali music at the Kerala State School Youth Festival in 1995 and 1997. She also received a CCRT scholarship for Kathakali music and is an A-grade artiste with All India Radio. Beyond her musical career, Deepa Palanad holds a BEd degree (2003) and has been working as a mathematics teacher at UCNNM Porur Aided UP School since 2010. She continues to perform extensively, adapting in real-time to actors' mudras, and has released albums such as 'Thushara Vilochana', 'Premji Padunnu', 'Baale', and 'Rithwa'. Awards & Honours: First Prize in Kathakali sangeetham (1995), First Prize in Kathakali sangeetham (1997), CCRT scholarship for Kathakali music, Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Kurup Memorial Kathakali Music Competition, Venmani Haridas Award (2021).