K.P. Kunhiraman

🪔 About

K.P. Kunhiraman was a highly respected figure in Indian classical dance, renowned for his mastery of Kathakali and Bharatanatyam. Born in Kerala, India, he was the son of Ambu Panikkar, a distinguished Kathakali artist. Following his father's death in 1947, Rukmini Devi Arundale, founder of Kalakshetra, invited a 16-year-old Kunhiraman to join the institution to continue the artistic tradition. He spent 28 years as a student and then nearly 20 more years as an artist at Kalakshetra, totaling approximately 30 years there. During his time at Kalakshetra, he received training in Kathakali under Guru Chandu Panikkar and in Bharatanatyam under Sarada Hoffman and other esteemed teachers. He became known for his powerful portrayals of characters such as Ravana, Viswamitra, Dasaratha, Guhan, and Vali in the famous Ramayana series, as well as major roles in other Kathakali productions, including Bheeshma in Rukmini Kalyanam and Siva in Kumara Sambhavam. In 1966, Kunhiraman was assigned to teach Bharatanatyam to Katherine Siebel, who later became his wife and dance partner. He moved to the United States, making his home in Berkeley, California, where he lived for nearly four decades, teaching and performing both Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Together with Katherine, he co-founded Kalanjali: Dances of India, an academy dedicated to disseminating South Indian arts traditions in the U.S. He was recognized as the only known male Kathakali dancer in America and one of the highest-regarded Kathakali masters globally. K.P. Kunhiraman passed away in Chennai, India, on June 12, 2014, at the age of 83, shortly before he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. Awards & Honours: Malonga Casquelourd Lifetime Achievement Award (2014).