Kalamandalam Girija

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Girija, born in 1958 in Kadavallur, Thrissur district, Kerala, India, is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer and guru renowned for her mastery in Koodiyattam and Nangiar Koothu, ancient Sanskrit theatre art forms of Kerala. Her family had a background in temple arts, with her father, Pakshiyil Narayanan Moosad, being a Pathakam exponent and her mother, Devaki Manayamma, performing Tiruvatirakkali. Girija joined the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1971 at the age of 12 or 13, becoming the first non-Nangiar student to learn Koodiyattam, a significant step in breaking traditional caste barriers in the art form. She completed her Diploma and Post Diploma in Koodiyattam within six years and received further training through a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, India. Her principal guru was Natyakalasarvabhowman Guru Painkulam Rama Chakyar, a pivotal figure in the renaissance of Koodiyattam. She also received training from Kunjipillakutty Nangiaramma, P. K. Narayanan Nambyar, and Sanskrit scholar Unnikrishnan Ilayath. Girija made history in 1984 by becoming the first artist to perform Nangiar Koothu outside temple premises at Kalamandalam. She served as an instructor at Kerala Kalamandalam from 1981 and retired in 2014 as the first lady Head of the Koodiyattam Department. She continues to teach as the main instructor at Mrunmaya Centre for Theatrical Research and is a visiting faculty member for various Indian and international theatre departments. An empanelled artist of the ICCR, she has performed extensively both nationally and internationally. Awards & Honours: Dr. K. N. Pisharoti Award, Margi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2001), Painkulam Rama Chakyar Smaraka Award (2008), Kerala Kalamandalam Award (2009), Kalasagar Award (2012), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2021), Keraleeya Nritta-Natya Puraskaram (2023).