Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri was a distinguished Indian Kathakali percussionist, playwright, and actor, born on May 18, 1936, in Peringode, Palakkad, Kerala, India. His initial training in percussion was under his uncle, Neettiyath Govindan Nair. He further honed his skills in Kathakali "melam" (percussion ensemble) with stalwarts such as Moothamana Kesavan Namboodiri and Thiruvallwamala Venkinchan Swamy at Poomully Mana in Palakkad district. In 1954, Kesavan Namboodiri joined Kerala Kalamandalam, where he studied under renowned Kathakali masters including Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval and Appunni Poduval. He also undertook formal Kathakali acting (vesham) training at Kerala Kalamandalam from 1972 to 1983. During this period, he was guided by eminent teachers such as Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, Vazhenkata Vijayan, Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharodi, and Kalamandalam M.P.S. Namboodiri. He also pursued higher studies at Kerala Kalamandalam from 1983 to 1985 and specialized in the "Thekkan Kathakali" (South Kerala style) under Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai and Kalamandalam Rajasekharan. Throughout his career, Kesavan Namboodiri performed Kathakali extensively across India and in various foreign countries. He was proficient in portraying "Minukku" characters, and also performed "Pacha," "Kathi," and "Thadi" roles. Beyond performance, he was a prolific writer, penning over 40 short plays for Kathakali and contributing to Kathakali Sangeetham. He directed the Kathakali "Sreekrishnaavatharam," written by Nalloorpalli Vamanan Namboodiri, which was staged numerous times. He also worked as a chenda master for 30 years at the F.A.C.T Kathakali School in Aluva. After graduating from Kalamandalam, he also worked with Kala Sadanam, Chunangad, and RLV Institute, Thripunithura. Later in his life, Kesavan Namboodiri ventured into Malayalam cinema, debuting in the film "Marattam" in 1988 at the age of 65. He appeared in several films, including "The Car," "Don Bosco," "Nadan Pennum Nattupramaniyum," "Varavai," "Saivar Thirumeni," and "Oru Katha Pole," and was particularly noted for his roles in "Kathanayakan" and "Vanaprastham." He passed away on April 25, 2009, at his home in Elamakkara, Kochi, following a heart attack, at the age of 72 or 73. He was married to Parvathy and had a daughter and two sons. Awards & Honours: Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kala Sahithya Academy Award for Thenthully (Collection of poems), Ravunni Menon Memorial Award, N.K. Pisharadi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1997).