Kalamandalam M Gopalakrishnan

🪔 About

Born on March 23, 1952, in Naduvattom village, near Kuttippuram, Kerala, Kalamandalam M. Gopalakrishnan is a distinguished figure in Kathakali music. His parents were Achipraveettil Kuttikrishnan Nair and Mangalassery Kunhukutty Amma. He commenced his formal training in Kathakali music at Kalamandalam during 1969-1970. He received tutelage in Kathakali music from esteemed gurus such as Shri Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambisan, Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Pallam Madhavan, Kalamandalam Madambi Subrahmanian Namboodiri, and Kalamandalam Ramankutty Warrier. Additionally, he pursued Carnatic music studies under Irumpanam Shankara Warrier, N K Vasudeva Panikkar, and Kodandaramaiyyer. M. Gopalakrishnan achieved a Diploma in 1976, followed by a Post Graduate degree in 1978. He furthered his education for two years with a Central Government Scholarship, concluding in 1980. His early career involved working at the Ernakulam Cochin Cultural Centre for approximately one and a half years and at Vigyana Kalavedi, Chengannur, for six months. He also had a temporary tenure at Kerala Kalamandalam. A significant part of his career was dedicated to teaching; in 1982, he joined RLV College of Music and Fine Arts as a Kathakali Music teacher, where he served for 26 years until his retirement in 2008. Throughout his career, Kalamandalam M. Gopalakrishnan has been recognized for his contributions to Kathakali music. He was honored with the Kaladarpanam Award in 2003 and the Sri. Kalamandalam Raman Kutti Warrier Memorial Award (Arpanavijayam) in 2009. Further accolades include the Kottakal Parameshwaran Namboothiri Memorial (Gurudakshina Puraskaram) in 2011, the Sri.Pallipuram Gopalan Nair Memorial Arts and Cultural Centre Award (Sangeethasri) in 2012, and the Kalakshethra School of Music and Fine Arts Award (Utsav 2012). In 2016, he received the prestigious Kerala Kalamandalam Award for "Kathakali Sangeetham," which was presented on November 9, 2017. Awards & Honours: Kaladarpanam Award (2003), Sri. Kalamandalam Raman Kutti Warrier Memorial Award (Arpanavijayam) (2009), Kottakal Parameshwaran Namboothiri Memorial (Gurudakshina Puraskaram) (2011), Sri.Pallipuram Gopalan Nair Memorial Arts and Cultural Centre Award (Sangeethasri) (2012), Kalakshethra School of Music and Fine Arts Award (Utsav) (2012), Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Kathakali Sangeetham (2016).