Kalamandalam M S Gireesan

🪔 About

Kalamandalam M.S. Gireesan is a distinguished exponent of Kathakali, one of India's most intricate and expressive classical dance-drama forms. His significant contributions to the art have established him as a recognized figure in the realm of Indian classical dance. Gireesan dedicated four years of his career as a Kathakali Teacher at the esteemed Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier institution for performing arts in India, located in Thrissur, Kerala. His talent and commitment to Kathakali have been acknowledged through a series of notable awards and scholarships. He was honored with the Senior Scholarship in Kathakali by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for the period of 1985 to 1987, a testament to his artistic merit. Prior to this, in 1984, Gireesan received multiple accolades, including the A.D. Bolend Gold Medal, the Achutha Varriar award, the Vallathol Scholarship, and the Kummini Vasudevan Namboothiri award, highlighting his early recognition and excellence in the field. Beyond his teaching and national recognition, Kalamandalam M.S. Gireesan has been instrumental in promoting Kathakali on the global stage. His extensive international performance career includes a Kathakali tour in Dubai in 2012 and a cultural program in Mexico in 2008. He also represented India at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006, and participated in an Indian Cultural Exchange Programme in Moscow, Russia, in 2005. Earlier in his career, he undertook Kathakali tours in America in 1984 and England in 1987, which included a performance for the BBC in London in 1989, showcasing the rich heritage of Kathakali to international audiences. Awards & Honours: Senior Scholarship – Kathakali (1985), A.D.Bolend Gold Medal (1984), Achutha Varriar award (1984), Vallathol Scholarship (1984), Kummini Vasudevan Namboothiri award (1984).