Kalamandalam Madambi Subramanian Namboodri

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Madambi Subramanian Namboodri, born on June 15, 1943, in Sreekrishnapuram, Palakkad district, Kerala, India, is a highly respected Kathakali musician. His parents were Sankaran Namboodiri and Sridevi Antharjanam. His early musical journey began with Carnatic music training under gurus like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Kongorpilli, and Ramankutty Warrier at Poomully Manai, and also under Kongorppilli Parameswaran Namboodiri. In 1957, at the age of 16, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam to pursue an intensive eight-year course in Kathakali music. There, he honed his skills under the tutelage of eminent masters such as Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambeesan, Kalamandalam Sivaraman Nair, and Kavungal Madhava Panicker. After completing his studies, he served briefly as a trainee-instructor at Perur Gandhi Sevas Sadanam. Madambi Subramanian Namboodri joined the faculty of Kerala Kalamandalam as a Kathakali music instructor in 1968 or 1969, dedicating three decades to teaching and performing. He retired from Kalamandalam in 1998 but continues his association with the institution as a Visiting Professor of Kathakali Music. He is renowned for his steadfast adherence to the traditional purity of Kathakali music, often resisting modern experimental trends. He firmly believes that Kathakali music is fundamentally rooted in the Carnatic idiom. Throughout his illustrious career, Namboodri has performed extensively both within India and internationally, conducting workshops and performances in countries including the USA, Japan, Australia, Europe, and the Middle-East. His significant contributions to Kathakali music have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2010, the Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 2010, and the Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan Award in 2012. Further accolades include the Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Memorial Award in 2016, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017, and the Kerala State Kathakali Award in 2018. In 2022, he was honored with the Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship, and in 2025, he received The Music Academy's TTK award. He is also a recipient of the Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Smaraka Puraskaram. He resides in Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur district. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2017), Kerala State Kathakali Award (2018), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2010), Kerala Kalamandalam Award (2010), Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Smaraka Puraskaram, Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan Award (2012), Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Memorial Award (2016), Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship (2022), The Music Academy's TTK award (2025).