Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai

🪔 About

Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai (1922 – March 20, 2014) was a distinguished Kathakali artist from Kerala, India, renowned for his mastery of the classical dance-drama's southern style, particularly the Kaplingatu school. Born in Mankompu, Alappuzha district, Pillai began his Kathakali training at the age of 13 under Kalarkode Kuttappa Panikkar. He briefly joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1935 before continuing his studies under Thakazhi Ayyappan Pillai for three years. He also apprenticed in female characters under Thottam Sankaran Namboodiri. Pillai found his cherished guru in Chenganoor Raman Pillai, under whom he received a decade of tutelage. He debuted on stage in the summer of 1939 as Lalita in Pootanamoksham at the Mankompu Devi temple. In the early 1940s, he began as a palace dancer for the Travancore royal family in Thiruvananthapuram and went on a foreign trip in 1944. From 1948, he performed with Mrinalini Sarabhai's troupe on numerous trips to Europe and South America. Pillai was noted for his consummate depiction of *pachcha*, *kathi*, and *minukku* roles, and was also adept at enacting female characters such as Damayanti, Panchali, Mohini, and Devayani, as well as heroic and villainous male characters. In 1966, he was inducted as a teacher in Kerala Kalamandalam, where he later served as a Kathakali instructor from 1974 until his retirement in 1983. In 2006, he co-authored the book "Kathakali Swaroopam" with his brother C.K. Sivarama Pillai, which delves into the evolution, grammar, and aesthetics of the art form in the Travancore region. Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai passed away on March 20, 2014, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1989), Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna (2012), Best Artiste Award of Kerala Kalamandalam (1984), Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship, State Government Award, Gurupooja Puraskaram.