Margi Madhu

🪔 About

Margi Madhu, born Madhu A.K. on May 19, 1966, in Moozhikkulam, Ernakulam district, Kerala, is a renowned Indian Koodiyattam exponent and teacher. He hails from a lineage of Koodiyattam artists, with his father Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar and paternal uncle Ammannur Madhava Chakyar being notable exponents. Madhu commenced his Koodiyattam training at the age of 11 under his father and subsequently continued under his uncle Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, P.K. Narayanan Nambiar, and M. Madhavanunni. In 1981, at the age of 15, he became one of the first Koodiyattam students at the institution 'Margi' in Thiruvananthapuram, alongside his brother Margi Narayana Chakyar and nephew Margi Rama Chakyar. He dedicated over 17 years to Margi, deeply immersing himself in the art form. Margi Madhu is recognized as a versatile artist, encompassing roles as a performer, choreographer, teacher, researcher, and author. He has performed extensively across India and internationally, with notable appearances including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the USA and for the International jury of UNESCO. His significant Koodiyattam roles include Ravana, Arjuna, Sugriva, and Vidushaka. Furthermore, he has authored acting manuals for Koodiyattam plays such as 'Dooth Ghadodgajam', 'Kanchukeeyam', 'Karnabharam', and a Koodiyattam manual for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. In 2003, he founded 'Nepathya', a centre for excellence in Koodiyattam, in Moozhikkulam, with the vision of nurturing a new generation of performers and fostering a collaborative artistic environment. Madhu currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady, Kerala. His profound contributions to Koodiyattam have been acknowledged with numerous awards, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2022. Awards & Honours: Junior Research Fellowship (1993), Sanskriti National Award (1997), Kaladarpanam Award (2002), Theatre Pasta International Award (2006), Kerala Kalamandalam Award (2008), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2011), Kalaratna Award (2012), Kalasagar Award (2013), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2022), Yuva Kala Ratna award.