Ramankutty Nair

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, a towering figure in the world of Kathakali, was born on May 25, 1925, in Vellinezhi, a village in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. He hailed from a family with no prior Kathakali background. His initial training in the intricate art form began under the tutelage of the renowned Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon in his native village. At the age of 13, Ramankutty Nair joined the Kerala Kalamandalam, an institution founded by poet laureate Vallathol Narayana Menon, where Ravunni Menon continued to be his principal teacher for 11 intensive years. Ramankutty Nair dedicated over seven decades to Kathakali, both as a performer and a revered guru. He became a teacher at Kerala Kalamandalam in 1948 and eventually rose to the position of its principal, retiring in 1985. He was known for his unwavering adherence to the classicism of Kathakali, specializing in the 'Thenkku thitta' or Southern style and the 'Kalluvazhi' tradition. His performances were characterized by poise and precise body movements. He excelled in a wide range of roles, particularly anti-heroic characters like Ravana in 'Thoranayudham' and 'Ravanolbhavam', Duryodhana in 'Uttaraswayamvaram', Keechaka in 'Keechakavadham', and Narakasura in 'Narakasuravadham'. He also garnered acclaim for his portrayals of Hanuman and Shishupala, and notably composed the character of Parusurama, which he himself established as a popular Kathakali story. Beyond his performances, Ramankutty Nair played a crucial role in popularizing Kathakali globally, leading the Kalamandalam Kathakali troupe on international tours across Asia, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Latin American countries for a quarter-century. In his later years, he also served as the chairman of Gandhi Seva Sadan, also known as Sadanam Kathakali Akademi. He remained an active artist until the age of 85 and penned his autobiography, "Thiranottam," in 1993, which was recognized as a Malayalam text by the University of Calicut. Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair passed away on March 11, 2013, at the age of 87. Awards & Honours: Central Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award (1975), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award (1987), Kalamandalam Special Award (1984), Kalidas Samman (1994), Emeritus fellowship (1999), Kathakali Puraskar (2000), Narthaka Chakravarthi (2003), Kalarathnam (2003), Guruvayoorappan Puraskar (2004), Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) (2004), Padma Bhushan (2007), Honorary doctorate (2010).