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❖ Guru Parampara ❖
View Full Parampara TreeAbout
Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair, affectionately known as Guru Chemancheri, was a legendary Indian Kathakali maestro, performer, and teacher, born on June 26, 1916, in Cheliya, Malabar District, Madras Presidency (present-day Kozhikode district, Kerala, India). His early life was marked by hardship, losing his mother at the age of three and his father at…
Journey Timeline
1916
Born — Born in Cheliya, Malabar District, Madras Presidency (present-day Kozhikode district, Kerala, India).
1931
Stage Debut — Made his stage debut as Panchali in Kiratam.
1945
Founded Bharateeya Natya Kalalayam — Established the first dance school in North Kerala in Kannur.
1947
Principal at Bharatheeya Natya Kalalayam — Served as Principal of the Bharatheeya Natya Kalalayam at Tellicherry.
1979
Received Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award
1979
Founded Pookkad Kalalayam
1983
Founded Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam — Established a school exclusively for Kathakali training in his native village.
1999
Received Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship
2001
Received Kerala Kalamandalam Award — Award for special contributions to art.
2002
Received Darpanam Natyakulapathi award
2002
Received Kerala Kalamandalam Visishta Kala Seva Award
2009
Received Kalaratnam Award of Kerala Kalamandalam
2016
Centenary Celebrations — Celebrated his 100th birthday, with actor Vineeth performing a tribute.
2017
Awarded Padma Shri — Received India's fourth highest civilian honour.
2021
Passed Away — Died on March 15, 2021, at the age of 104/105.
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Awards & Honors
- 1979 · Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award — Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
- 1999 · Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship — Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
- 2001 · Award for special contributions to art — Kerala Kalamandalam
- 2002 · Darpanam Natyakulapathi award
- 2002 · Visishta Kala Seva Award — Kerala Kalamandalam
- 2009 · Kalaratnam Award — Kerala Kalamandalam
- Mayilpeeli award
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi
- 2017 · Padma Shri — Government of India
Media Coverage
- Meet the 100-year-old Kathakali dancer Kunhiraman Nair
Hindustan Times
- Veteran Kathakali maestro Chemancheri dies at 105
The Times of India
- Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair (1916:2021): End of an Era
India Art Review
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