Kalamandalam Gangadharan

Kalamandalam Gangadhran (26 June 1936 – 26 April 2015) was a Kathakali musician from Kerala. His unique tenor and accent has earned him a large audience both within and outside Kerala. He was the most prominent disciple of Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan, and the Master of the many later generations of Kathakali Musicians. He was a visiting professor at Margi, an organization dedicated to the revival of Kathakali and Kutiyattom, two classical art forms of Kerala. In 2006, he was honoured by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.[1] Aasan is a documentary film made on the musical life of the Kathakali of Kalamandalam Gangadhran directed by Ratheesh.[2]

Kalamandalam Gangadharan
കലാമണ്ഡലം ഗംഗാധരൻ
Kalamandalam Gangadharan
Kalamandalam Gangadharan
Background information
Birth nameGangadharan
Born26 June 1936
Died25 April 2015(2015-04-25) (aged 78)
GenresKathakali
Occupation(s)Singer

Education and later life

After completing the basics of Carnatic music, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam at the age of 17. He started teaching at Kerala Kalamandalam immediately after finishing his courses. Kalamandalam Gangadharan was among the first students who completed the course of Kathakali music from Kalamandalam. He was also trained under the great Kathakali musician Mundaya Venkita Krishna Bhagavathar for three months. Soon after, at 24, he became a teacher at his alma mater. In 1991, he retired from kalamandalam as its vice principal. He was nicknamed as Asan (meaning 'The master') by his students and followers.

During his lifetime, he performed and showcased many kathakali presentations all over Kerala, and many foreign countries including Japan, America, Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia and Iran.

Awards

In 2006, Kalamandalam Gandharan received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award[3] from the then-President of India, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. He has received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1998),[4] Kalamandalam award, Guruvayoorappan award and many other awards. His unique tenor and accent has earned him a large fan base in and outside Kerala. He has served as a visiting professor at Margi.[1]

Death

Shri Kalamandalam Gangaharan died on 26 April 2015 at a private hospital in Kollam. He had been ailing for sometime. In the presence of hundreds of people, he was cremated with full state honours in the compound of his house.[5]

References
  1. "SNA Awardees' List". Sangeet Natak Akademi. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. "Documentaries on Kathakali Maestros".
  3. "SNA: Awardeeslist::". sangeetnatak.gov.in. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  5. "Kalamandalam Gangadharan cremated". The Hindu. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2018.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]


  1. CyberNet Communications Kerala. "Kathakali Artists – Kalamandalam Gangadharan". cyberkerala.com. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. Sumathi, Saigan Connection. "Profiles – Kalamandalam Gangadharan – Vaidyanathan". narthaki.com. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. "kerala kalamandalam". kalamandalam.org. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  4. "vijane batha – Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Venmani Haridas (1968) – YouTube". Retrieved 27 January 2016 – via YouTube.
  5. "B – Kathakali Plays | Kathakali Collection". theatrefutures.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  6. "'Salajjoham...' Raga Sankarabharanam, Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Kottakkal Narayanan – YouTube". Retrieved 27 January 2016 – via YouTube.
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