Kalamandalam Rajan

Kalamandalam Rajan was a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He has been honored with several noted awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006 and awards from Kerala Kalamandalam.

Kalamandalam Rajan
Born1931
Ezhikkara, North Paravur, British India
Died14 June 2012(2012-06-14) (aged 81)
Thrippunithura, Ernakulam district
NationalityIndian
OccupationKathakali exponent
SpouseSulochana
Children1
Parent(s)Sreedhara Panikar, Kochukuttiamma
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Kalamandalam award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award

Biography

Kalamandalam Rajan was born in 1931 at Ezhikkara, North Paravur in Ernakulam district of Kerala to Sreedhara Panikar of Nellipuzha house in Aroor and Kochukuttyamma of Ezhikkara Kadakkara Erappath house.[1][2] After school, he studied and paracticed dance. During this period, he saw Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Ashan performing Poothanamoksham Kathakali.[2] Seeing that performance, Rajan decided to learn Kathakali.[2] He joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1955 and studied kathakali under noted kathakali artists like Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair and Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.[3][1] in 1965 he joined Tripunithura RLV college as an assistant dance master in kathakali and retired from there as head of the Fine Arts Section.[3] In 1985 he was re-appointed as visiting Professor in the same institution.[4]

In Kathakali Rajan was expert in pacha, kathi and minukku roles.[3] His performances as Bahuka, Nala and Dharmaputra have been critically acclaimed.[4] He had performed in many stages India and abroad with Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and was part of the Kathakali Festival conducted by Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi in 1993.[3]

He died on 14 June 2012, at the age of 81 at his house in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam district.[3]

Family

He and his wife Sulochana had one daughter.[3]

Awards and honors

References
  1. "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. "ശ്രീ കലാമണ്ഡലം രാജന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍ - ഒരു അനുസ്മരണം | Remembering Kalamandalam Rajan | കഥകളി.ഇൻഫൊ | Kathakali.info | കളിയറിവുകളുടെ തിരമൊഴി | The internet Kathakali hangout". kathakali.info. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. Staff Reporter (14 June 2012). "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. "Kalamandalam Rajan" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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