Ramachandran Unnithan

Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan is a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He received several awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2016. His biography titled Kachaiyum Mizhukkum was published in 2015.[1]

Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan
Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan in female kathakali costume
Born (1951-03-08) 8 March 1951
Kottarakkara, Kollam district
NationalityIndian
OccupationKathakali exponent
SpouseLeela
Children3
Parent(s)Vasu Pillai, Gomathiamma
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award

Biography

Ramachandran Unnithan was born on 1951 March 8, at Ezhukon Placott House in Kottarakkara, Kollam district to Vasu Pillai and Gomatiamma.[2] Karithra Vasupillai taught him the basics of Kathakali.[2] Then he studied Kathakali at Kerala Kalamandalam from 1962 to 1975 and passed the 6 year Diploma and 2 year Post Graduate Diploma.[3][4] In Kalamandalam Unnithan studied Kathakali under noted Kathakali artists like Karipra Vasu Pillai, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi and Sadanam Krishnan Kutty.[3] He expertise is in Thadi role in the Kathakali.[3] In his autobiography, Unnithan recalls that one of his mentors, Sri Sadanam Krishnan Kutty, advised him to focus on role of Thadi.[2] His most popular roles are Mannan in Lavanasuravadham (Ramayana) and Bharata Malayan in Nizhal kuth (Mahabharata).[1]

He lives in Vettikattiri in Thrissur district.[3]

Family

He and his wife Sreekumari have three children.[3]

Awards and honors
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2016[4]
  • Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006[5]
  • HRD Fellowship[3]
  • Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Award[2]
  • Kalamandalam Hyderali memorial Kathakali award instituted by the Vendar Subrahmania Swamy temple advisory committee.[6]
  • He has won many local awards such as awards from Kollam Kathakali Club, Kottayam Kaliyarang, Alappuzha Kathakali Club, Alappuzha Kalakshetram and Bombay Keli.[3]

References
  1. Krishnan, Lalithaa (29 October 2015). "In his own performance space". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. Raveendranath, Purushothaman. "ക്രൂരനല്ല സാധുവത്രെ ചാരുരൂപൻ." aswadanam (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. "Kathakali Artists - Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan". www.cyberkerala.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. "കലാമണ്ഡലം രാമചന്ദ്രന്‍ ഉണ്ണിത്താന് കേന്ദ്ര സംഗീതനാടക അക്കാദമി അവാര്‍ഡ്‌". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. "ഗുരുപൂജ". www.keralaculture.org (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. "Bags Kalamandalam Hyderali award". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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