Kathakali maestro Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri, noted percussionist Sadanam Vasudevan and Kalamandalam Ramachakyar have bagged the State Government Awards for performing arts for the year 2013.
Announcing the awards, Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph, Kalamandalam University Vice-Chancellor P N Suresh and jury member Pandalam Sudhakaran said that all three awards carry a cash prize of `1 lakh,a citation and ponnada. The awards will be given away at a function to be held at Kalamandalam soon. The date of award ceremony will be fixed after consulting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
A jury headed by Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, Kottakkal Chandrasekharan, Vattaparambil Gopinatha Pillai, Cultural Affairs Secretary Rani George and P N Suresh selected Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri for the award.
A jury comprising P N Suresh, Pandalam Sudhakaran, Kalamandalam Balaraman and Vattaparambil Gopinatha Pillai selected
Sadanam Vasudevan for the Pallavoor Appu Marar Award. P N Suresh headed a jury with Kalamandalam Saraswathy, Kalamandalam Leelamma, Pandalam Sudhakaran and Cultural Affairs Additional Secretary B S Pavanakumari as members to select Kalamandalam Ramachakyar for the Keraleeya Nritya-Natya Award.
Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri is a disciple of Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair who received his training in Kathakali from P S V Natya Sangham, Kottakkal, and Kalamandalam. He made his name through the presentation of ‘Thadi’ and ‘Kari’. Pallavoor Appumarar Award winner Sadanam Vasudevan is a renowned percussion artist. He started learning ‘Chenda’ from age seven. He later became the disciple of Pallasena Chandra Mannadiar and under him honed his skills in ‘Maddalam’, ‘Edakka’ and ‘Thimila’. He plays ‘Thayambaka’ and and Kathakali melam.
Sadanam Vasudevan has a large student following such as noted percussion artist Mattannoor Sankarankutty. Mattannoor had received several awards including that of Kerala Kalamandalam. Kalamandalam Ramachakyar started learning Koodiyattom from his grand uncle Painkulam Rama Chakyar at the age of 12. He played ‘Sugreevan’, ‘Hanuman’, and ‘Jadayu’ with great perfection.