Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Rajan passed away on Wednesday. The 81-year-old breathed his last at his residence here at 11.30 am.
He is survived by wife Sulochana Devi and daughter Shobha Rajendra. Old-age related illness had restricted him from performing kathakali for the last seven years.
Rajan’s health condition worsened after he suffered a stroke in 2008. He was completely bedridden for the past one year, and was undergoing homoeopathy treatment recently.
Born in Ezhikkara in North Parur in 1931, Rajan joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1955.
He was a disciple of kathakali maestros such as Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Padma Vibhushan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, the late Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair and the late Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunju Nair.
After completing his stint in Kalamandalam in 1963, Rajan joined R L V College of Music and Institute of fine Arts, Tripunithura, as an assistant dance master in kathakali.
In 1972, he became the head of the Fine Arts section.
During his tenure, Rajan trained many students who went on to become reputed kathakali artists.
In 1986, he retired from service and was later appointed by the state government as a visiting professor in the same institution.
Rajan, who was rated as one of the finest exponents of kathakali, had performed all characters except “female”.
He had performed extensively in India and foreign countries, including Germany, England and Tunisia.
He also had participated in the kathakali festival conducted by the Kendra Sangeetha Natak Akademi in New Delhi in 1993.
Rajan had also won several prestigious awards, including the Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Gurupooja Award instituted by the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi and Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Memorial Kathakali Award.
His mortal remains will be cremated at his residence on Thursday at 11.30am.