PALAKKAD: The two-day Shruthimelanam programme to mark the 60th birth anniversary celebrations of percussion maestro Mattanur Sankarankutty concluded at the Government high school grounds in Vellinezhi on Saturday.
The valedictory function in the evening was inaugurated by the Minister for Urban Development Manjilamkuzhy Ali.
Speaking on the occasion, Manjilamkuzhy Ali said that Mattanur Sankarankutty had taken the chenda melam to great heights. He was a great asset to cultural Kerala. Mridhangam Maestro Dr Umayalpuram Sivaramakrishnan presented Mattanur Sankarankutty with a memento.
The “Keerthi Pathram” was presented by actor Jayaram to Mattanur Sankarankutty. The“Keerthi Phalakam” was presented by Surya Krishnamoorthy. K S Saleekha MLA presided over the meet. Among those who spoke included the president of the Block panchayat K C Ramankutty and the president of the Vellinezhi panchayat. Subsequently, there was a veena concert by Rajesh Vaidyaand a kathakali performance Nalacharitham onnam divasam that had Kalamandalam Gopi featuring Duryodhana vadham and Sree Rama Pattabhishekham. Adding more excitement to the lively entertainment, was pandimelam by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and Cherpalassery Sivan followed by panchavadyam by Chottanikara Vijayan.
Close on the heels of the panchavadyam, was a flute recital by Pallavur Krishnan and clarinet concert by A C Natarajan. There was never a dull moment at the two-day fest in which thousands of people participated to honour Mattanur Sankarankutty in Vellinezhi village where he has underlined his pre-eminence as an excellent percussionist and served as a teacher throughout his luminous career.