Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair

Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair, also known as Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair is an Indian Kathakali actor. He has spent over eighty years learning and teaching and performing Kathakali, a major form of classical Indian dance[1] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honor, Padma Shri in 2017.[2][3]

Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair
Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair at an event
Born26 June 1916
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Known forKathakali performer and teacher

Personal life

Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair was raised in the village of Cheliya[4] [3]near Kozhikode/Calicut. His mother died when he was only three years old, and then, at the age of thirteen, he lost his father. He had an early interest in the performances presented by visiting drama troupes, and at the age of fifteen, left his home to begin training at a Kathikali centre, some 25 km away.[3][4]

Later, he came to live in Kannur, and at the age of 31, he met his life partner, Janaki. After six years of marriage, the couple lost their first-born child, a girl. Janaki died a year later, leaving Nair to raise their one-year-old son.[4]

Education

Nair received Kathakali training under Gurus (teachers/mentors) Karunakara Menon, Ambu Panicker, Katathanad Ramunni Nair and Matasseri Kochugovindan Nair. He studied Bharatanatyam[3]under Kalamandalam Madhavan Nair, Salem Rajaratnam Pillai and Balachandra Bhai of Madras. Within the art of Kathakali, he was attracted to the Kallatikkotan of the Kaplingatan sampradayam and came to specialize in it. [5]

Career and teaching

After many years as a performer, Nair eventually became a teacher of Kathakali.[6]Nonetheless, he continued as a stage performer for selected roles including the Srikrishna Vesham in Santhanagopalam and several dance-dramas seen in India. He also choreographed various dance-dramas.[5] He has said that the role of Krishna is his favorite.[3]

Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair

He established an institution named Bharateeya Natya Kalalayam at Kannur in 1945.[6] Beginning in 1947, he served as Principal of the Bharatheeya Natya Kalalayam at Tellicherry.[5]

Later, he established another school, Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam, in 1983, in Cheliya.[6]

In addition to Kathakali, he has also supported other dance-drama forms, including Ashtapadi Attam, based on the verses of Gitagovindam, by the medieval poet Jayadeva. Nair, in collaboration with another dance master, Guru Gopinath, formulated Kerala Natanam, which is based on Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, and has become a government-recognised dance form in Kerala.[4]

During the celebrations for his 100th birthday, actor and dancer Vineeth, performed a classical dance as a tribute to Nair, in the name of ‘Krishnaparvam’.[7]

Awards and honors

References
  1. "A Century of Passion: Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair". keralatourism.org/.
  2. "Padma Awards 2017 announced - Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  3. "Padma awards: Moment of glory for Kerala". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. Jan 26, 2017.
  4. "Meet the 100-year-old Kathakali dancer Kunhiraman Nair". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved Jul 24, 2015.
  5. "Chemencerri Kuniraman Nair". sangeetnatak.gov.
  6. "Kathakali meastro - Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair". Kerala Tourism.
  7. "Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair celebrates 100th birthday". deccanchronicle.com/.
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