Staff and Students

Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan

Sri. Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan, the Director of Kathakali School, is the grandson of the famous Malayalam poet P. Kunjhiraman Nair. He studied Kathakali at Kerala Kalamandalam where he was selected for Scholarship by Dept. of Culture Govt. of India.

He has to his credit more than 800 stage performances in India and abroad. He has worked as choreographer for several Malayalam films and is a Kathakali teacher who has taught several Indian and foreign students.

He has performed in Italy, Germany, Russia, Poland and most recently in Japan and China. Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan is considered one of the outstanding Kathakali artistes of Kerala.

He was a member (Kathakali Dance), Expert Committee for selection of awardees for scholarship, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India - 2010 -2011.

Notable Performances

ICCR Kathakali Tour – Japan and China - 2014, Kerala Classical dance performance at Konark dance and music festival-2013, Vibrant India Cultural event for Kerala Tourism Onam Festival at Nisagandhi - 2012, Kerala Cultural programme for Indian Navy, Ernamkulam – 2012. Kerala Cultural programme for Victoria Carnival, Seychelles – 2011. KATHAKALI performance for closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games – 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. India Cultural Exchange Programme in Moscow, Russia – 2005 Cultural programmes for Cell India Festival in Milan, Italy – 2004 Indian Cultural Exchange Programme -2005 at Moscow, Russia by Govt. of India Festival Cell India 2004 held in Milan, Italy Kathakali Programme Europe Tour- 1990 Cultural Programme for 39th ADB Annual Meeting at Hyderabad, Organized by GOVT OF NZCC.

Kalamandalam Udya Kumar

Kalamandalam Udya Kumar is a senior Kathakali artiste. He learnt his art at Kerala Kalamandalam where he got a post Diploma in Kathakali Vesham. He has 30 years experience as a performer specialising in Chuvanna Thadi or the Kathakali Red beard. He has about 1800 stages to his credit.

He has given several lecture / demonstrations in India and abroad. He has also performed at Programmes of The Centre For Cultural Resources And Training, Govt. of India and Indian Air Force Platinum Jubilee, Delhi, 2007, Navarathri Festival, Organized By Gujarat Tourism Dept. 2006, ADB Annual Meet, Organized By NZCC Govt. Of India, Hyderabad. He has also worked As Kathakali Teacher for 4 Years At Kerala Kalamandalam

Awards to his credit:

Senior Scholarship – Kathakali By Ministry Of Culture, Govt. Of India, 1985 To 87. A.D.Bolend Gold Medal 1984. Achutha Varriar award – 1984, Vallathol Scholarship – 1984. Kummini Vasudevan Namboothiri award – 1984.

Notable overseas tours:

Kathakali Tour In Dubai-2012. Cultural Programme – Mexico – 2008, Commonwealth Games – Melbourne, Australia, 2006, Indian Cultural Exchange Programme, Moscow, Russia. 2005, . Kathakali tour in America 1984, Kathakali tour in England – 1987, Performed for BBC – London, 1989.

Kalamandalam Sivadasan

Kalamandalam Sivadasan received the Kerala Kalamandalam Diploma (Kathakali Vesham) and the Kerala Kalamandalam Post Diploma (Kathakali Vesham). He has 25 years experience as a performer specialising in ‘pacha’ and ‘minikku’ characters and has trod more than 1800 stages, performing in cultural programmes for Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet at New Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat and Bangalore. He has also participated in lecture / demonstrations for teacher training programmes of the Indian Centre For Cultural Resources.

Notable Performances

ICCR Kathakali Tour – Japan and China - 2014 Guinness Record staging of 150 Kathakali performers at Sri Sri Ravisankar’s Anandhothsavam 2011. 2006 ADB Annual Meet, organized by NZCC Govt. Of India, Hyderabad. Kathakali Tour in Kuwait-2011 Cultural Programme – Mexico – 2008. Commonwealth Games – Melbourne, Australia, 2006. Indian Cultural Exchange Programme, Moscow, Russia. 2005.

Awards

Malayala Kalanilayam Award – Best Kathakali Actor, 2009. Senior Scholarship – Kathakali, Ministry Of Culture, Govt. Of India, 1993. Dr. K.N. Pisharodi Silver Medal – 1986. A.D.Bolend Gold Medal 1989.

Kalamandalam Narayanan Kutty

Kalamandalam Narayanankutty is the son of the famous Kathakali actor Sri. Vellinezhi Nanu Nair and the grandson of the legendary Kathakali artiste Sri. Kariyattil Koppan Nair.

Notable Performances

ICCR Kathakali Tour – Japan and China - 2014 Kerala Classical dance performance at Konark dance and music festival-2013, Vibrant India Cultural event for Kerala Tourism Onam Festival at Nisagandhi – 2012, Kerala Cultural programme for Indian Navy , Ernamkulam – 2012 and the Kerala Cultural programme for Victoria Carnival, Seychelles – 2011. He was awarded the Dr. Pisharodi Medal for the Best student of the year – 1989; Raoudrasree award – Nanu Nair Kala Kendram and also received a scholarship during his years at Kerala Kalamandalam.

Kalamandalam Aravind

Kalamandalam Aravind was born on the 2nd of May 1989 to Sri Ayyappan. In 2000 he joined his first Asan’s (Guru’s) alma mater Kerala Kalamandalam to learn Kathakali Vesham. He was awarded the Government of India Scholarship for Young Artistes. He passed the Bachelor of Arts degree there with the first rank. He took his Master’s degree from the same institution under the scholarship.

Awards

2014, National Nrithya Siromani award. 2009-2010, Vallathol Endowment from Kerala Kalamandalam. 2006-2007, Kattinamkulam Krishnavaidyanadha Endowment. Government of India’s Scholarship for Young Artistes 2000 – 2001

Notable Performances

2014 - ICCR Kathakali Tour – Japan and China 2014 – performed in 5th International Music and Dance Festival, Cuttack, Odisha 2013 - performed at Konark Dance And Music Festival. 2011 - Performed with Kerala Kalamandalam troupe at Washington & Chicago - America. 2011 - Performed with Kerala Kalamandalam troupe at John F Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts Washington DC - America. 2011 - Performed with Kerala Kalamandalam troupe at SVBF Auditorium, in Toronto - Canada. 2011 - Performed with Kerala Kalamandalam troupe at The Theatre,Canadian Museum Of Civilization in Ottawa, Canada.

Vivek

Vivek is one of the main singers of Kathakalischool, he completed his Bachalore degree in Kathakali sangeetham from Gandi seva sadanam kathakali akademy. Since 2009 He has been traveling with kathakali school.

Notable Performances

2014 - ICCR Kathakali Tour – Japan and China. 2012 - Vibrant India Cultural event for Kerala Tourism Onam Festival at Nisagandhi. 2012 - Kerala Cultural programme for Indian Navy, Ernamkulam. 2010 - South Korea.