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Kalamandalam Rajan

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Kalamandalam Rajan
Born1931
Died14 June 2012(2012-06-14) (aged 81)
NationalityIndian
OccupationKathakali exponent
SpouseSulochana
Children1
Parent(s)Sreedhara Panikar, Kochukuttiamma
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Kalamandalam award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award

Kalamandalam Rajan was a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006.

Biography

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Kalamandalam Rajan was born in 1931 at Ezhikkara, North Paravur in Ernakulam district of Kerala to Sreedhara Panikar of Nellipuzha house in Aroor and Kochukuttyamma of Ezhikkara Kadakkara Erappath house.[1][2] After school, he studied and paracticed dance. During this period, he saw Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Ashan performing Poothanamoksham Kathakali.[2] Seeing that performance, Rajan decided to learn Kathakali.[2] He joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1955 and studied kathakali under noted kathakali artists like Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair and Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.[3][1] in 1965 he joined Tripunithura RLV college as an assistant dance master in kathakali and retired from there as head of the Fine Arts Section.[3] In 1985 he was re-appointed as visiting Professor in the same institution.[4]

In Kathakali Rajan was expert in pacha, kathi and minukku roles.[3] His performances as Bahuka, Nala and Dharmaputra have been critically acclaimed.[4] He had performed in many stages India and abroad with Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and was part of the Kathakali Festival conducted by Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi in 1993.[3]

He died on 14 June 2012, at the age of 81 at his house in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam district.[3]

Family

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He and his wife Sulochana had one daughter.[3]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "ശ്രീ കലാമണ്ഡലം രാജന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍ - ഒരു അനുസ്മരണം | Remembering Kalamandalam Rajan | കഥകളി.ഇൻഫൊ | Kathakali.info | കളിയറിവുകളുടെ തിരമൊഴി | The internet Kathakali hangout". kathakali.info. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Staff Reporter (14 June 2012). "Kalamandalam Rajan passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Kalamandalam Rajan" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.