Ammannur Madhava Chakyar

Ammannur Madhava Chakyar

Padma Bhushan (Dr.) Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar (May 13, 1917 – July 2, 2008) was a master of Kutiyattam, the classical Sanskrit theatrical form indigenous to Kerala. He is best known for taking the performances from the temple sanctuaries where they were formerly confined and making them public events.

Biography

Family

Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar was born into the Ammannur Chakyar family to Sreedevi Illodamma and Vellarapilli Madassi Manakkal Parameswaran Nambuthiri on 13 May 1917. Many of his family members were well known as practitioners of Kutiyattam.

Training, Gurus and First Performances

He was initiated into Kutiyattam at the age of 7 and trained rigorously under his two uncles Ammannur Chachu Chakyar and Ammannur Valiya Madhava Chakyar as well as Kitangur Rama Chakyar His arangettam (debut performance) was at the age of 11 in the Bhagavathi temple at Thirumandham Kunnu, performing the role of Sutradhara in Balacharitam (a play by Bhāsa). At the age of 14, he gave his first performance at the Koothambalam (temple theatre house) of Vadakkunnathan Temple in Trichur. At the age of 16, He had his debut in Prabandha Koothu with the ritual Kuduma vakkal at the Putiya Trikkovil, Chendamangalam. After completing his basic training in the traditional style, he went for higher training in Abhinaya and Natya Shastra under Bhagavathar Kunjunni Thampuran at the acting laboratory supported by the Kodungallor royal family. He also studied the Sanskrit language under Vidushi Kochikavu Thampuratty and Vidvan Manthitta Nambuthiri.

Later career

In the 1980s, he became one of the first Kutiyattam performers to present his art to an international audience. He visited France and England in 1982, Switzerland and The Netherlands in 1987 and Japan in 1988.

Death

Ammannur suffered from many serious health problems in his last years. On May 13, 2007, he celebrated his 90th birthday at his home at Irinjalakkuda. Later on, his health detoriated and he finally died in the early hours of July 2, 2008. He was aged 91.

Repertory Highlights (major characters followed by the plays in which they appear)

Ammannur Madhava Chakyar

Ammannur Madhava Chakyar

• Bali–Balivadham
• Ravana–Thoranayudham, Asokavanikankam, Hanumaddutam, Jatayuvadham
• Surpanakha–Surpanakhangam
• Hanuman–Thoranayudham, Ankuliyankam
• Bhima, Vidyadhara–Kalyanasaugandhikam

Positions Held

• Kulapati at the Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam, which he co-founded with G.Venu.
• Chief Resource Person at the Natanakairali Research and Performing Centre for Traditional Arts, Irinjalakuda.
• Visiting Guru at the Margi Kutiyattam Vidyalayam (academy), Tiruvananthapuram, 1981–88
• Visiting Professor at the Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy, 1981–82

Well-Known Pupils

• Moozhikulam Kochukuttan Chakyar
• Ammannur Kuttam Chakyar
• G.Venu
• Usha Nangiar
• Margi Madhu
• Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar
• Sooraj Nambiar
• Pothiyil Renjith Chakyar
• Kapila
• Aparna Nangiar
• T. R. Saritha
• Margi Raman
• Margi Sajeev Narayanan
• Potiyil Narayanan
• Nirmala Paniker
• Tomoe Tara Irino
• Rathy Nangiar

Honors/Awards

• Padma Bhushan from Government of India–2003
• P.S.John Endowment Award from the Ernakulam Press Club–2002
• Degree of Doctor of Letters from Kannur University–2002
• Citation by UNESCO recognizing Kutiyattamas as "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".–2001
• "Pattum Valayum" (cloth and bangle) from the Keli and Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai–1998
• Peelithirumudi Award from Guruvayur Temple–1997
• Fellowship from Sangeet Natak Akademi–1996
• "Veera Sringhala" from The International Centre for Kutiyattam, Thripunithura–1994
• Sree Guruvayoorappan Samman (prize) from Guruvayur Temple–1992
• Kalidas Samman from the Government of Madhya Pradesh–1992
• Fellowship from Kerala Kalamandalam–1988
• ‘Natya Kala Nidhi’, a title from the Cochin Devaswom Board–1987
• Padmashree from the Government of India–1982
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award - 1979

Other sources

• Into the world of Kutiyattam : with the legendary Ammannur Madhava Chakyar by G. Venu (1945- ); foreword by Premlata Puri. Natana Kairali, 2002.

External links

• Article in The Hindu, on the occasion of his lifetime achievement award (Virudhu).