ArcherMill7063 at 05:46, 6 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Kathakali artist (1928–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nambiarath Appunni Tharakan
| image = Appunni Tharakan.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1928|8|3}}
| birth_place = [[Kothachira]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|1|23|1928|8|3}}
| death_place =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| parents = Kunjan Tharakan<br>Kutty Pennamma
| spouse = Parvathy
| children = 3
| occupation = [[Kathakali]] makeup artist
}}

'''Nambiarath Appunni Tharakan''' (23 August 1928 – 23 January 2025) was an Indian [[Kathakali]] artist from [[Kerala]]. He worked as ''Uduthukettal'' (Make up, dressing and costume of Kathakali performer) expert at ''aniyara'' (behind the curtains) of Kathakali. Tharakan received several awards including [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]], [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Award for Best Kathakali Aniyara Artist and Kerala Kalamandalam Mukundaraja Award.

==Early life and career==
Nambiarath Appunni Tharakan was born on 3 August 1928, at Mangod near [[Cherpulassery]] in present-day [[Palakkad district]], to Kunjan Tharakan and Kutty Pennamma.<ref name="ManoramaOnline">{{cite news |title=അരങ്ങിൽ വേഷങ്ങൾ തിളങ്ങാൻ അണിയറയിൽ അപ്പുണ്ണിത്തരകൻ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/style-factor/2021/11/11/kathakali-background-artist-appunni-tharakan-story.html |work=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213065843/https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/style-factor/2021/11/11/kathakali-background-artist-appunni-tharakan-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He dropped out of his education halfway and went to the Vazhengada temple to earn a living.<ref name="madhyamam"/> He learned the ''Uduthukettal'' from well known Kathakali artist Pambath Sankaran, also known as Kollankode Sankaran, the husband of his sister Kunjimalu Amma.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> He started his career at the [[Olappamanna Mana]] at the age of fourteen.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> He began working independently at the age of eighteen.<ref name="madhyamam"/>

He became a permanent employee of the [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] at the age of 50 and retired in 1984.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> He got a job as ''Aniyarakkaran'' (behind the curtain artist) in Kalamandalam with the help of poet [[Olappamanna|Olappamanna Subramanian Namboodiripad]] who was the president of Kalamandalam at that time.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=പ്രവാസലോകം നൽകിയ ആദരവിന്റെ ആഹ്ലാദത്തിൽ അപ്പുണ്ണി തരകൻ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/gulf/uae/article-1.3360778 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213065849/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/gulf/uae/article-1.3360778 |url-status=live }}</ref> Until then, the post of ''Aniyarakkaran'' was not in the Kalamandalam.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He was also main ''Aniyara'' artist of the Kottayam PSV Natyasangham, the Iringalakuda Unnai Warrier Memorial Kalanilayam and the Perur Sadanam Kathakali Academy.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> Since the inception of the [[Kerala School Kalolsavam|Kerala State School Kalothsavam]] in 1953, Appunni Tharakan has been preparing school children for 55 consecutive years.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/><ref name="IndianExpress">{{cite news |title=The 'Aniyara' artist of Kathakali |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2013/jan/17/the-aniyara-artist-of-kathakali-443792.html |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213065844/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2013/jan/17/the-aniyara-artist-of-kathakali-443792.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Tharakan and his wife, Parvathy, had four children; Unnikrishnan, Sivaraman, Mohanan and the late Sankaranarayanan.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> Sivaraman is a teacher at the Kerala Kalamandalam.<ref name="madhyamam"/> His youngest son Mohanan is an ''Uduthorukkal'' artist.<ref name="madhyamam"/>

Tharakan died on 23 January 2025, at the age of 96.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vasudevan |first1=Vinu |title=Appunni Tharakan (1928–2025): The Soul of Kathakali Costumes |url=https://indiaartreview.com/stories/appunni-tharakan1928-2025-the-soul-of-kathakali-costumes/#:~:text=Appunni%20Tharakan%2C%20a%20name%20synonymous,seven%20decades%20to%20the%20craft. |access-date=3 February 2025 |publisher=India Art Review |date=24 January 2025}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==
* Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Best Kathakali Aniyara Artist, 2021<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>
* Kerala Kalamandalam Mukundaraja Award<ref name="madhyamam">{{cite news |last1=ഡെസ്ക് |first1=വെബ് |title=ഒരു വേഷത്തിൻെറ കഥ; അപ്പുണ്ണി തരകൻെറയും {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/news/2016/jan/21/173200 |work=www.madhyamam.com |date=21 January 2016 |language=ml |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213065841/https://www.madhyamam.com/news/2016/jan/21/173200 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Award<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>
* [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] Award<ref name="madhyamam"/>
* ''Veerasrimgala'' from Mangod desham<ref name="madhyamam"/>
* Vellinezhi Olappamanna Mana Special Award<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>
* Award from Kozhikode Thodayam<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>
* He was honored at the International Kathakali and Koodiyattam Festival in Dubai.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tharakan, Appunni}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]

Appunni Tharakan - Revision history

ArcherMill7063 at 05:46, 6 February 2026