https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Champakulam_Pachu_PillaiChampakulam Pachu Pillai - Revision history2026-07-31T04:51:33ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Champakulam_Pachu_Pillai&diff=493254&oldid=prevKatharinaFlanery at 06:15, 6 February 20262026-02-06T06:15:07Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian Kathakali exponent}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Champakulam Pachu Pillai<br />
| image = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = 1907<br />
| birth_place = [[Champakkulam]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]<br />
| occupation = Kathakali exponent<br />
| death_date = 10 May 2004<br />
| death_place = <br />
| spouse = <br />
| parents = Kaipilly Sankarapilla, Madhaviyamma<br />
| children = <br />
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], Kerala state kathakali award, [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] award and fellowship<br />
}}<br />
'''Champakulam Pachu Pillai''' is a [[Kathakali]] exponent from [[Kerala]], [[India]]. He was a specialist in the ''thadi'' or bearded roles in kathakali.<ref name="oxford">{{cite web |last1=Lal |first1=Ananda |title=Pillai, Champakulam Pachu |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001/acref-9780195644463-e-0493 |website=The Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001 |date=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-564446-3 |access-date=2022-01-18 |archive-date=2022-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118045248/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001/acref-9780195644463-e-0493 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has been honored with several noted awards including the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] 1983, [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] Award 1969 and [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Award 1991.<br />
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==Biography==<br />
Pachu Pillai was born in Perumanur family in [[Champakulam]] village of [[Alappuzha district]] in 1907 as eldest son of Madhaviyamma and Kaipilly Sankarapilla.<ref name="webdunia"/> The Perumannur family was one of the main tributaries of the ''Kaplinjedal Kathakalichitta'' known as the Southern Chitta in Kathakali performance.<ref name="webdunia"/> [[Guru Gopinath]], a famous dancer and choreographer, is his younger brother.<ref name="webdunia"/> Pillai started learning kathakali from his maternal uncle Champakulam Sanku Pillai at the age of 14. He made his debut at the age of 16, as Rukman in Rukminiswayamvaram kathakali performed at the Nedumudi Mathur Bhagwati Temple.<ref name="webdunia"/> According to the Guru's wishes, Patchu Pillai joined the ''Mathur Kathakali yogam'' in which he was also a member.<ref name="webdunia"/> The 1993 Kathakali Festival organized by [[Sangeet Natak Academy]] in [[Delhi]] was inaugurated by Patchu Pillai.<ref name="webdunia"/><br />
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Pachu Pillai's notable roles include rough and heroic characters like [[Dushasana]], [[Vali (Ramayana)|Bali]], Trigarthan Bakan, Kali and Nakrathundi.<ref name="webdunia"/><br />
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He died on 10 May 2004, at the age of 98.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}<br />
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==Awards and honors==<br />
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] 1969<ref name="nairs">{{cite web |title=Biography of Eminent Nairs |url=http://www.nairs.in/bio_c.html |website=www.nairs.in |access-date=2022-01-18 |archive-date=2020-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725060124/http://nairs.in/bio_c.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
*Kerala Kalamandalam Award 1991<ref name="nairs"/><br />
*Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1983<ref name="nairs"/><br />
*Kerala state Kathakali Award 2002<ref name="webdunia">{{cite web |last1=MOHAN |first1=T. SASI |title=താടി വേഷത്തിന്റെ കരുത്ത്:ചമ്പക്കുളം |url=https://malayalam.webdunia.com/dance-drama-in-malayalam/%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%BF-%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B7%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%86-%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D-%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-108030200028_1.htm |website=malayalam.webdunia.com |language=ml |access-date=2022-01-18 |archive-date=2022-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118050741/https://malayalam.webdunia.com/dance-drama-in-malayalam/%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%BF-%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B7%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%86-%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D-%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-108030200028_1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]] 1982<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/kathakali-ksna/460|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship: Kathakali|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala |access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref><br />
*Gold Medal at [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Silver Jubilee Celebrations<ref name="webdunia"/><br />
*Patchupillai was honored by rulers of [[Travancore]] like Thirunal Maharani and Chithira Thirunal Maharaja.<ref name="webdunia"/><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Champakkulam Pachu}}<br />
[[Category:1939 births]]<br />
[[Category:2004 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]<br />
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]</div>KatharinaFlanery