Mohitjikumar32 at 16:47, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T16:47:42Z

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{{short description|Indian dancer and research scholar (born 1946)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = G. Venu
| alias = Gopalan Nair Venu, Venuji
| image = Venuji.JPG
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1945|07|01}}
| birth_place = [[Pappanamcode]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| known_for = [[Koodiyattam]] and [[Kathakali]]
| father = Chittore Gopalan Nair
| mother = Sumathy Kutty Amma
| spouse = [[Nirmala Paniker]]
| children = [[Kapila Venu]]
| relatives =
| occupation = [[Koodiyattam]], [[Kathakali]] dancer, Reseach scholar
| awards = {{bullet list|[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2023)|[[Nikkei Asia Prize]] (2007)|
[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] (2007)|[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1977)|Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship (2024)}}
}}
'''Gopalan Nair Venu''' popularly known as '''G. Venu''' (or '''Venu G.''' and affectionately '''Venuji'''<ref>{{cite news |title=Venuji, Madambi Subrahmanyan Namboodiri win Kerala Kalamandalam fellowships |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/venuji-madambi-subrahmanyan-namboodiri-win-kerala-kalamandalam-fellowships/article67744851.ece |work=The Hindu |date=16 January 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref>) is a [[Koodiyattam]] and [[Kathakali]] exponent, choreographer and research scholar from [[Kerala]], India. He received several awards and honors including [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]], [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Award, [[Nikkei Asia Prize]] for Culture, [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] and the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for his overall contributions in the field of performing arts. Being first person from a [[Caste system in India|caste]] lower than [[Chakyar]] to study Koodiyattam, he is also the first person from a non-Chakyar community to receive the Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship for Koodiyattam.

==Biography==
G. Venu was born on 1 July 1945, in [[Pappanamcode]], in present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram district]] of Kerala to Chittore Gopalan Nair and Sumathy Kutty Amma.<ref name="SNA">{{Cite web |title=Gopalan Nair Venu |url=https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/awardees/docs/1741075193_Gopalan%20Nair%20Venu%20(Venu.%20G).pdf |publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]}}</ref><ref name="ammannur">{{cite web |url=https://ammannurgurukulam.com/artist-gvenu.htm |website=ammannurgurukulam.com |title=G. Venu}}</ref> At the age of eleven, he started studying [[Kathakali]] from Keerickattu Sankar Pillai, and later done advanced studies from [[Guru Gopinath]] and Chengannur Raman Pillai.<ref name="SNA"/> He was the first student to enroll at Viswakalakendram, the dance institute opened by Guru Gopinath at [[Vattiyoorkavu|Vattiyoorkkavu]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], in 1963.<ref name="Narthaki">{{Cite web |title=Prism - Six and a half decades on the stage - G Venu |url=https://narthaki.com/info/prism/prism14.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=narthaki.com}}</ref> He studied Kathakali for three years under Keerikattu Sankaran Pillai and for five years under Guru Gopinath.<ref name="Chintha">{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-10-08 |title=നവരസ സാധനയുടെ നാൾവഴികളിൽ വേണുജി |url=https://chintha.in/?p=12873 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Chintha.in |publisher=Chintha magazine |language=ml}}</ref>

Venu, who studied Kathakali, came to Bhopal in 1966 to teach Kathakali for the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad.<ref name="Outlook">{{Cite web |date=2017-10-05 |title=Optical Poetry |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/optical-poetry-news-299395 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref> There, he got the opportunity to learn [[Kathak]] and [[Manipuri dance]], in addition to instruments in [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani music]].<ref name="Outlook" />

Venu was attracted to [[Koodiyattam]] after seeing the performance of [[Ammannur Madhava Chakyar]] at the [[Vadakkunnathan Temple|Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple]] in [[Thrissur]]. Following this, at the age of 37, he decided to study Koodiyattam, and resigned his permanent job at the School of Drama and Fine Arts under [[University of Calicut]], moved to [[Irinjalakuda]] to join the Koodiyattam school of Ammannur, becoming the first non-Chakyar student there.<ref name="Hindu" /> He also trained in Koodiyattam from Ammannur Paremeswara Chakyar.<ref name="SNA" /> Venu made his Arangeettam (first public performance after training) in Koodiyattam in 1984.<ref name="IAR2" />

===Personal life===
G. Venu is married to [[Nirmala Paniker]], a mohiniyattam exponent, and they have one daughter [[Kapila Venu]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2017-04-01 |title=Kumar Gandharva Award for Koodiyattam exponent Kapila Venu |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2017/Apr/01/kumar-gandharva-award-for-koodiyattam-exponent-kapila-venu-1588435.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Contributions==
It was during his [[Kathakali]] studies that Venu developed an interest in [[Mudra]]s, the hand gestures of the Indian classical visual arts. Having done extensive research on the subject, he later created a sophisticated dance notation system to define mudra in Kerala visual arts, including Kathakali, Koodiyattam and [[Mohiniyattam]].<ref name="CSP">{{cite web |title=How Kuttiyatam and Abhinaya Guru G Venu Took Kerala To the World |url=https://www.csp.indica.in/how-kuttiyatam-and-abhinaya-guru-g-venu-took-kerala-to-the-world/ |website=Center for Soft Power |date=29 June 2020}}</ref> In 1977, the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] published his book, containing detailed descriptions of his 373 mudras, titled ''Kathakaliyile Kai mudrakal'' (Hand Signs in Kathakali), which was later translated into English in 1984 by Venu's own institution, Natana Kairali, under the title ''Mudras in Kathakali''.<ref name="Hindu" /> In 1994, the Cultural Department of the Government of Kerala published a dictionary prepared by him containing details of 587 mudras used in Kathakali, titled ''Kathakali Mudra Nikhandu'' (meaning: Dictionary on Kathakali mudras).<ref name="Hindu" /> The 706 page book ''Mudra'', published in 2023 contains 1341 notations of hand gestures used in Koodiyattam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam performances.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=G. S. |date=2023-04-25 |title=G. Venu's new book is a ready reckoner on mudras |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/g-venus-new-book-is-a-ready-reckoner-on-mudras/article66777296.ece |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He has written 20 books on the techniques of the performing arts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-30 |title=വേണുജിക്ക് ഇന്ന് എൺപതാം പിറന്നാൾ |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/thrissur/news/thrissur-1.10708396 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=newspaper.mathrubhumi.com |publisher=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=en}}</ref> The [[monograph]] on [[Tholpavakoothu]] was published by the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]].<ref name=":1" />

Venu has also authored books like ''Into the World of Koodiyattam with the Legendary Ammannur Madhava Chakyar'' and ''Production of a play in Kutiyattam'' on Kutiyattam ''Mohiniyattam - The last dance'' on [[Mohiniyattam]] and ''Puppetry and lesser known dance traditions of Kerala''.<ref name="CSP"/>

Venu has also developed 'Navarasa Sadhana' module, a training methodology for actors, based on [[Indian aesthetics|Navarasa]] in [[Natya Shastra]] as well as the indigenously developed actor training methodologies that evolved in Kerala, as a transformational process for artists seeking deeper insight into the depths and diversity of human emotions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-06-11 |title=Deep into the rasas |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/koodiyattam-exponent-g-venu-explains-the-ageold-practice-of-navarasa-sadhana/article7301566.ece |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="CSP"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-27 |title=Celebrating the 100th Navarasa Sadhana |url=https://indiaartreview.com/stories/navarasa-sadhana-100-natanakairali-g-venu/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Venu and his guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar were among the people who played a role in modernizing and popularizing Koodiyattam. Venu was the first to ask Ammannur to teach this art, which was performed only by the Chakyar community, to people from other communities, particularly lower.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-31 |title=Part 2: Ammannur Madhava Chakyar: The Legend Who Lived and Breathed Koodiyattam |url=https://indiaartreview.com/stories/part-2-ammannur-madhava-chakyar-the-legend-who-lived-and-breathed-koodiyattam/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> Ammannur agreed and made Venu his disciple. Through this, Venu became the first person to learn Koodiyattam from a community below the Chakyar community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karunakaran,Cris |first=Binu |date=2022-05-04 |title=How caste exclusion is threatening a 2000-year-old art form with UNESCO tag |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/how-caste-exclusion-threatening-2000-year-old-art-form-unesco-tag-163601 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

Venu was also among the people who took the initiative to present Koodiyattam, a temple art, on a public stage.<ref name=":0" /> It was with Venu's encouragement that Ammannur began performing outside traditional venues.<ref name=":0" />

Venu is also credited with starting the Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Memorial Gurukulam, a Koodiyattam school based on the [[Gurukula|Gurukula system]], in 1982. As a teacher he has trained several young actors at the School of Drama and Fine Arts under [[University of Calicut]], the [[National School of Drama]], [[New Delhi]], [[Intercultural Theatre Institute|InterCultural Theatre Institute]], [[Singapore]], and by conducting regular workshops.<ref name="SNA"/> Venu also was nominated as one of the four honorary directors of the "World Theatre Project" in Sweden.<ref name="ammannur"/><ref name="SNA"/>

Venu is also the person responsible for the revival of many rare traditional art forms in Kerala.<ref name="CSP"/> In 1975, he established a training and research center called 'Natanakairali' in [[Irinjalakuda]] to preserve the traditional art forms of Kerala that were on the verge of extinction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nath |first=Parshathy J. |date=2019-04-28 |title=Eating rotten fruit and shivering in rage: How a Kerala workshop taught me to accept life as it is |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/918468/eating-rotten-fruit-and-shivering-in-rage-how-a-kerala-workshop-taught-me-to-accept-life-as-it-is |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> Noted examples include the revival of Pavakathakali, the Kathakali using [[puppet]]s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=2024-07-26 |title=A workshop and a pavakathakali recital at Natanakairali signifies a new chapter in the revival of the art form |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/a-workshop-and-a-pavakathakali-recital-at-natanakairali-signifies-a-new-chapter-in-the-revival-of-the-art-form/article68436215.ece |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and revival of [[Tholpavakoothu|Tholppava koothu]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=G. S. |date=2021-02-18 |title=How Tholpavakoothu emerged out of the shadows |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/out-of-shadows/article33870788.ece |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Other folk and ritualistic art forms that he had involved in revival include [[Kakkarissi Natakam]], [[Padayani]] and [[Mudiyett]]u.<ref name="IAR2">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-27 |title=G. Venu to Receive the Nruthya Pitamaha Title - India Art Review |url=https://indiaartreview.com/stories/g-venu-to-receive-the-nruthya-pitamaha-title/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In recognition of his career, he was nominated to the Expert Committee of [[UNESCO]]'s Asian Cultural Center.<ref name="Hindu" /> Koodiyattam was recognised by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. His contribution to receiving this recognition is significant.<ref name="Hindu" /> Another art form that gained more attention through his efforts and was later recognized by UNESCO is [[Mudiyettu]].<ref name="Narthaki" />

==Major works==
As a performer Venu has performed Kathakali and Koodiyattam in various venues across India and abroad. It was the performance at the Old Theater Project meeting in [[Oppenheim]] provided him the opportunity to represent India in Sweden.<ref name="Chintha" />

Venu has directed many plays for Koodiyattam and Nangiakoothu. Koodiyattam adaptation of the [[Kalidasa]]'s [[Shakuntala (play)|Shakuntala]] and [[Vikramōrvaśīyam]], [[Bhāsa]]'s [[Urubhanga]] and Dutavakya, [[Shudraka]]'s [[Mṛcchakatika]] are highly noted.<ref name="SNA"/><ref name="IAR"/> He also choreographed [[Nangiar koothu]] adaptations of [[Narasimha]]vathara, Sitaparityaga (the part of the [[Ramayana]] where [[Rama]] abandons [[Sita]] in the forest) and [[Saundarya Lahari]].<ref name="IAR">{{cite web |title=G Venu's Mricchakatikam Breathes New Life into Kutiyattam |url=https://indiaartreview.com/stories/g-venu-mricchakatikam-kutiyattam/ |date=18 June 2025}}</ref> Through his adaptations he combine theatre with socio-political consciousness.<ref>{{Cite news |last=T.K |first=Achuthan |date=2025-06-25 |title=Koodiyattam exponent Kapila Venu breaks the glass ceiling in the new play Mricchakatikam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/mricchakatikam-directed-by-venu-g-will-premiere-at-bengalurus-ranga-shankara/article69726763.ece |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

He was inspired to stage [[Mṛcchakatika]] in the form of a Koodiyattam after renowned theatre director [[Habib Tanvir]] requested him that he should also prepare Mṛcchakatika as Koodiyattam, after watching Abhijnanasakuntalam directed by Venu.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-04 |title=കൂടിയാട്ടത്തിൽ പുതുചരിത്രമായി 'മൃച്ഛകടികം'; 2000 വർഷങ്ങൾക്കുമുൻപ് മഹാകവി ശൂദ്രകൻ രചിച്ച ക്ലാസിക് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/good-news/mrichchakadikam-drama-in-koodiyattam-form-by-kapila-venu-good-news-1.10718856 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
G. Venu received several awards and honors including Homi Bhaba Fellowship, [[DakshinaChitra|DakshinaChitra Viruthu]], [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] by [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] in 2007, Kerala Kalamandalam Award from [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] in 2005, [[Nikkei Asia Prize]] for Culture from Japan in 2007, and [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] by [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] in 1977.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="SNA" /> He won the Dancers and Choreographers Association's Nritha Paramacharya Award in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sathyadeepam |date=2022-04-30 |title=നൃത്തപരമാചാര്യ പുരസ്‌കാരം കൂടിയാട്ടം കലാകാരന്‍ വേണു ആശാന് സമര്‍പ്പിച്ചു |url=https://www.sathyadeepam.org/news/kerala/koodiyattam |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Sathyadeepam Online |language=ml}}</ref>

In 2023, he received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for his overall contributions in the field of performing arts.<ref name="SNA" /> In 2024 February, he received the Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship, becoming the first person from a non-Chakyar community to receive this honour in the field of Koodiyattam.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=G. S. |date=2024-02-16 |title=How G. Venu built Natana Kairali, a reputed training and performance institute |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/how-g-venu-built-natana-kairali-a-reputed-training-and-performance-institute/article67837657.ece |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He has also received the 2024 Vayosevana (meaning: senior citizens' service) Award for Comprehensive Contribution from the Department of Higher Education and Social Justice, Government of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=വയോസേവന പുരസ്കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു - Minister for Higher Education & Social Justice |url=https://minister-highereducation.kerala.gov.in/%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%af%e0%b5%8b%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%87%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a8-%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%95%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%99%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%99%e0%b5%be-%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%b0/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=minister-highereducation.kerala.gov.in |language=ml-IN}}</ref>

In 2023 October, Venu received the ''Nruthya Pitamaha'' (meaning: Great father in dance) title from the Urise Vedic Sangeetha Academy, Bangalore.<ref name="IAR2" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venu, G.}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Koodiyattam dancers]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian performance artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the National School of Drama]]

G. Venu - Revision history

Mohitjikumar32 at 16:47, 12 March 2026