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{{Short description|Indian Kathakali exponent (born 1955)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|05|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Kothachira]], [[Palakkad district]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| years_active =
| birth_name = C. M. Balasubramanian<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news | title=CM Balasubramanian retires from Kalamandalam |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2011/Mar/01/cm-balasubramanian-retires-from-kalamandalam-231622.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=16 May 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
| spouse =
| website =
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2022) <br/> [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] (2019) <br/> [[Kerala Kalamandalam|Kerala Kalamandalam Award]] (2013)
}}
'''Kalamandalam Balasubramanian''' is a [[Kathakali]] dancer from [[Kerala]] in India. He received many awards including [[Kerala Kalamandalam|Kerala Kalamandalam Award]] in 2013, [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] (2019) by [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]], Government of Kerala, and [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2022) by [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], Government of India.

==Biography==
Balasubramanian was born on 26 May 1955 at [[Kothachira]], in [[Palakkad district]] of Kerala.<ref name="SNA">{{cite web |title=KALAMANDALAM BALASUBRAMANIAN |url=https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/awardees/docs/1741592674_kalamandalam%20b.pdf |publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=T.K |first=Achuthan |date=2019-11-28 |title=A performer has an obligation towards his art form, says Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Balasubramanian |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/in-conversation-with-kathakali-artiste-kalamandalam-balasubramanian/article30105149.ece |access-date=2025-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His mother Thankamani Marasyaar and father C. V. Rama Warrier were experts in [[Carnatic music]], and his father was also a Kathakali musician.<ref name="Kerala">{{cite web |title=Prof. Kalamandalam Balasubrahmanian, Kerala Kalamandalam, Enchanting Kerala, Kerala Tourism |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/2013/kalamandalam-cm-balasubrahmanian/425 |website=Kerala Tourism |publisher=[[Department of Tourism (Kerala)]] |language=en}}</ref> His father wanted to learn Kathakali, but his grandfather was against it. So he decided to teach one of his children Kathakali.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Interview - Prof. Kalamandalam Balasubramanian - evergreen presence in Kathakali |url=https://narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrvw70.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=narthaki.com}}</ref> In 1968, at the age of 13, after passing the seventh standard, he was admitted to the [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] to study Kathakali.<ref name=":0" /> At Kalamandalam he trained in under noted Kathakali exponents like [[Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair]] and [[Kalamandalam Gopi]].<ref name="Kerala"/> Balasubramanian did a six-year diploma in Kathakali vesham from Kalamandalam followed by two-year post-diploma and two-year senior scholarship.<ref name=":0" /> He has also completed a one-year Special Advanced Training Diploma under the Central Government Fellowship under the guidance of Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair.<ref>{{cite web |title=കലാമണ്ഡലം ബാലസുബ്രഹ്മണ്യൻ: 'കലാമണ്ഡലം ശൈലി'യുടെ അമര ശോഭ |url=https://theaidem.com/ml-remembering-kathakali-maestro-kalamandalam-balasubramanian/ |website=The AIDEM |language=ml |date=12 May 2025}}</ref>

Balasubramanian currently lives in his apartment in [[Punkunnam]], [[Thrissur]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Colours of nobility |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/colours-of-nobility/article5247985.ece |work=The Hindu |date=18 October 2013 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Career==
After his studies at Kalamandalam, Balasubramanian started teaching Kathakali there from 1979 and retired as the principal in 2011.<ref name=":0" /> Later, in 2019, he was again appointed as the Dean of the [[Kerala Kalamandalam|Kalamandalam Deemed University]].<ref name=":0" />

As a performer, Balasubramanian was excelled in portraying both Pacha (good characters) and Kathi (negative characters) roles in Kathakali, and he has portrayed characters like [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Krishna]], [[Nala]], [[Kichaka]], [[Narakasura]], [[Duryodhana]], [[Ravana]], [[Hanuman]], [[Balabhadra]], [[Parashurama]] and Kattala.<ref name="SNA"/> He follows the ''Kalluvazhi'' style of Kathakali, a style developed by [[Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon]], in his characters.<ref name=":1"/> In addition to his performances in various venues in India and abroad, he has conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations at various universities and colleges worldwide including the [[Davis & Elkins College]] in 1981, and [[University of Warsaw]] in 2004.<ref name="SNA"/>

Balasubramanian is also an empaneled artist of the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]].<ref name="SNA"/>

Balasubramanian has also been involved in the making of several documentaries and films, including the 2008 documentary film ''Pacha'', based on his life and works, the educational film ''What is Kathakali?'' produced by the Kerala Kalamandalam, ''Mohiniyattam'' by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]], ''Krishna Kutty Poduval'' by P. V. Chandran and ''Mahabharatha'' by [[Milena Salvini]], ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' by [[Shaji N. Karun]], ''[[Desadanam]]'' by [[Jayaraj]].<ref name="Kerala"/> He was the main advisor for actor [[Mohanlal]] who played lead character of a Kathakali performer in the film ''Vanaprastham''.<ref name=":1"/>

Balasubramanian has also written two books, ''Kannum Poovum'' (Eye and Flower) on Kathakali and Markandeya Charitam Aattakatha (an [[Aattakatha (performance)|Aattakatha]] based on the life of sage [[Markandeya]]).<ref name=":0" />

==Awards and honors==
Balasubramanian received many awards and honors including David Bolland Gold Medal by Kerala Kalamandalam in 1974, Kalahamsam in 2003 from Ernakulam Kathakali Club, Painkulam Ramachakyar Puraskar in 2011, Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 2013 and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] in 2019, Amaravati Lifetime Achievement Award from the Amaravati Nrityotsava Festival in Vijayawada in 2020 and [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Kathakali for the year 2022.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="SNA"/><ref name=":1"/> In 2023 he received the first Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair award instituted in the memory of Kathakali maestro [[Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair]] and constituted by Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=14 July 2023 |title=Kalamandalam Balasubramanian wins Guru Chemancheri award |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kalamandalam-balasubramanian-wins-guru-chemancheri-award-bdc829c8 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> In 2024 he received the first Udatham Award instituted in the memory of Kathakali maestro [[Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-25 |title=Udatham Award for Kalamandalam Balasubramanian |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/udatham-award-for-kalamandalam-balasubramanian/article68563253.ece |access-date=2025-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balasubramanian, Kalamandalam}}
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dancers]]

Kalamandalam Balasubramanian - Revision history

Ilushiktka at 20:43, 14 March 2026