MonroeDunning09 at 04:23, 12 January 2026

2026-01-12T04:23:50Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kalamandalam Gangadharan
| image = Shri Kalamandalam Gangadharan Nair.jpg
| caption = Kalamandalam Gangadharan
| image_size =
| birth_name = Gangadharan
| birth_date = 26 June 1936
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2015|04|25|1936|06|26}}
| alias =
| origin =
| instrument =
| genre = [[Kathakali]]
| occupation = Singer
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
'''Kalamandalam Gangadhran''' (26 June 1936 – 26 April 2015) was a [[Kathakali]] musician from [[Kerala]]. His unique tenor and accent has earned him a large audience both within and outside Kerala. He was the most prominent disciple of Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan, and the Master of the many later generations of Kathakali Musicians. He was a visiting professor at Margi, an organization dedicated to the revival of Kathakali and [[Koodiyattam|Kutiyattom]], two classical art forms of Kerala. In 2006, he was honoured by the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]].<ref name="SNA Awardees' List"/> ''Aasan'' is a documentary film made on the musical life of the Kathakali of Kalamandalam Gangadhran directed by Ratheesh.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2016/feb/18/documentaries-on-kathakali-maestros-893899.html | title=Documentaries on Kathakali Maestros }}</ref>

==Education and later life==
After completing the basics of [[Carnatic music]], he joined [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] at the age of 17.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} He started teaching at Kerala Kalamandalam immediately after finishing his courses. Kalamandalam Gangadharan was among the first students who completed the course of Kathakali music from Kalamandalam.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} He was also trained under the great Kathakali musician Mundaya Venkita Krishna Bhagavathar for three months. Soon after, at 24, he became a teacher at his alma mater. In 1991, he retired from [[kalamandalam]] as its vice principal. He was nicknamed as ''Asan'' (meaning 'The master') by his students and followers.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

During his lifetime, he performed and showcased many [[kathakali]] presentations all over Kerala, and many foreign countries including Japan, America, Australia, China, [[Fiji]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Iran]].{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

== Awards ==

In 2006, Kalamandalam Gandharan received the prestigious [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award|Sangeet Natak Academy Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA: Awardeeslist:: |website=sangeetnatak.gov.in |access-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archivedate=30 May 2015 }}</ref> from the then-[[President of India]], [[A.P.J.Abdul Kalam]]. He has received the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] (1998),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/kathakali-a-ksna/468|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref> Kalamandalam award, Guruvayoorappan award and many other awards. His unique tenor and accent has earned him a large fan base in and outside Kerala. He has served as a visiting professor at Margi.<ref name="SNA Awardees' List">{{cite web|url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA Awardees' List |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |year=2016 |accessdate=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archivedate=30 May 2015 }}</ref>

== Death ==
Shri Kalamandalam Gangaharan died on 26 April 2015 at a private hospital in Kollam. He had been ailing for sometime. In the presence of hundreds of people, he was cremated with full state honours in the compound of his house.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kalamandalam-gangadharan-cremated/article7149169.ece|title=Kalamandalam Gangadharan cremated | newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 April 2015 | accessdate=27 October 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3yPUm-JKnX84v9I362aGGQ Youtube Channel]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yhccE2mMRM Documentary on Kalamandalam Gangadharan]
<ref name="cyberkerala">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberkerala.com/kathakali/artists/gangadharan.htm|title=Kathakali Artists – Kalamandalam Gangadharan|author=CyberNet Communications Kerala|publisher=cyberkerala.com|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="narthaki">{{cite web|url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/profiles/profil62.html|title=Profiles – Kalamandalam Gangadharan – Vaidyanathan|author=Sumathi, Saigan Connection|publisher=narthaki.com|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="kalamandalam">{{cite web|url=http://kalamandalam.org/fellowship.asp|title=kerala kalamandalam|publisher=kalamandalam.org|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmV0WxSnuno|title=vijane batha – Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Venmani Haridas (1968) – YouTube|via=YouTube|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="theatrefutures">{{cite web|url=http://theatrefutures.org.uk/kathakali/collection-overview/b-kathakali-plays/|title=B – Kathakali Plays | Kathakali Collection|publisher=theatrefutures.org.uk|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="youtube2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHrgr9Kx8kM|title='Salajjoham...' Raga Sankarabharanam, Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Kottakkal Narayanan – YouTube|via=YouTube|accessdate=27 January 2016}}</ref>

{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gangadharan, Kalamandalam}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kollam district]]
[[Category:Singers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male classical singers]]
[[Category:Male Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

Kalamandalam Gangadharan - Revision history

MonroeDunning09 at 04:23, 12 January 2026