Nisha Lakra at 23:17, 7 February 2026

2026-02-07T23:17:50Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian Kathakali exponent (1938–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kalamandalam Kuttan Asan
| image =
| birth_date = 1938
| birth_place = Adakkaputhur, [[Cherpulassery]], [[Palakkad District]], [[British Raj]]
| occupation = Kathakali exponent
| death_date = 13 January 2022 (aged 84)
| death_place = [[Perinthalmanna]], [[Malappuram District]], India
| spouse = Leelavati
| parents = Kuttappa Panikar, Ammukuttyamma
| children = 3
| years_active=
}}

'''Kalamandalam Kuttan Asan''' (also spelled as '''Kalamandalam Kuttanasan''', 1938 – 13 January 2022) was an Indian [[Kathakali]] artiste from [[Kerala]]. He was known as Dakshan Kuttan as he was popular in the role of Daksha. He received awards including the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] 2008 and Kerala State Kathakali Award 2019.

==Biography==
Kuttan Asan was born in 1938 to Kuttappa Panikar and wife Ammukuttyamma at Adakkaputhur in [[Cherpulassery]], [[Palakkad district]].<ref name="Keralakaumudi">{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=കലാമണ്ഡലം കുട്ടനാശാൻ അരങ്ങൊഴിഞ്ഞു |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=729314&u=obit |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114063305/https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=729314&u=obit |url-status=live }}</ref> After completing his diploma in [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] in 1951 under Kalamandalam Ramankutty Asan and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kuttanasan made his debut in 1951 at the Vellinezhi Kanthalloor Temple.<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/><ref name="Hindu"/> Joining as Kathakali teacher at the Iringalakuda Unnayivaryar Memorial Kalanilayam in 1964, he became the Vice Principal of Kalanilayam in 1990 and became the Principal in 1995.<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/>

He was known as Dakshan Kuttan as he was popular in the role of [[Daksha]]n.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |author=Staff Reporter |title=Kathakali artiste Kuttan Asan dead |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kathakali-artiste-kuttan-asan-dead/article38267731.ece |work=The Hindu |date=13 January 2022 |language=en-IN |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114063319/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kathakali-artiste-kuttan-asan-dead/article38267731.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In Kathakali, Kuttan Asan excelled in ''Pacha'' and ''Kathi'' roles, as well as in Kattalan, Brahmin, [[Balabhadra]] and [[Bhima|Roudrabhima]] roles.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=കലാമണ്ഡലം കുട്ടൻ - കലാനിലയത്തെ നയിച്ച മാതൃകാ അധ്യാപകൻ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/palakkad/news/14jan2022-1.6358415 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114063259/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/palakkad/news/14jan2022-1.6358415 |url-status=live }}</ref> For forty years he performed the role of ''[[Vibhishana]]'' in ''Sreerama Pattabhikam'' (consecration of [[Lord Rama]]) kathakali on the stage at the [[Koodalmanikyam temple]] festival.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

===Personal life and death===
Kuttan Asan and his wife Leelavati had three children, Usha Madhumohanan, Sati Radhakrishnan and Geetha Madhu.<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/> He died in Perinthalmanna on 13 January 2022, at the age of 84.<ref name="Hindu"/>

==Awards and honors==
*[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]],<ref name="Deshabhimani">{{cite news |title=കലാമണ്ഡലം കുട്ടനാശാൻ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-palakkadkerala-14-01-2022/994873 |work=Deshabhimani |language=ml |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114063321/https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-palakkadkerala-14-01-2022/994873 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Kerala State Kathakali Award 2019<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>
*[[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Keerthi Patram<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/>
*Kaladarpana Award<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/>
*Amruthandamayi mat puraskar<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>
*Kerala Kalamandalam Award, 2007<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=കഥകളി ആചാര്യൻ കലാമണ്ഡലം കുട്ടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/palakkad/2022/01/14/palakkad-kalamandalam-kuttan-passed-away.html|access-date=14 January 2022|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|archive-date=14 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114080644/https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/palakkad/2022/01/14/palakkad-kalamandalam-kuttan-passed-away.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Award, 2010<ref name=":0" />
*Kalamandalam Pattikamthodi Ramunnimenon Award, 2011<ref name=":0" />
*Unnayivaryar Award, 2011<ref name=":0" />
*Visakhapatnam Nataraja Dance Music Academy Natyasree Award, 2002<ref name=":0" />
*Thrissur Kathakali Club Award, 2000<ref name=":0" />
*Vellinezhi Panchayat Gramakala Award, 2015<ref name=":0" />
*Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship, 2019<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuttan, Kalamandalam}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]

Kalamandalam Kuttan Asan - Revision history

Nisha Lakra at 23:17, 7 February 2026