26 June 1916
Cheliya, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Kozhikode district, Kerala, India)
Indian
1945–2021
Kathakali performer and teacher
Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair, also known as Guru Chemancheri (26 June 1916 – 15 March 2021) was a noted Indian Kathakali actor. He spent over eighty years learning and teaching and performing Kathakali, a major form of classical Indian dance.[1] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honor, Padma Shri in 2017.[2][3]
Personal life
Kunhiraman Nair was raised in the village of Cheliya, near Koyilandy, Kozhikode district.[4] [3] His mother died when he was only three years old, and then, at the age of thirteen, he lost his father. He had an early interest in the performances presented by visiting drama troupes, and at the age of fifteen, left his home to begin training at a Kathikali centre, some 25 km away.[3][4]
Later, he came to live in Kannur, and at the age of 31, he met his life partner, Janaki. After six years of marriage, the couple lost their first-born child, a girl. Janaki died a year later, leaving Nair to raise their one-year-old son.[4]
Education
Nair received Kathakali training under Gurus (teachers/mentors) Karunakara Menon, Ambu Panicker, Katathanad Ramunni Nair and Matasseri Kochugovindan Nair. He studied Bharatanatyam under Kalamandalam Madhavan Nair, Salem Rajaratnam Pillai and Balachandra Bhai of Madras.[3] Within the art of Kathakali, he was attracted to the Kallatikkotan of the Kaplingatan sampradayam and came to specialize in it.[5]
Career and teaching
After many years as a performer, Nair eventually became a teacher of Kathakali.[6] Nonetheless, he continued as a stage performer for selected roles including the Srikrishna Vesham in Santhanagopalam and several dance-dramas seen in India. He also choreographed various dance-dramas.[5] He said that the role of Krishna is his favorite.[3]
He established an institution named Bharateeya Natya Kalalayam at Kannur in 1945.[6] Beginning in 1947, he served as Principal of the Bharatheeya Natya Kalalayam at Tellicherry.[5]
Later, he established another school, Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam, in 1983, in Cheliya.[6]
In addition to Kathakali, he also supported other dance-drama forms, including Ashtapadi Attam, based on the verses of Gitagovindam, by the medieval poet Jayadeva. Nair, in collaboration with another dance master, Guru Gopinath, formulated Kerala Natanam, which is based on Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, and became a government-recognised dance form in Kerala.[4]
During the celebrations for his 100th birthday, actor and dancer Vineeth, performed a classical dance as a tribute to Nair, in the name of ‘Krishnaparvam’.[7]
Death
Nair died on 15 March 2021 at his residence at Cheliya village near Koyilandy at the age of 104.[8][9][10][11]
Awards and honors
- 1979 Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi award recognized him for his contributions.[6]
- 1999 Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi Fellowship of the Academy[6]
- 2001 Kerala Kalamandalam granted an award for special contributions to art.[6]
- 2002 Darpanam Natyakulapathi award [6]
- 2002 Kerala Kalamandalam Visishta Kala Seva Award[5]
- 2009 Kalaratnam Award of Kerala Kalamandalam[5]
- 2017 Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India[3]
- Mayilpeeli award [5]
- Sangeet Natak Academi Tagore Award for contributions to Kathakali[5]
References
- ↑ A Century of Passion: Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair. keralatourism.org/.
- ↑ Padma Awards 2017 announced - Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs. pib.nic.in. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Padma awards: Moment of glory for Kerala(26 January 2017).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Meet the 100-year-old Kathakali dancer Kunhiraman Nair. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Chemencerri Kuniraman Nair.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Kathakali meastro - Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair. Kerala Tourism.
- ↑ Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair celebrates 100th birthday.
- ↑ Kathali maestro Guru Chemancheri passes away at 105. Mathrubhumi(15 March 2021). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ ഗുരു ചേമഞ്ചേരി അന്തരിച്ചു; അരങ്ങൊഴിഞ്ഞത് 9 പതിറ്റാണ്ടിലേറെ നീണ്ട കലാസപര്യയ്ക്കുശേഷം. Manoramanews. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ ഗുരു ചേമഞ്ചേരി അരങ്ങൊഴിഞ്ഞു. Kairali News | Kairali News Live l Latest Malayalam News(15 March 2021). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ ഗുരു ചേമഞ്ചേരി കുഞ്ഞിരാമൻ നായർ അരങ്ങൊഴിഞ്ഞു | Madhyamam, ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം. www.madhyamam.com(15 March 2021). Retrieved 15 March 2021.