TRIBUTE PAID TO KALAMANDALAM RAJAN

TRIBUTE PAID TO

 KALAMANDALAM RAJAN

Kathakali exponent Kalamandalam Rajan, 81, known for his paccha, kathi and minukku characters, passed away at his home in Tripunithura on Wednesday13th June,2012. He was keeping bad health for nearly four years. Born in North Paravoor, he made Tripunithura his home since he joined the RLV College of Music and Fine Arts in 1963. From 1972 till his retirement, he headed the Fine Arts Section and is known as teacher of many RLV students who have made a name for themselves in Kathakali. Cremation rites will be held at his house premises at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Rajan was trained at Kalamandalam under the late Kalamandalm Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, the late Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair and the late Vazhenkada Kunju Nair. During his six years in Kalamandalam, he performed extensively as part of the university troupe, both within and outside the State. Mr. Rajan had performed in India and abroad in the troupe of Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and was part of the Kathakali Festival conducted by the Kendra Sangeetha Natak Akademi in New Delhi in 1993.

Mr. Rajan was given the Gurupooja Award by the State Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in 2006. In 2009, the Kendra Akademi honoured him with an award. He has also won several awards instituted by various organisations. He had worked with the late Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair at Tripunithura for more than a decade. Kalamandalam Rajan is survived by his wife Sulochana, daughter Shobha, son-in-law Evoor Rajendran (International Kathakali Centre, New Delhi) and two grandchildren.

Prof. John Kurakar