Chandramana Narayanan Namboothiri

🪔 About

Dr. Chandramana Narayanan Namboothiri is a distinguished Indian classical artist, recognized for his contributions to Kathakali and Carnatic music. Born on May 27, 1969, in Chandramana illam, Asamannoor, he is the son of C.G. Govindan Namboodiri and Sarasvathi Antharjanam. He holds an MSc and Ph.D. in Applied Botany from Mangalore University. Namboothiri received his Kathakali training under the tutelage of his father, Chandramana Govindan Namboothiri, and Kalamandalam Ramakrishnan, pursuing his artistic education alongside his college studies. He is particularly acclaimed for his portrayal of "Pacha" (green) characters, including Krishnan, Arjunan, and Bhiman. He is a 'B' grade Kathakali artist at Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Trivandrum, and regularly performs Kathakali in temples and at Kathakali Clubs. His versatility extends beyond Kathakali, as he also performs monoact, drama, mime, skits, and mimicry, having won numerous prizes in university youth festivals and other competitions. Internationally, Dr. Narayanan Namboothiri was invited by the National Council of Culture, Government of Venezuela, in September 2005, to participate in the First Worldwide Encounter of Body Arts in Caracas, where he conducted classes on body language and art in Kathakali. He received a second invitation in September 2006 from the Ministry of Culture (IMAGE), Government of Venezuela, for Kathakali performances, during which he and seven other artists from Kerala presented four shows in Caracas. Beyond Kathakali, he is also a renowned Carnatic musician, guru, composer, and lyricist. In 2023, he was honored with the Kalaratnam Endowment for Carnatic Music by the Kerala Kalamandalam. Awards & Honours: Kalaratnam Endowment (2023).