Chavara Parukutty Amma

🪔 About

Chavara Parukutty Amma (1943-2019) was a pioneering Indian Kathakali artiste, celebrated for breaking gender barriers in the overwhelmingly male-dominated dance drama tradition of Kerala. Born on February 12, 1943, to Naniyamma and N. Shankaran Achary in Chekkatu Kizhakkethil, Kerala, she pursued an undergraduate degree in economics from Fatima Mata National College. Despite Kathakali being largely inaccessible to women, Parukutty Amma began her formal training at the age of 16, under the tutelage of Mudavilakad Gopala Paniker (also known as Muthupilakkadu Gopala Panikker). She further honed her skills with legendary gurus like Poruvazhi Gopala Pillai Asan and Mankulam Vishnu Namboothiri. Her debut performance took place at the age of 14 at the Kottankulangara Devi Temple in Chavara. In 1958, she made her dance drama debut in "Poothanamoksham," portraying Lalita, and joined the Krishnavilasom Kathakali Yogam in Kollam. She gained significant recognition after performing with the troupe in Delhi in 1960. Throughout her career, Parukutty Amma excelled in female roles and fearlessly took on masculine characters such as Bhima in "Kalyanasaugandhikam" and Kacha, challenging traditional perceptions. She completed over 50 years in the field of Kathakali, becoming the first female artiste to achieve this milestone. In 2003, she established her own dance school, Kerala Natya Dhara, at Shankaramangalam, where she dedicated six hours daily to tutoring students. At one point, the institution trained nearly 350 students in various performing arts. Her contributions to Kathakali were recognized with numerous accolades, including the Kerala Kalamandalam Kalaratnam prize in 2012 and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award. She passed away on February 7, 2019, at the age of 75, in Chavara, near Kollam. A film titled "Chavara Parukutty: Kathakaliyile Sthree Parvam" was produced to document her life and achievements. Awards & Honours: Kalaratnam prize (2012), Gurupooja award, Mathrubhumi Grihalakshmi award, Hyderali memorial Kathakali award, Pannisseri Nanupilla memorial award.