Kalamandalam Balasubrahmanian

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Balasubrahmanian, born C. M. Balasubramanian on May 26, 1955, in Kothachira, Palakkad district, Kerala, is a distinguished Kathakali dancer and guru. His parents, Thankamani Marasyaar and C. V. Rama Warrier, were Carnatic music experts, with his father also being a Kathakali musician. Balasubrahmanian began his formal training in Kathakali at the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1968, at the age of 13, after completing his seventh standard. He underwent rigorous training for over a decade, completing a six-year diploma, a two-year post-diploma, and a two-year senior scholarship in Kathakali vesham. He also pursued a one-year Special Advanced Training Diploma under a Central Government Fellowship, guided by eminent Kathakali exponents such as Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Gopi. Balasubrahmanian commenced his teaching career at Kerala Kalamandalam in 1979, where he later served as the Head of the Department of Kathakali vesham (Vadakkan Style) and eventually retired as the Principal in 2011. In 2019, he was re-appointed as the Dean of the Kalamandalam Deemed University. As a performer, he is renowned for his mastery in portraying both 'Pacha' (noble characters like Bhima, Arjuna, Krishna, and Nala) and 'Kathi' (negative characters such as Kichaka, Narakasura, Duryodhana, and Ravana) roles, adhering to the Kalluvazhi style of Kathakali. His performances have graced stages across India and numerous countries worldwide, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Japan, and European nations. He has also conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations at various international institutions, including Davis & Elkins College in 1981 and the University of Warsaw in 2004. Beyond performing and teaching, Balasubrahmanian has choreographed for Malayalam films like 'Vanaprastham' (1999) and 'Desadanam' (1997), and authored books such as 'Kannum Poovum' (Eye and Flower) and 'Markandeya Charitam Attakatha'. Awards & Honours: David Bolland Gold Medal (1974), Nareri Achan Thampuran Smaraka Trophy (1978), Krishnan Kutty Smaraka Mudra (1998), Kalahamsam (2003), Painkulam Ramachakyar Puraskar (2011), Kerala Kalamandalam Award (2013), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2019), Amaravati Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2022), Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair award (2023), Udatham Award (2024).