96+
Years of Experience
12+
Students Taught
1
Followers
❖ Guru Parampara ❖
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Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated Indian performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, widely regarded as the foremost Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. Born in Thiruvangayoor near Karayad, Kozhikode district, Kerala, he belonged to the Mani family of Chakyars,…
Journey Timeline
1899
Born — Born on 15 February 1899 in Thiruvangayoor, Kozhikode district, Kerala.
1913
Arangetram (Debut Performance) — Performed Koodiyattam at the age of 14 at Trikkaikkunnu Temple.
1921
Received Mudramothiram — Awarded by Bhattan Thampuran of Kodungallur Kovilakam.
1923
Received Vīrasringhala — Awarded by Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple.
1930
Began teaching at Kerala Kalamandalam — Invited by Vallathol Narayana Menon as a master trainer for Rasa-Abhinaya to Kathakali students.
1962
First Koodiyattam performance outside Kerala — Led a troupe to perform in Madras (Chennai).
1964
Received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — First national recognition for a Koodiyattam/Chakyar Koothu artist.
1964
Received Paderewski Foundation Certificate of Merit — First international recognition for Koodiyattam.
1974
Received Padma Shri — Honoured by the Government of India.
1975
Published Nātyakalpadrumam — Encyclopaedic treatise on Koodiyattam.
1982
Founded Gurukulam — Opened a training centre at Killikkurussimangalam.
1990
Passed Away — Died on 14 January 1990.
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Video Library
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Signature Performances
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Performance Map
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Awards & Honors
- 1921 · Mudramothiram (Signed Ring) — Bhattan Thampuran of Kodungallur Kovilakam
- 1923 · Vīrasringhala (Golden Bracelet) — Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple
- 1964 · Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi
- 1964 · Certificate of Merit — Paderewski Foundation, New York
- 1974 · Padma Shri — Government of India
- 1975 · Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award — Kerala Sahitya Akademi
- 1975 · Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship — Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
- 1982 · Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship — Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi
- 1982 · Government of India Emeritus Fellowship — Government of India
- 1982 · Kalidasa Academy Fellowship (Ratna Sadasyata) — Kalidasa Academy
- 1983 · Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship — Kerala Kalamandalam
- 1987 · Tulsi Samman — Government of Madhya Pradesh
- 1991 · Guruvayoor Devaswam Award — Guruvayoor Devaswam
Media Coverage
- Mani Madhava Chakyar: The Master at Work
Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi
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