Erickavu N. Sunil
Erickavu N. Sunil | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | 15 March 1976 Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India |
| Occupation(s) | Assistant Professor - Mridangam, Author, Knowledge Disseminator |
| Instrument | Mridangam |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Erickavu N. Sunil, aka Sunil Narayana is a South Indian percussionist, educator, and author, best known for his expertise in mridangam, the principal rhythmic instrument in Carnatic classical music. He holds an 'A Grade' [1] from All India Radio (Akashvani), India’s national public radio broadcaster, in the discipline of Mridangam. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor (UGC)[2][3] in Mridangam at the Kerala Kalamandalam. Sunil is the author of the book "Resounding Mridangam" (2021),[4][5][6] which is widely referenced in academic and performing arts circles.[3] His second work, "Mattolikkollunna Mridangam" (Malayalam: മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം)[7] was published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute on 1 March 2025. Sunil has conducted seminars, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and scholarly presentations at universities[8][3] and cultural institutions across India.
Early life and background
He started learning the mridangam at the age of four. His initial teachers were Krishnappa Bhagavathar and M.S. Raju. He had his advanced studies in mridangam from Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair.[9]
Musical career
An A-grade artist[1][10][11] of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Sunil has performed alongside Padmabhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi T. V. Sankaranarayanan,[12] Padmasri Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Padmasri Parassala Ponnammal, Madhurai G.S. Mony, Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma, K. Omanakutty, K. Venktaramanan, S. Sowmya, Kunnakkudi Balamuralikrishna, Sreevalsan J. Menon, Sankaran Namboothiri, Thiruvengadu Jayaraman, Sharreth, M. Jayachandran, and Balabhaskar. Sunil teaches Mridangam online[13] and has students in Germany, the US, the UK, Italy and the Middle East.[14]
Indeevaram Cultural Trust
Indeevaram[12] is a Trivandrum-based cultural trust founded by Sunil in 2018.[15]
Resounding Mridangam
Erickavu N. Sunil's first book Resounding Mridangam: The Majestic South-Indian Drum[6] was formally released in India on 18 April 2021 by K. S. Chithra.[16] The book received the Kerala Kalamandalam Kalagrandham Award (the best book for art literature) for 2023.[4][17][18]
Mattolikkollunna Mridangam
Mattolikkollunna Mridangam (മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം) is the second book authored by Erickavu N. Sunil and published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute. [19] It was released on 1 March 2025, with the book being presented by K. S. Chithra to Divya S. Iyer. [20] [21]
References
- ^ a b "Kerala author's efforts to popularise mridangam among global audience". The New Indian Express. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "Faculty Members". Kerala Kalamandalam. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Alappuzha man quits IT job after 20 years to join Kerala Kalamandalam as teacher". Manorama Online - Onmanorama. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Kalamandalam declares awards, fellowships". The Hindu. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Kerala Kalamandalam Declares 2023 Awards". India Art Review. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ a b "A first-of-its-kind book on the anatomy of mridangam". The Hindu. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "'മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം' കെ. എസ്. ചിത്ര പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു". Kerala Bhasha Institute Official Web-site. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "NATIONAL SEMINAR on INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES OF MUSIC EDUCATION and RESEARCH" (PDF). Official Web=site of Government Women's College, Trivandrum. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Erickavu N Sunil, Mridangam Artist". Haripad, Alappuzha. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "നാലു പതിറ്റാണ്ടിന്റെ ഹൃദയതാളം, എരിക്കാവ്സു നിലിന്ജ ന്മനിയോഗം" (in Malayalam). കേരള കൗമുദി. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "'റിസൗണ്ടിങ് മൃദംഗം' – മൃദംഗത്തിനു സമ്പൂർണ റഫറൻസ് ഗ്രന്ഥവുമായി ഐടി വിദഗ്ധൻ" (in Malayalam). മലയാള മനോരമ. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ a b M, Athira (27 June 2019). "Indeevaram, a performance space for prodigies and amateurs". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2021 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Teachers and Performers of Indian Music and Dance in Kerala". chandrakantha.com. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ M, Athira (3 October 2019). "Musicians and dancers of Technopark step out as tutors". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2021 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Art house". epaper.thehindu.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Sreevalsan Thiyyadi (28 May 2021). "Anatomy of a drum". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Kalamandalam Declares 2023 Awards". India Art Review. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ "Kalamandalam Awards and Fellowships - Press Release" (PDF). Kerala Kalamandalam Official Web-site. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ "Book Categories - Maatolikkollunna Mridangam". Kerala Bhasha Institute Book Categories. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "'മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം' പ്രകാശിപ്പിച്ചു". Desabhimani Daily. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "'മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം' കെ. എസ്. ചിത്ര പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു'". Madhyamam Daily. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.