Kalamandalam K. G. Vasudevan Nair
Kalamandalam K.G. Vasudevan Nair | |
|---|---|
K. G. Vasudevan Nair | |
| Born | K.G. Vasudevan Nair 1937 (age 87–88) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2010) Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2006) Kerala Kalamandalam Award and Fellowship |
Kalamandalam K.G. Vasudevan Nair is a Kathakali dancer from Kerala in India. He is a recipient of Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Takazhi Kunju Kurup Fellowship by Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.
Biography
Kalamandalam Kombil Gopalan Vasudevan Nair was born in 1937 in the Keerikkad in present-day Alappuzha district in Kerala.[1] Vasudevan Nair began his Kathakali training at the age of 11 under Kathakali guru Evoor Raghavan Pillai, who lived in his neighborhood.[2] He then studied under K. R. Kumaran Nair and Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair and later joined Kerala Kalamandalam at the age of 14, for a post-diploma in Kathakali, where he studied Kathakali under Ramankutty Nair and Padmanabhan Nair.[1][2]
Career
Vasudevan Nair is a master of the Kalluvazhi style of Kathakali, and his roles in Pacha (pious, gentle, and noble characters) and Kathi (anti-heroes and negative characters) are notable.[1] He has excelled in portraying male roles such as Rukmangada, Nala, Krishna, Kichaka, and Ravana, and in portraying female roles such as Urvashi, Lalitha, Damayanti, and Mohini.[1] He has traveled to various places in India, several European countries, and the United States for lectures and performances.[1]
Vasudevan Nair has also worked as a Kathakali teacher at the Gandhi Seva Sadan Kathakali Academy and Vellinezhi Government High School.[1] Sadanam Krishnankutty and Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan are his disciples.[1]
Awards and honors
Vasudevan Nair is a recipient of Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.[1][2] He received the first Kathakali Acharya Award, instituted by the Barnassery Mudra Kalakshetram in memory of Kathakali Acharya Kalamandalam Sankaranarayanan Nair, in February 2024.[3] He received the Takazhi Kunju Kurup Fellowship by the Kerala Kalamandalam in January 2025.[4]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kalamandalam K.G. Vasudevan Nair" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi.
- ^ a b c "Kalamandalam K.G. Vasudevan Nair, Kathakali maestro, Enchanting Kerala, Newsletter, Kerala Tourism". Kerala Tourism. Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.
- ^ "കഥകളി ആചാര്യ പുരസ്കാരം കലാമണ്ഡലം കെ.ജി.വാസുദേവൻ നായർക്ക്". Newspaper (in Malayalam). 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Kalamandalam declares awards, fellowships". The Hindu. 2025-01-15. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-06-23.