KATHAKALI ACHARYAN T.K.CHANDU PANIKKAR (1875 - 1969)

Late Sri Chandu Panikkar Acharyan, a legend of Kathakali is not only pride to Payyanurians, and Malayalees but also the whole Southern part of India as well as to the great art of Kathakali itself. He was a renowned artiste, a great Aacharya, and native of Kunhimangalam.

Born on 10th March 1875,to Sri.Aachan veettil Raman Nair and Smt. Thotton 
Karakkadan Ucchira in Trikkarppur,Kerala,Sri Thotton Karakkadan CHANDU PANIKKAR
had his training in Ottan Thullal first under the tutelage of Karivellur Vazhakkodan Kannan Nair at Thazhakkattu Mana,Trikkarppur duringthe period of Vasudevan Thirumunbu.

In the year 1893, he started learning Kathakali under Sri. Chamrakulathu Gopala Panikkar and after one year of training Sri. Panikkar became the principle disciple of the famous Guru Tholanoor Valiyathodi Eachara Menon (palakkad ) at Thazhakkattu Mana. Sri. Panikkar was introduced to the public through his Arangettam in the role of Arjuna in Subhadra- haranam. Under the tutelage of Guru Eachara Menon Sri. Panikkar became a full- fledged Kathakali artiste and earned a good name.This famous Kathakali Yogam of Thazhakkattu mana lasted only for a period of 12 years & Chandu Panikkar had also to leave this troupe after the demise of Sri. Vasudevan Thirumunbu. The members of Thazhakkattu Mana started a fresh Kathakali Yogam in KODOTHU and  Panikkar Aasan became the leader of this Yogam . He had to leave this Kathakali Yogam after sometimes due to personal commitments. Later Aasan was requested to be in-charge of the VARANAKKOTTU Kathakali Yogam for few years and during this period Sri. Panikkar moulded Puthiyadathu Krishnan into a gem of Kathakali artists and gifted him as Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair to the country. Later, he took charge as Guru of the Kathakali troupe of Vatakkancheri Valiya Mana of Cochisseema and this troupe performed constantly in the palaces of Cochin Maharajas at Trichur. He had to leave this organization due to personal reasons and meanwhile he was invited by the famous Dancer Ramgopal to teach him Kathakali at his school "Kalakendra" in Bangalore. After some times, Sri.Panikkar returned to Trikkarippur to be with the family for some time. An offer came from the Hegde of the DHARMASTHALA to teach Kathakali to the students of Yakshagana and
Panikkar Aasan accepted this with great pleasure. Aasan had to retire from this 
organization due to his ill-health .Sri.Panikkar, after having served the institution of Yakshagana at Dharmasthala, worked as Guru of the Kathakali Yogam at Parssinikkadavu Madappura for two years. Again, Aasan was offered to be the head of the KODOTHU Kathakali troupe under the leadership of Sri. Kodothu Krishnan Nair in the year 1946.

Sri. CHANDU PANIKKAR Aasan was invited to be the head of the Kathakali section at the world famous Kalakshetra , by its founder & Director Smt. RUKMINIDEVI ARUNDALE in the year 1948. Sri. Panikkar was a greatest exponent of Kalladikkodan tradition which Lays particular stress on Bhava and Angasuddha. He had a great repertoire of Kathakali plays, which he knew by heart. He was specially famous for his portrayal of the characters of Dharmaputra, Bheema, Durvasa, Hanuman,Daksha etc. He was honored by the Samuthiri Raja of Kozhikkode with a title and presented " veera Srinkhala"in 1903. The Raja of Cochin honoured him with two gold medals. He was also the recipient of " Veer Srinkhala " and" Kesabharam Kireetam" from the Association of Namboothiris at Talipparamba' in recognition of his services to the Art of Kathakali. Chandu Panikkar Aasan was honored with National Sangeet Natak Academy Award in the year 1958. Besides being an eminent dancer, he had trained a number of pupils who recognized exponents of Kathakali in various parts of the country. He had been the head of the Kathakali Department in Kalakshetra , Chennai (then Madras) since 1948 to 1964. He also rendered active support to Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale in choreographing her few Dance-Dramas with total involvement and also acted in some of her major Dance- Dramas when he was above 80 years old.Sri.CHANDU PANIKKAR Aasan expired on 16th Jan.1969 at his residence in Kunhimangalam at the age of 94.