Payyanur Kesavanachari is an eminent practitioner of traditional vasthu vidya (architecture).  He published around twenty five books on different aspects of vasthuvidya. Manushyalaya chandrika, Manushyalaya Sopanam, Naveena Koopa Sastram, Vasthu Panchangam are some of them.He worked as a visiting professor at the Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam, Aaranmula and the Nirmiti Gurukulam, Thiruvananthapuram.  Kesavanachari obtained many awards and titles for his immense contribution to the field of traditional architecture from various organizations. Aachari served as the architect of many historic mansions and temples all over Kerala.  The  Sundareshwara Temple, Kannur is one among them.

Kesavan.Aachari

Artist Ganesh Kumar: Though both of his hands and legs are paralyzed, this young man named Ganesh Kumar (31yrs) is doing many miracles in the field of Paintings.   Ganesh Kumar hails from Kunhimangalam, the neighboring village of Payyanur.  He fought against his destiny and proved what determination and relentless hard work could achieve.  By practicing painting from his childhood itself by keeping the brush in his mouth the and now he has gained international fame through his beautiful and creative works in the field of water colour as well as oil colour paintings.  He is a member of MFPA (Mouth &Foot Painting Association).  He had conducted the exhibitions of his paintings in Taiwan, Rome, Switzerland, Canada apart from Bombay, Delhi and almost all the towns of Kerala.    Ganesh had won the National Award of " Outstanding Young Indian" in 1993 from the Government of India. 

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Jyothisa Chakravarthy Pandit VPK Poduval

Payyanur is very famous for Astrology and its well-known Astrologers.Today, the first name comes to the picture is of VPK Poduval who has acquired reputation all over India.  He got many title of recognition from various institutions all over the country. "Pandit" from Government of India, "Ganitha Jyothisha Chakravarthy" from Kanchi Kamakodi Sankaracharya.,"Jyothirbhooshanam" from Sanskrit Parishad of Ayodhya, "Jyothisha Thilakam" from Guruvayoor Devaswom  are some of the titles  he received.  The school for Jyothisham founded by him called " Jyothi Sadanam" is a unique institution of this kind, which offers traditional teaching in Astrology and Sanskrit. For more information on 'Jyothi Sadanam visit our Astrology page.

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, the noted Poet, Lyrist, Music Composer, Actor, Singer, Screenplay Writer and Great Performer of Individual Carnatic Music Concerts is son of well known singer late Keshavan Namboothiri popularly known as Kannadi Bhagavathar (disciple of Chembai Vaidyanathan Bhagavathar) and Aditi Antharjanam.  He got his Veda education from his grand father.  Later on he continued his education under many well known gurus (teachers) like Parassi Thamburan, SVS Panicker etc.  He also pursued his studies in acting and music at Natyagruha. He is popularly known as Kaithapram, and  every Payyanurian is proud of this great versatile personality. Shri Kaithapram made his entry into Malayalam Cinema as a Lyrist in one of the ever time hit song  “Devadundubi Ragalayam” through the film “Ennennum Kannettante” directed by Shri Fazil.  After the great hit of this song, he never had to look back and so far he has written lyrics for more than 300 films. He acted in many films starting from “Swathithurunal” to “His Highness Abdulla” to the latest film “Theerthadanam” based on a story of famous Malayalam writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair.  It is important to note that he has played the character of a Classic or Semi-Classic Singer in most of the films. The songs of his first film “Desadanam” as a Music Composer was an ever time hit in the history of Malayalam Cinema.  The film “Sopanam” which was directed by Shri Jayaraj is based on the story and Screenplay of Kaithapram. Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri is married to Devi Antharjanam and they have blessed with two children; Deepankuran and Devadarshan.  Deepankuran is a singer and sung for various films including “Desadanam” as well as Devotional Songs. The Malayalam Cinema Music Director Kaithapram Viswanathan Nambuthiri who is running Sruthilaya Music School at Payyanur is brother of Shri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. Also Shri Kaithapram is the Managing Trustee of Swathithirunal Kala Kendram  (Music School) at Kozhikode catering to more than 400 music students. Shri Kaithapram is recipient of numerous prestigious awards from various Government and cultural organizations in Kerala.

Kammara Poduval

Karipathu Kammara Poduval (70) is a well-known expert in cooking.  One can even say that it is Kammara Poduval who defined the taste of Payyanur.   He got “Pachaka Ratnam” title for the immense contribution to this sector.  He is in this field for the last 36 years.  He served as the Chief Chef for the Kerala State School Youth Festival held at Kannur, State Keralotsavam etc.   He is the chief chef of all the major youth festivals, conferences and marriage feasts and dinners for various functions  held not only Payyanur but all over North Malabar.  There will not be a single Payyannorian who didn’t know the taste the food prepared by Kammara Poduval.  Poduval, who is a known Socialist, had participated in various movements like famous Kattamballi Struggle, and the Liberation Movement (Vimochana Samaram). He was put behind the bars two times for participating in the Muthukad Agitation and Kattamballi Struggles.   He played a vital role in organizing the hotel workers of Payyanur. Kammara Poduval is always thankful to his guru, KU Valiya Kunhirama Poduval of Annur for bringing him to this field. 

Padmaraj is a famous magician all over Kerala.  Padmaraj who is an able and efficient crowd-pulling magician hails from Annur in Payyanur.   Padmaraj crated history in the Magic field by exhibiting the most-surprise rendering Indian Rope Trick.   This program was given vide publicity by BBC for many occasions.    He had won many awards and title for his achievements in the magic field.  Vazhakkunnam Trophy (1995), 1st prize in the National Competition held at Hyderabad (1996), Best Magician by International Brotherhood Magician (1997-98).   Another major title received by this young magician is the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 1998. Padmaraj who is an active member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians also participated in the Illiteracy Eradication Program through his magical medium in various occasions. .

Dr.KK Karunakaran:  He made  a lot of studies and researches on the folklore of Kerala, especially North Malabar. Born at Mahadevagramam, near Subrahmanya Swami temple in 1938, Karunakaran joined Calicut University as a research student. In 1998 he became a Professor in Malayalam at the same University.   Dr. Karunakaran obtained his doctorate for the study on Poorakkali, the folkdance of North Malabar.  He also obtained his MA in Folklore from Mysore University in First Rank. He had completed a  UGC aided project on the study of various cultural setups. He received junior fellowship from Central Government for the study “impact of other artforms on Kathakali”and senior fellowship for the work on Kalaripayattu.  He had published about 40 research articles on theyyam and other folk arts.

Dr.K.K.Karunakaran

Dr. K.G Adiyodi is a versatile personality who donated all his skills for the betterment of the society.  He was born at Peralam village near Payyanur. He was the founder member and secretary of Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad. He took his post graduate degree in Zoology from Madras University and doctorate from Kerala University. He worked as a faculty in Calicut University and Manglore University. He was selected as Vice Chancellor of Cochin Science and Technology University in 1994. He became member of Union Public Service Commission in 1996 and he was the first Malayali who became member of UPSC. He attended many international seminars on Science and he was the founder editor of a science journal publishing from Amsterdam. He has done extensive study on poisonous snakes in Kerala and published his articles. He was the author of scientific book ‘ Reproductive Biology of Invertebrates’. Dr. K.G Adiyodi passed away recently on 28 May. 2001 at New Delhi. 

Dr. K.G. Adiyodi

P.P. Narayanan Gurikkal is a Kalari Guru of Payyanur whose life is dedicated for the training and practice of Kalari and Kalari based treatments. Hundreds of people of all age groups has trained from his C.S. Kalari Sangam located near Thayineri Kurunji Temple. Even though Payyanur had a good tradition on Kalari, after the demise of great masters this traditional martial art form has ruined when time passed. It is at this time Narayanan Gurikkal decided to give a new life to Kalari and succeeded in his attempt. He has formed his Kalari training centre in 1986 and lot of people are getting training from his Chandan Smaraka Kalari Sangam. He is following the 'Vattenthirippu' style which was existed in 1940's at Payyanur. Narayanan Gurikkal is also doing Kalari style treatment for  injuries, disc prolepses, back pain etc. A lot of people from all around Payyanur and nearby villages visit here daily to get the treatment from him. The students of this Kalari Sangam has won many prizes even from out of Kerala. Sasi and Venugopal are his disciples to support  Narayanan Gurikkal in his attempt to strengthen this traditional martial art form of North Kerala.

Narayanan Gurikkal

Nartakaratnam Kanna Peruvannan is a living legend in the art of Theyyam. He performed various Theyyams at numerous venues in and outside Kerala. Kanna Peruvannan, son of  Kuttiyambu Manakkadan was born at Kodakkad, a small village near Karivellur. He started performing Theyyam at a very young age of six and he got a chance to perform the most brilliant Theyyam of Kathivannur Veeran  when he was 14 years old.  From then he had performed the same Theyyam of Kathivannur Veeran for more than six hundred times which is a record in this field.  The rituals and Thottam songs of almost all the Theyyams are by heart for this veteran artiste.  He believes in following the customs and traditions of Theyyam strictly.  His sixty-five years long Theyyam experiences has been put in the form of book by Kuttamath Sreedharan.  He was awarded with the title of “Nartakaratnam” at the Folklore seminar conducted by Karnatak University, Dharwad in 1974.   Kanna Peruvannan, who is also an expert in the treatment of children, is still active  in this work at his Mookambika Vaidya Sala at Kodakkad.

Kannan Peruvannan

Gangadharan Master from Vellur, is a personality who dedicated his life to observe and evaluate the mysterious truths in the Milky way. He was conducting classes for the students to cultivate and augment scientific thoughts and consciousness on the appearance of comet of HAALI in the sky. Observing the sky, the new generation is lagging far behind to identify the stars and understand the motions of planets, he asserts. He devoted most of his time to collect maximum available books on astronomy and astrology. He had conducted more than 100 classes in a very short span of time on astronomy and astrology at home town and adjacent villages. He has a passion for study of Universe, constellation, planetary motion, Lunar and Solar eclipse, Summer and Winter Solstices, changes of season, timely wonders appears in the galaxy, etc.,  and these were the predominant subjects of him. He has taken places in the minds of the people for his significant achievement of conceiving such a societal planetarium with minimal infrastructure. The Planetarium established in Kannur, Thallassery, Payyanur area is attracting mass public and approximately 35,000 visitors have already visited his planetarium.

Courtesy: Radhakrishnan Kunhimangalam

Azeez Thayineri is well known all over Kerala for his wonderful performance of various Mappila art forms. He is active in this field for more than three decades. He has performed Mappila-Song Concerts in thousands of venues in and outside the country. He performed Mappila Pattu in AIR for the first time at the age of 19. Later he mastered in Kolkali and formed Sal Sabeel Kalavedi. Sal Sabeel Orchestra (popularly known as SS Orchestra) is very famous all over Kerala. Azeez specialized in “Tharattu pattu” which is usually performed in Muslim houses during various functions related to a newborn child. He has published hundreds of audiocassettes in this regard. 

Prabhakaran A Poduval: Prabhakaran A Poduval is a well known personality in the field of broadcasting in Kerala. He bagged 6 national awards and the prestigious Abu International Award for broadcast. He is a Sangeetha Nataka Academy award winner and also in the board of studies of department of journalism and communication of the university of Calicut and Kerala. He joined All India Radio in1976. Now he is the director of State Institute of Educational Technology, an organization engaged in the production of educational software like video-audio and multi media. He had 15 books to his credit. Prabhakaran is a senior fellow of the Govt of India’s Department of Cultural Affairs. A Prabhakaran was born in 1946 at Payyanur in the famous Athayi tharavadu. He had his education at Payyanur College and Calicut University. He started his career as a lecturer in Payyanur College. Now he is settled at Thiruvananthapuram.

There are a lot of State leaders of various political parties from Payyanur.  T.Govindan MP and leader of CPI(M), CKP Padmanabhan, State Committee CPIM,  K.P.Kunhikkannan (Gen. Secretary of KPCC), MK.Raghavan (Gen.Secretary of KPCC), Kadanappally Ramachandran, [Photo Left] President Congress(S), Kerala State Committee,  K.C.Venugopal MLA, Satheesan Pacheni ( Joint Secretary of KPCC), P.Balan Master ( State Executive Member of CMP, P.P.Karunakaran Master (Regional President of BJP) are a few among them.  

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