Kalamandalam Kesavan was an Indian kathakali percussionist, playwright and actor in Indian cinema. He did roles in

Malayalam movie Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...

s during the 1990s and 2000s. He is popular for his role ''Payyarathu Padmanabhan Nair'' as

Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasiona ...

's father in the movie '' Katha Nayakan''.

Background

He was born on 18 May 1936 as the son of Kurukkattumanakkal Vamanan Namboothiri and Neettiyathu Janakiamma, at Peringode,

Palakkad Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipal ...

. He was noted for his performance in the films ''Kathanayakan'' and ''Vanaprastham'' and penned poems and written more than 40 short plays for Kathakali. He also contributed to the upliftment of Kathakali Ssangeetham. He joined the

Kerala Kalamandalam Kerala Kalamandalam, deemed to be University of Art and Culture by the Government of India, is a major center for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the Southern states of India, with the special emphasis on K ...

in 1954, where he came under Kathakali masters like Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval and Appunni Poduval. After graduating from Kalamandalam, Kesavan worked with ''Kala Sadanam'', Chunangad and ''RLV Institute'', Thripunithura. He also worked as a teacher at F.A.C.T Kathakali School as chenda master in Aluva for 30 years. He was the recipient of

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award is an award given by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, an autonomous organisation for the encouragement, preservation, and documentation of the performing arts of Kerala, set up by the Department of Cultur ...

(1997), Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kala Sahithya Academy Award for his Collection of poems ''Thenthully'', Ravunni Menon Memorial Award and N.K. Pisharadi Award. After that he appeared in many films and television serials, portraying important characters. Kesavan made his debut movie in Marattam in 1988, directed by

G. Aravindan Govindan Aravindan (23 January 1935 – 15 March 1991) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, musician, cartoonist, and painter. He was one of the pioneers of parallel cinema in Malayalam. He was known for his unorthodox way of filmma ...

. He was married to Parvathy. They had a daughter and two sons. He died on 25 April 2009 following a heart attack at his house Elamakkara,

Kochi Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of K ...

. He was 73.

Partial filmography

* ''

Vettam ''Vettam'' () is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film directed by Priyadarshan based on a screenplay he had co-written with Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas from his story. It was produced by Menaka through Revathy Kalamandhir and ...

'' (2004) * ''Soudamini'' (2003) * ''Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu'' (2003) * ''

Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam ''Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam'' is a 2003 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film. It stars Suresh Gopi and Kunchacko Boban. It was released on 27 June 2003. Plot Madhavan Thampi and Prabhavati are presented as middle-aged, well-off parents of tw ...

'' (2003) * ''

Saivar Thirumeni ''Saayvar Thirumeni'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Shajoon Karyal and written by Robin Thirumala. It features Suresh Gopi, Manoj K. Jayan, Samyuktha Varma, Narendra Prasad, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekum ...

'' (2001) * ''

Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum ''Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum'' () is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Rajasenan and written by Suresh Poduval from a story by Rajasenan and Mahesh Mithra. The film stars Jayaram, Samyuktha Varma, Srividya and Jag ...

'' (2000) * ''

Vaanaprastham ''Vanaprastham: The Last Dance'' (french: Vanaprastham: La Dernière Danse) is a 1999 Indo-French psychological drama period film in Malayalam-language that was directed by Shaji N. Karun. It was produced by Pierre Assouline and co-produced by ...

'' (1999) .... Thirumeni * '' Saaphalyam'' (1999) * ''

The Car ''The Car'' is a 1977 American horror film directed by Elliot Silverstein and written by Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack and Lane Slate. The film stars James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley and Ronny Cox, along with real-life sisters Kim and ...

'' (1997) * '' Katha Nayagan'' (1997) .... Payyarathu Padmanabhan Nair Debut as Lead Role * '' Marattam'' (1988) Debut Film

Television

*Olakkuda (DD Malayalam)

References

External links

*
Kalamandalam Kesavan at MSI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kesavan, Kalamandalam Male actors from Kerala Male actors in Malayalam cinema Indian male film actors 1936 births 2009 deaths People from Palakkad district 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award