Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan is a
Kathakali
Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...
exponent from
Kerala,
India. He received several awards including the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...
2016. His biography titled ''Kachaiyum Mizhukkum'' was published in 2015.
Biography
Ramachandran Unnithan was born on 1951 March 8, at Ezhukon Placott House in
Kottarakkara,
Kollam district to Vasu Pillai and Gomatiamma.
Karithra Vasupillai taught him the basics of Kathakali.
Then he studied Kathakali at
Kerala Kalamandalam from 1962 to 1975 and passed the 6 year Diploma and 2 year Post Graduate Diploma.
In Kalamandalam Unnithan studied Kathakali under noted Kathakali artists like Karipra Vasu Pillai,
Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair,
Kalamandalam Gopi and
Sadanam Krishnan Kutty.
He expertise is in ''Thadi'' role in the Kathakali.
In his autobiography, Unnithan recalls that one of his mentors, Sri Sadanam Krishnan Kutty, advised him to focus on role of ''Thadi''.
His most popular roles are ''Mannan'' in ''Lavanasuravadham'' (
Ramayana) and ''Bharata Malayan'' in ''Nizhal kuth'' (
Mahabharata).
He lives in Vettikattiri in
Thrissur district.
Family
He and his wife Sreekumari have three children.
Awards and honors
*
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...
2016
*
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja award 2006
*HRD Fellowship
*Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon Award
*Kalamandalam Hyderali memorial Kathakali award instituted by the Vendar Subrahmania Swamy temple advisory committee.
*He has won many local awards such as awards from Kollam Kathakali Club, Kottayam Kaliyarang, Alappuzha Kathakali Club, Alappuzha Kalakshetram and Bombay Keli.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramachandran, Unnithan
1951 births
Living people
20th-century Indian dancers
Dancers from Kerala
Kathakali exponents
People from Kollam district
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Malayali people
Indian male dancers