Kuzhur Narayana Marar (25 May 1925 – 11 August 2011) was an Indian musician, considered to be one of the masters of

Panchavadyam Panchavadyam (Malayalam: പഞ്ചവാദ്യം), literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form that has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four — timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idakka � ...

. He was awarded

Padmabhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service o ...

by Government of India for his contributions to the propagation of Panchavadyam in 2010. He is the first Panchavadyam exponent to receive Padmabhushan award.

Biography

Narayana Marar was born in Kuzhur, a tiny hamlet near Mala in Thrissur district in Kerala to Manikyamangalam Vadakkini Kochupilla Kurup and Kuzhur Neduparambath Kunjipilla Amma on 25 May 1925. He started learning Panchavadyam at the early age of five under the tutelage of his father. Later he learned ''Keli'' from Eravipurath Appu Marar,

Thimila Timila, thimila or paani, (Malayalam:തിമില) is an hour-glass shaped percussion instrument used in Kerala, South India. It is made of polished ''jackwood'', and the drumheads made of calfskin (preferably taken from 1- to 2-year-old ...

from Perumpilli Kesava Marar and

Thayambaka Thayambaka or tayambaka is a type of solo chenda performance that developed in the south Indian state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and ilathalam playe ...

from Manikyamangalam Narayana Marar. Narayan Marar died at the age of 86 on 11 August 2011.

Legacy

Narayana Marar along with his two elder brothers, Kuttappa Marar and Chandran Marar were called ''Kuzhur triumvirate''.Percussion maestro Kuzhur Narayana Marar passes away – The Hindu
/ref> They together created a new style in Panchavadyam rendition and were a regular presence at the

Pooram Pooram pronounced is an annual festival, which is celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Durga or Kali held especially in Valluvanadu area and other adjoining parts of north-central Kerala (Present Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur, Kasara ...

festivals of Kerala. Narayana Marar started participating in

Thrissur Pooram The Thrissur ''Pooram'' is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala, India. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur every year on the ''Pooram'' (pronounced ) day—the day when the moon rises with the ''P ...

from the age of 19 and was a regular till retired at the age of 60.

Awards

* Pallavur Appu Marar Puraskaram - 2005 *

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India. It was established on 26 April 1958, inaugurated by then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The academy started a cultural centre at the Bahrain Kerala ...

Award - 2004 * Panchvadya Kulapathi Puraskaram

References

External links

Profile

in The Hindu Daily

Profile

Felicitation Video

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nambiar, Narayanan P. K. 1925 births 2011 deaths Malayali people Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts Indian percussionists 20th-century Indian musicians