Tonnakkal Peethambaran is a Kathakali exponent from

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

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. He has been honored with several noted 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 ...

2011, Kerala state Kathakali award 2014 and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award 2003.

Biography

Peethambaran was born on 1939 December 2, at Vilayil house in Thonnakkal,

Chirayinkeezhu taluk Chirayinkeezhu Taluk is a Taluk (tehsil) in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is shares border with Varkala Taluk in North and with Thiruvananthapuram Taluk in South. It comprises 12 panchayats and Attingal Munici ...

in present-day

Thiruvananthapuram District Thiruvananthapuram District (), is the southernmost district in the Indian state of Kerala. The district was created in 1949, with its headquarters in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, which is also Kerala's administrative centre. The present d ...

to ayurvedic physician P. Ramakrishnan Vaidyan and G. Thankamma. Pirappankode Kunjan Pillai was his first Guru. After studying for a while under Oyur Kochugovinda Pillai, he joined Tripunithura RLV college. His achievements as a Kathakali actor are due to the sincere discipline of

Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair (27 March 1914 – 15 August 1990) was a Kathakali dancer from Kerala in India. Life He learned and exhibited various styles of Kathakali. A Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, A native of Cheruthazha ...

. An expert in both ''Pacha'' and ''Kathi'' roles in kathakali, his ''Kathi'' roles as

Duryodhana Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...

Kichaka In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Kichaka or Keechaka is the commander-in-chief of Matsya kingdom, the country ruled by King Virata. He was the 1st Younger Brother of Sudeshna, the queen of Virata. Kichaka was a very powerful man and had immen ...

and

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characters in the stories of ''Duryodhana Vadham'', ''Uttarasvayamvaram'' and ''Nizhal kuthu'' are famous. He has performed in many stages in India and also in foreign countries like

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and

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and has participated in the

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. He directed and performed in ''Veluthampi Dalava'' aattakatha written by K. N. Gopala Pillai. Peethambaran also served as the Founder Secretary of Kollam Kathakali Club and President of the All Kerala Kathakali Club. He lives in his house ''Nishidam'' at

Kottiyam Kottiyam is one of the fast developing suburban towns located at the southern end of Kollam city in Kollam district, Kerala, India. The town is home to many popular educational institutions, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. K ...

Kollam district Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an in ...

Awards and honors

2011 *

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 Ker ...

award 2003 *Kerala state kathakali award 2014 *First Kathakali Shresthacharya Award *Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Award 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peethambaran, Thonnakkal 1939 births Living people 20th-century Indian dancers Dancers from Kerala Kathakali exponents People from Thiruvananthapuram district Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Malayali people Indian male dancers