Ammannur madhava chakyar, a well known koodiyattam performer and he got padmasree and padmabhushan award from india goverment, an interview

An embodiment of true devotion to an art form is a rarity, and the renowned Kutiyattam maestro Ammannur Madhava Chakyar is one among them. He hails from the well-known Ammanur Chakyar family, which played a seminal role in giving a new lease of life to one of the oldest Sanksrit theatre form of India- Kutiyattam. Successive generations in the Ammanur family have meticulously upheld the tradition of ancient Sanskrit theatre as expressed in Kutiyattam.
Born May 13, 1917 as the son of Vellarapilli Madassi Manykal Parameswaran Nambutiri and Sreedevi Illodamma, Ammanur Madhava Chakyar since his debut at a young age of 11 was talent in abundance. He had his debut performance at the Bhagavati Temple of Thirumandham Kunnu as Soothradhara in Balacharitam.
Ammnaur Madhava Chakiyar was fortunate to get trained by illustrious teachers of Kutiyattam and Koothu like Ammannur Chachu Chakyar; Ammannur Valiya Madhava Chakyar and Kidangur Rama Chakyar. His teacher in Natyasastra (the science and art of Indian dance) and Abhinaya (acting) was Bhagavatar Kunjunni Thamburan. He was taught Sanskrit by Kochikkavu Thampuratty and Manthitta Nambuthiri.
Ammanur Madhava Chakiyar besides his unique contributions and traits as a Kutiyattam artistes was also instrumental in surpassing the tradition, which saw the art form of Kutiyattam coming out of the confines of the temple walls. The great maestro also became part of yet another milestone, not only for Kutiyattam, but also for all other Indian art forms in the year 2001, October 16 in Paris. It was a Kutiyattam performance by Ammanur Madhava Chakiyar, organized by the UNESCO, in honour of its selecting Kutiyattam as a 'masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity'.

Ammanur has given Kutiyattam performances abroad in countries like France, England, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan, where he could instantly drew the admiration of the local audience.

Ammanur was bestowed with honours and awards that include Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1979), Padma Shri, Government of India (1982), Fellowship, Kerala Kalamandalam (1988), Kalidas Samman, Government of Madhya Pradesh (1992) Veera Sringhala, International Centre for Koodiyattam, Tripunithura (1994) Fellowship, Sangeet Natak Akademi (1996) Doctor of Letters degree, Kannur University (2002) etc.