Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar

Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar (1928–2009) was an exponent of Koodiyattam,^[1] a traditional form of Sanskrit theatre from Kerala, which has been recognised by UNESCO as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind.^[2] Born in a family of Koodiyattam performers, in 1928, at Ammannur, a small hamlet near Irinjalakuda, in Thrissur district in the south Indian state of Kerala, Chakyar had his early training in the art form from within his family. Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, a renowned Koodiyattam performer and a Padmabhushan awardee, was his cousin and the two, later, would evolve a new school of performance, popularly known as the Ammannur tradition of Koodiyattam.^[3] When Margi, an institution promoting traditional art forms of Kerala, started their Koodiyattam training centre in 1981, he was the first residential guru.^[4] The institution imparted training to many aspiring performers^[5][6] which included two sons of Chakyar, Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar^[7] and Margi Madhu^[8] and both of them are known exponents of the art form. In 1998, Chakyar joined Nepathya, a centre for excellence in Kudiyattam, as the Mukhya Acharya (Head Teacher), and continued his association with the institution till his last.^[9] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2008, for his contributions to Arts.^[10] He died in 2009, at the age of 81.^[2] He is remembered by an annual festival, Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival, at Moozhikkulam, a suburb of Kochi where Nepathya is headquartered in,^[2][11] and through orations organised by Nepathya.^[12]

Margi Madhu as Ravanan at Nepathya

See also[]

• Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
• Koodiyattam
• Mani Madhava Chakyar

References[]

External links[]

• "With Respect". Natya Dharmi. 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

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