Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair

Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, also spelt Kunju Nair, (1908-1981) was a prominent Kathakali exponent of the 20th century and the first principal of Kerala Kalamandalam, the premier performing arts institute of Kerala in south India. [http://www.remashrikant-ecpa.com/] . A Padma Shri awardee [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_Shri] , Kunchu Nair was a frontline disciple of the legendary Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, and was noted for his subdued portrayal of lead Kathakali roles like Nalan, Rugmangadan, Dharmaputrar, Bhiman, Arjunan, Brahmanan (in the storyplay Santanagopalam) and Parasuraman (Sitaswayamvaram) besides in anti-hero slots like Ravanan and Duryodhanan. [Kathakali Encyclopedia (Vijnanakosam), page 319]

A native of Vazhenkada, now in Malappuram district, Kunchu Nair was initiated into Kathakali by gurus Kariyattil Koppan Nair and Kalluvazhi Govinda Pisharody. Subsequently, he became a disciple of Pattikkamthodi.

Kunchu Nair, who also taught at the PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal, has eminent disciples like Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody, Kottakkal Sivaraman, Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri and Kottakkal Chandrasekharan. Vazhenkada Vijayan, an ex-principal of Kalamandalam, is his son.

Kunchu Nair died in 1981 after prolonged illness.