Mali Karnasapatham Award
Malifoundation proposes to bestow an award on an outstanding Kathakali artiste annually, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mrs. Malathi M. Nair, beloved wife of Late. V. Madhavan Nair, “Mali” a versatile genius and author of many creative masterpieces including “Karnasapatham Attakkatha”.
The award is known as The Mali Karnasapatham Award and it comprises a cash prize of Rs. 10,001/- (Rupees Ten thousand and One only), a citation and a memento. The award is determined in association with Tripunitura Kathakali Kendram.
The Mali Karnasapatham Award Winners
2008 :
The first Mali Karnasapatham Award 2008 honours Sri Kottakkal Sivaraman who has enacted, countless times, the role of Kunti in Mali’s path-breaking Karnasapatham attakatha. As is well known, Sri Kottakkal Sivaraman’s contributions to kathakali are immense. His knowledge, artistry and dedication to the art have played no small part in the evolution of Kathakali over the last 50 years. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the first Mali Karnasapatham Award should be bestowed on this colossus in the filed of Kathakali.
2009 :
The Mali Karnasapatham Award 2009 was conferred on Sri Chirakkara Madhavankutty.
Shri Chirakkara Madhavankutty, son of Raman Pillai, was born in Chirakkara, Kollam. He began his training in Kathakali under Chirakkara Nanu Pillai, and later became the foremost disciple of Mankulam Vishnu Namboodiri. An outstanding artiste, he has enacted the roles of Panchali, Damayanthi, Devayani, Lalitha and many more with immense individuality and interpretative skill, and has occupied a pre-eminent place in the field of Kathakali for about four decades. He has also portrayed the role of Kunthi innumerable times in Mali’s ‘Karnasapatham’ with great distinction, sharing the stage, on several occasions, with Mankulam as Karna in a celebrated partnership. Recipient of several awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award and the Kalamandalam Award, he continues to enrich the art with his vast experience and expertise.
2010 :
Mali Karnasapatham Award 2010 was conferred on well known Kathakali Musician Sri. Kalamandalam Gangadharan in view of his lifetime contribution to Kathakali.
Sri Kalamandalam Gangadharan, S/o Smt. Parvathy and Sri Sankara Pillai, was born in 1936 at Velinallor, Quilon District. He started learning Carnatic music at the age of 10, under Sri Kadakkavoor Velukkutty Bhagavathar. It was after he joined Kalamandalam, at the age of 17, that he turned to Kathakali Music. His Gurus were Kalamandalam Sivaraman Nair, Kavungal Madhava Panicker and the Maestro Neelakandan Nambisan. He had the rare privilege of accompanying Nambisan for many performances and that helped him imbibe the inimitable and enviable Nambisan style. He excelled not only as a performer, but also as an immaculate teacher who passed on the rich learnings that he had from Nambisan, to noted disciples like Madambi, Hyder Ali, Sankaran Embranthiri, Venmani Haridas etc.
Sangeetha Nataka Academy Awards from Center and State, Senior fellowships from Central Government and Kalamandalam, Sri Pattikkanthodi Award etc. are few of
the awards bestowed upon him.
2011 :
Mali Karnasapatham Award 2011 has been Conferred on Smt Chavara Parukutty for her contribution to Kathakali.
Smt. Chavara Parukutty was initiated to Kathakali by Ashans Muthuppilakattu Gopala Panicker and Poruvazhiyil Gopala Pillai. Subsequently she got training under the leading Kathakali exponent Shri Mankulam Vishu Namboodiri. She is an expert in Kunthi in Karnasapatham, Damayanthi in Nala charitham and Malayathi in Nizhalkkuthu.
