Sadanam Vasudevan, Kalamandalam K G Vasudevan and Kalkshetra Vilasini receive fellowships
Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed university, has announced its fellowships, awards, and endowments for the year 2023. The recipients of the prestigious fellowships are Chenda exponent Sadanam Vasudevan, Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam K G Vasudevan and Mohiniyattam artist Kalkshetra Vilasini. The fellowships contain a cash award of ₹50,000, a citation, and a shawl.
The awardees in various categories include Kottakkal Kesavan Kundalayar (Kathakali vesham); Kottakkal Madhu (Kathakali music); Kottaram Subhramaniyan Namboodiri (Chenda); Kalamandalam Haridas (Maddalam); Chingoli Purushothaman (Chutti); Sooraj Nambiar (Kudiyattam), Kalamandalam Leelamani (Mohiniyattam); Payyannur P V Krishnan Kutti (Thullal); Bijeesh Krishna (Dance Music). These awards carry a prize of ₹30,000, along with citations and a shawl.
Sadnam Harikumar has been honoured with the M K K Nair award for his overall contribution, while Kalamandalam Aadityan(Kathakali) receives the young talent award. Notable winners of various endowments include Chengannur Harisharma (Mukundaraja Smrithi Puraskaram), Chandramana Narayanan Namboodiri- Carnatic Music (Kalaratnam Endowment), Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Pothuval (A S N Nambeeshan Puraskaram), Kalamandalam Ravikumar- Mizhavu(Painkulam Ramachakyar smaraka Puraskaram), and Kottakkal Pradeep-Kathakali (Dr. V.S. Sharma Endowment Award), Kalamandalam Sharmila(Vatakkan Kannan Nair Smrithi Puraskaram), Vinitha Nedungadi- Mohiniyattam (Killimangalam Vasudevan Namboodiripad Smaraka Award), Kalamandalam Ashik Kathakali(Bhagawathar Kunjunni Tampuran Puraskaram), Krishna E P- Mohiniyattam (Pakaravoor Chitran Namboodiripad Janmashadabdi Smaraka Endowment) Kalamandalam MohanaKrishnan(K S Divakaran Nair Smaraka Puraskaram). Additionally, Erikkavu Sunil receives the Kalagrandhram award for his book “Resounding of Mridangam,” while Kalamandalam Venkitaraman, Kallekulangara Kathakali gramam for the best documentary award for his production “Taadiyarangu.”
The selection panel consist of Koodiyattam exponent Venu G (Chairman), Kalamandalam M P S Namboodiri, Dr. A N Krishnan, Prof. G S Paul, Fr. Paul Poovathingal, Kalamandalam GopinathanPrabhu, Dr. Manoj Krishna, Peringodu Chandran, and Kalamandalam Husnabhanu as members and Kalamandalam registrar Dr. Rajesh Kumar as member secretary.