Veteran Percussionist Mattannoor Sankarankutty Marar will take charge as chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Playwright and poet Karivellur Murali as the new secretary on Nov 17. Singer Pushpavathy is the new Vice-chairman.
Renu Ramanath, who also acts as consulting editor, India Art Review and Nimisha Salim who is also a contributory writer to IAR, are the new members.
Sankarankutty, a Padma Shri recipient, with proven excellence in playing chenda and thayambaka at several high profile events, including Thrissur Pooram, succeeds actress the late KPAC Lalitha as chairman of the academy.
Karivellur Murali, founder-secretary of Sanghachetana drama troupe in Kannur, has penned several dramas and poems and is a winner of laurels, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award.
Santosh Kizhattoor, Sahir Ali, Peringod Chandran, VT Murali, Kallara Gopan, Rajasree Varrier, Kalamandalam Appukuttan, Kalabhavan Prasad are the new members of the Nataka Akademi.
