Award for Keezhpadam

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV. 19. This year's State Award for Kathakali goes to Mr. Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Kathakali artiste and guru.

The award carries Rs. 1 lakh, a statuette, gold-laced shawl (ponnada) and a citation.

Announcing the award here on Monday, the Minister for Food, Culture and Devaswoms, Mr. G. Karthikeyan, said that Mr.

Nair had been selected by a judging committee consisting of Dr. V. R. Prabodhachandran Nair (chairman), Dr. P. Venugopalan, Mr. Haridasan Thampuran and the Secretary (Culture), Mr. T. Balakrishnan.

The Committee said it was pleased to recommend the award to Mr. Kumaran Nair considering his contribution to the art and its popularisation. He had developed his own style in Kathakali without sacrificing the classicism of the Kalluvazhi style and had many disciples, it said.

Mr. Karthikeyan said that the award would be presented along with the Ezhuthachan Prize at a function to be organised in Thiruvananthapuram shortly.

Winners of the award, instituted last year, are chosen from among Kathakali artistes presenting characters in the dance drama, make-up artists, vocalists and instrumentalists. Last year, the award went to Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair.

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Section  : Southern States
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