Guru Kelu Nair was a renowned Kathakali dance artist and teacher.

He trained in Kathakali from Kerala Kalamandalam under gurus like Pattikkantodi Ravunni Menon and Guru Kunchu Kurup. He pursued higher studies in Rasa-abhinaya from Rasa-abhinaya maestro guru Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār. In 1936, he was invited by Sri Rabindranath Tagore to establish the first Kathakali curriculum at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. There were no Kathakali accompanists during the time, and he composed Kathakali dance in Rabindra Nritya. Only after Kathakali arrived in Santiniketan, Tagore wrote the dance drama Shyama in which the characters Bajrasen and Kotal were created with the Kathakali technique in mind. He remained as a faculty member in Santiniketan until the death of Tagore in 1941. Noteworthy disciples of Guru Kelu Nair include Mrinalini Sarabhai, Rukmini Devi Arundale and Yog Sunder Desai.[1]

Guru Kelu Nair was awarded the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1992 for his outstanding contribution to the field of Kathakali.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Visvabharati". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  2. ↑ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "ഗുരു കേളു നായർ | കഥകളി.ഇൻഫൊ | Kathakali.info | കളിയറിവുകളുടെ തിരമൊഴി". Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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