Thekkinkattil Ravunni Nair | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ravunni Nair 1888 (1888) |
| Died | 1962 (aged 73–74) |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1961) |
Thekkinkattil Ravunni Nair also known asThekkinkattil Ramunni Nair was aKathakali dancer fromKerala in India. He is a recipient ofSangeet Natak Akademi Award bySangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.
Ravunni Nair was born on 1888, in Tachhanattukara village in present-dayPalakkad district ofKerala.[1]
Ravunni Nair was the first disciple of Kathakali legendPattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon.[2] He trained under him for 15 years.[2] In 1902, Ravunni Nair became a Kathakali performer in the Poomulli Mana Kaliyogam.[3] At that time, when his guru Ravunni Menon fell ill with rheumatism, it was Ravunni Nair who helped and cared for him.[3] He also performed for kaliyogams (troupes) of Nedumpulli Mana, Modappilappally Mana and Kumbalath Embranthiri.[1]
Ravunni Nair died in 1962 due to age related illness, atKaralmanna,Palakkad district.[2][1]
Portraying both Pacha (good characters) and Kathi (negative characters) roles in Kathakali, he has portrayed many female Kathakali characters, and his role asUrvashi has received widespread critical acclaim.[2] Other than acting in Kathakali, he was also an expert in Kathakali costume making.[1]
Started teaching at Koodallur Mana in 1947, followed by Thootha nearCherpulassery and Ankarath in Palakkad, he became a Kathakali teacher at Sadanam in 1957.[2][1] Kathakali artists likeSadanam Krishnankutty,Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan and Sadanam Ramankutty were his disciples.[2]
Nair has also published a book on the art of Kathakali acting, namedNatya rachana in 1956, which describes the rasas (face expression of emotions) in Kathakali, their nature, and the techniques of performing it.[4][1]