Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri | |
|---|---|
 Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri while receivingKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship 2019, Kollam | |
| Born | (1940-02-05)February 5, 1940 |
| Died | August 2, 2021(2021-08-02) (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Kathakali artist |
Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri orNelliyod Vasudevan Namboodiri (5 February 1940 – 2 August 2021)[1] was aKathakali artiste, noted primarily for his vibrant portrayal of the evilchuvanna thaadi ("red beard") roles of the classical Kathakali dance-drama fromKerala in south India. He was also very famous and known for the characters 'Kuchelan' from Kuchelavritham and 'Aashaari' from Bakavadham.
Nelliyode was born in 1940 inCheranalloor inErnakulam district. He joined the PSV Natyasangham inKottakkal in 1957 and received training in Kathakali largely underPadma ShriVazhenkada Kunchu Nair of the tradition.[2] After a teaching stint inKerala Kalamandalam,[3] he joined as a Kathakali teacher at the Central High School inThiruvananthapuram. Nelliyode lived inPoojappura near Thiruvananthapuram.[1]
Nelliyode has received theCentral Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and theKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1999).[4] He has also received Rigatta's 'Natyaratna' title and gold medal in 1976, Thulaseevana award in 1988, Kalamandalam award, Central Government Fellowship, andOnamthuruth temple's 'Natyavisarad' title[1] and the Kerala State Kathakali Prize for 2013.[5]
In Kathakali, Nelliyode is primarily famous for his playing cruel characters like KaliNalacharitham,Trigartan,Dushasanan, Bakan,[6] andVeerabhadran.[7] He also excelled in pious roles likeKuchelan (Sudama) besides demonickari roles such as Nakrathundi, Simhika, Soorpanakha, Lanka Lakshmi, and the black-bearded Kaatalan (woodsman). Possessing deep knowledge inSanskrit and the HinduPuranas,[2] Nelliyode was also capable of presentingPatakam, a classical temple art requiring skills inoratory,[8] and has played the role of the Fool in a production ofKing Lear.[9]
Nelliyode is regarded as the leading player of the destructive ‘tamasic’ characters in Kathakali.[5][6] He has presented a deeper interpretation of these characters and emphasised their central role in the plays.[2]
Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboothiri died on 2 August 2021 at the age of 81. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer for some time.[10][11][12]
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