Thekkinkattil Ravunni Nair | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ravunni Nair 1888 |
| Died | 1962 (aged 73–74) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1961) |
Thekkinkattil Ravunni Nair also known as Thekkinkattil Ramunni Nair was a Kathakali dancer from Kerala in India. He is a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.
Ravunni Nair was born on 1888, in Tachhanattukara village in present-day Palakkad district of Kerala. [1]
Ravunni Nair was the first disciple of Kathakali legend Pattikkamthodi 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, at Karalmanna, 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 as Urvashi 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 near Cherpulassery and Ankarath in Palakkad, he became a Kathakali teacher at Sadanam in 1957. [2] [1] Kathakali artists like Sadanam Krishnankutty, Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan and Sadanam Ramankutty were his disciples. [2]
Nair has also published a book on the art of Kathakali acting, named Natya rachana in 1956, which describes the rasas (face expression of emotions) in Kathakali, their nature, and the techniques of performing it. [4] [1]