Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri

Indian dancer (1940–2021)

Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri while receiving Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship 2019, Kollam
Born	(1940-02-05)5 February 1940 Cheranelloor, Ernakulam district, Kerala, British Raj
Died	2 August 2021(2021-08-02) (aged 81)
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Kathakali artist

Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri or Nelliyod Vasudevan Namboodiri (5 February 1940 – 2 August 2021) was a Kathakali artiste, noted primarily for his vibrant portrayal of the evil chuvanna thaadi ("red beard") roles of the classical Kathakali dance-drama from Kerala in south India. He was also very famous and known for the characters 'Kuchelan' from Kuchelavritham and 'Aashaari' from Bakavadham.

Career

Nelliyode was born in 1940 in Cheranalloor in Ernakulam district. He joined the PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal in 1957 and received training in Kathakali largely under Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair of the tradition. After a teaching stint in Kerala Kalamandalam, he joined as a Kathakali teacher at the Central High School in Thiruvananthapuram. Nelliyode lived in Poojappura near Thiruvananthapuram.

Awards

Nelliyode has received the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1999). He has also received Rigatta's 'Natyaratna' title and gold medal in 1976, Thulaseevana award in 1988, Kalamandalam award, Central Government Fellowship, and Onamthuruth temple's 'Natyavisarad' title and the Kerala State Kathakali Prize for 2013.

Repertoire

In Kathakali, Nelliyode is primarily famous for his playing cruel characters like Kali Nalacharitham, Trigartan, Dushasanan, Bakan, and Veerabhadran. He also excelled in pious roles like Kuchelan (Sudama) besides demonic kari roles such as Nakrathundi, Simhika, Soorpanakha, Lanka Lakshmi, and the black-bearded Kaatalan (woodsman). Possessing deep knowledge in Sanskrit and the Hindu Puranas, Nelliyode was also capable of presenting Patakam, a classical temple art requiring skills in oratory, and has played the role of the Fool in a production of King Lear.

Significance

Nelliyode is regarded as the leading player of the destructive ‘tamasic’ characters in Kathakali. He has presented a deeper interpretation of these characters and emphasised their central role in the plays.

Death

Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboothiri died on 2 August 2021 at the age of 81. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer for some time.

References

^ "Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri". Kathakali Artists. CyberKerala.
^ Kaladharan, V. (28 September 2007). "Matchless artistry". The Hindu.
John A. Willis (1971). Dance World - Volume 6. p. 90.
"Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^ "An inspired genius in fierce red". Kerala Tourism. Government of Kerala, Dept. of Tourism. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
^ Asian Theatre Journal: ATJ. - Volumes 21-22. 2004. p. 229.
Sadasivan, T.K. (26 June 2009). "Fine improvisation". The Hindu.
Sangameswaran, A. (24 March 2006). "In a new role". The Hindu.
Janelle G. Reinelt, Joseph R. Roach (2007). Critical Theory and Performance. University of Michigan Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0472068869.
"പ്രശസ്ത കഥകളി ആചാര്യന്‍ നെല്ലിയോട് വാസുദേവന്‍ നമ്പൂതിരി അന്തരിച്ചു". www.twentyfournews.com (in Malayalam). 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
"കഥകളി ആചാര്യന്‍ നെല്ലിയോട് വാസുദേവന്‍ നമ്പൂതിരി അന്തരിച്ചു". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
ചരമം - മാധ്യമം ദിനപത്രം 2021 ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 3

v t e Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala
Carnatic Music - Vocal	Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar K. V. Narayanaswamy Neyyattinkara Vasudevan Trichur V. Ramachandran
Instrumental - Carnatic Violin	B. Sasikumar
Instrumental - Mridangam	Guruvayur Dorai Palghat Mani Iyer Palghat R. Raghu T. V. Gopalakrishnan
Creative and Experimental Music	K. P. Udayabhanu
Dance - Kathakali	Champakulam Pachu Pillai Chenganoor Raman Pillai Guru Gopinath Guru Kunchu Kurup Kalamandalam Gopi Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalamandalam Rajan Kavungal Chathunni Panicker Kottakkal Chandrasekharan Kottakkal Sivaraman Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri Madavoor Vasudevan Nair Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri Padmanabhan Nair Ramankutty Nair Sadanam Krishnankutty Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan Vasu Pisharody Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair Vazhenkada Vijayan Kalamandalam Kuttan Asan M. P. S. Namboodiri Ramachandran Unnithan Thonnakkal Peethambaran Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri
Dance - Mohiniattam	Deepti Omchery Bhalla Gopika Varma Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma Kalamandalam Kshemavathy Kalamandalam Leelamma Kalamandalam Satyabhama Kalamandalam Sugandhi Vimala Menon V. K. Hymavathy
Creative Dance/Choreography	Mrinalini Sarabhai
Major Traditions of Dance and Dance Theatre	Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri
Music for Dance	Kalamandalam Gangadharan
Theatre - Acting	N. N. Pillai
Theatre - Direction	Kavalam Narayana Panikkar
Theatre - Traditional / Folk / Dance / Music / Puppetry	Ammannur Madhava Chakyar Neralattu Rama Poduval Mani Madhava Chakyar P. K. Narayanan Nambiar Appukutty Poduval Mattannoor Sankarankutty
Performing Arts in the Media	K. J. Yesudas

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