Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri Biography 
Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri is a classical theatre performer from Palakkad, Kerala. He is a Koodiyattam performer too. He is the first person from Kerala and outside Chakyar community to practice Koodiyattam, and the first batch student of Koodiyattom in Kerala Kalamandalam. A pioneer performing artist on stage, he is a recipient of numerous awards including Padma Shri in 2012, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, Margi Gold Medal, Natyakala Ratnam Award, Mrinalini Sarabhai Award and many more honours. He learnt this art form from the renowned Koodiyattam maestro, Painkulam Raman Chakyar at Kerala Kalamandalam.
Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri hails from Palakkad. Shornur is his hometown, and he was born into a Brahmin family in 1950 as the son of Ammankotu Manakkal Madhavan Namboodiri and Devaki Antharjanam. He has two elder siblings. He was a poor student in academics. So at the age of 14 he joined Kerala Kalamandalam to study Kathakali. During those years Painkulam Raman Chakyar was fully involved in setting up Koodiyattam department in the institute. On the insistence of Vallathol Narayana Menon and and K. N. Pisharody, Sivan Namboodiri changed his course to study Koodiyattam. Only two students were present in the first batch of Koodiyattam, and Sivan was one among the two.
He also learnt Kathakali from Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and musical instrument Chenda from Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval. He spent a total of 6 years at Kalamandalam and did an advanced course in New Delhi, with the help of a scholarship from the Department of Culture. In 1975, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam as faculty of Koodiyattam and still working there. Currently he is settled in Palakkad with his wife Indira, Sanskrit teacher and two children.
Published: September 08, 2018
Updated: September 08, 2018
