K. K. Antony Biography 
K. K. Antony was a great patron of arts, a music composer and a founding member of Kalabhavan Kochi, Kochi – the leading mimicry troupe of Kerala. Kalabhavan has given countless talented actors and comedians to Malayalam cinema since 1990s. When Father Abel started Kalabhavan as a Christian Arts Club in a small room in Kochi in the late 1960s, which flourished as the leading mimicry troupe of Kerala in the 1990s, K. K. Antony, a music teacher and K J Yesudas, a struggling young singer then were also associated with its formation. It was started to train young artists in formal music education and inauguration was done in 1969. He worked as a music teacher in Kalabhavan training students. K. K. Antony has also tuned numerous Christian devotional songs written by Father Abel.
Kaanamkudam Kunjuwareeth Antony was affectionately called “Antony Master” by his students and friends. He was born at Welayanaad, near Irinjaalakkuda, in the Thrissur district on 27 April 1924. A member of the Syro-Malabar Church, he grew up hearing Christian chants. His elder brother Kunjuwarky gave him lessons in Carnatic music. He moved to Sri Lanka at the age of 19, where he continued with his music studies. He got opportunity to receive training from A. R. Krishnan Bhaagawathar. Later he took the job of music instructor at Saiva Mangayar Thilakam Music Academy, Sri Lanka. He has given Carnatic music concerts for Ceylon radio and composed background music for a few Singhalese movies.
He returned to Kerala in 1969. The same year he met Fr. Abel and here began a landmark association of two art/music patrons. He gave significant contribution in composition Christian devotional songs and also was a founding member of Kalabhavan. The trio worked together during the formation years of Kalabhavan and witnessed its branching into the leading art institution of Kerala, giving training to aspirants in different forms of art. Antony Master died suddenly of heart failure on 16 March 1987, and he was survived with his wife, Rosey and three children.
Published: N/A
Updated: April 26, 2016
