Kalamandalam Kesavan Biography 
Kalamandalam Kesavan was a Kathakali percussionist and playwright who studied from the prestigious Kerala Kalamandalam, but best known as a supporting actor of Malayalam cinema. He regularly played numerous father kind of roles on big screen, and is best remembered for his role Payyarathu Padmanabhan Nair - Jayaram's father in the movie Katha Nayagan released in 1997. It was his first major release. He later appeared in Saaphalyam, The Car, Vaanaprastham, Naadan Pennum Naattupramaaniyum, Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu, Vettam, Swapnam Kondu Thulaabhaaram etc. He died on 25 April 2009 following a heart attack, at the age of 75.
Kalamandalam Kesavan was born in Peringode, Palakkad district on 18 May 1936, as the son of Kurukkattumanakkal Vamanan Namboothiri and Neettiyathu Janakiamma. Keshavan first trained as a Kathakali percussionist with his uncle Neettiyath Govindan Nair, and later trained in Kathakali 'melam' with stalwarts like Moothamana Kesavan Namboodiri and Thiruvallwamala Venkinchan Swamy at Poomully Mana in Palakkad district. Later he enrolled in the famed art school at Kalamandalam, Thrissur where he was trained by Krishnankutty Poduval. He also turned a playwright of Kathakali during his stay at Kalamandalam. Throughout his life he wrote more than 40 short plays for Kathakali.
As a film actor he debut at the age of 65, and played the memorable role of Jayaram’s father in Katha Nayagan, the role for which he is still remembered. In fact he has acted in one less known movie, Marattam directed by G. Aravindan in 1988. Apart from a few films, he also appeared in TV serials. In his lifetime, he received Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kala Sahithya Academy Award, Ravunni Menon Memorial Award, N.K. Pisharadi Award and many more honours.
Published: September 19, 2018
Updated: September 19, 2018
