P. K. Narayanan Nambiar Biography 
P. K. Narayanan Nambiar is an Indian musician best known as an artist of Mizhavu, a traditional percussion instrument of Kerala. He is also a master of Koodiyattom. He is one of the senior survivors of both these performing art forms. He is the son of famous koodiyattom maestro Mani Madhava Chakyar. He is a recipient of numerous honours and awards including Padma Shri from government of India, Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Award Nritha Natya Puraskaram and many more.
P. K. Narayanan Nambiar was born in Killikurissimangalam, in Palakkad in the year 1927. His full name is Paanivadathilakan P. K. Narayanan Nambiar. Born into the family of performing artists, traditionally associated with temple art forms of Kerala, Nambiar too chose the same path of his ancestors. He was born as the son of Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakiar. His mother Kochampilli Kunjimalu Nangiaramma was a Nagyarkootu artist. His wife Santha Nangiaramma is also an artist He followed Gurukula tradition to master the art of Koodiyattom from his father. He later learnt under gurus like Kochampilli Raman Nambiar and Meledath Govindan Nambiar continuing learning under his father, and mastered the art of playing the music instrument Mizhavu.
At the age of 21, he gave his first Mizhavu performance at Kottakkal Kovilakam Siva temple in Malappuram in the year 1948. His first Koodiyattom performance was in 1954, which was performed at Lakkidi Kunjan Memorial Library, where he played Arjuna in Subradhananjayam. In fact it was the first Koodiyattom performance outside temple walls, thus marking a new beginning for this art form, and placing this performance in history books of Kerala’s performing arts.
Published: September 08, 2018
Updated: September 08, 2018
