Sankaran Embranthiri Biography 
Sankaran Embranthiri was a Kathakali musician from Kerala. He was honoured with the title 'Kathakali Gaana Praveena' by Kerala Fine Arts Society in 1989. He has performed across India as well as abroad and regarded as one of the greatest exponents of this traditional art form in the 20th century. He was born in a poor Brahmin family in Vellayoor village of Malappuram. He rose to fame during early 1970’s and remained active throughout the decade and 1980’s. He also sings in his melodious voice and is a trained Carnatic singer. He has recorded many CDs and LP records of Kathakali music.
After his primary education, he joined Kerala Kathamandalam, Thrissur – the University of Kerala art forms. He was not a promising singer during his childhood days. He learned Kathakali Music under Kalamandalam Neelakandhan Nambeesan, Kalamandalam Sivaraman Nair, Kavungal Madhava Panikkar and Kalamandalam Gangadharan during the period 1957- 1965. He learnt Carnatic music under G. P. Govinda Pisharody, Thripunithura Sankara Warrier and M.R. Peethambara Menon. After studies, he joined Unnayi Warrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in 1965 where he worked for the next 5 years. He has also worked as a Kathakali artist in Travancore before assigning the role of music teacher.
In the year 1970, he became the Kathakali music director of Fine Arts Wing of FACT. He retired from FACT, Kochi. At the same time, he rose to fame as a Kathakali singer and kept himself updated to the norms of the art form. For his contributions to Kathakali he was honoured with Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi fellowship in 2002 and Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram in 2003. He went kidney transplant in 1991, yet remained active. He died in Aluva in 2007.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 14, 2014
