Guru Kunchu Kurup

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Guru Kunchu Kurup (1880-1972) was born in Poypallilkulam family of Thakazhi village of Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. He was the first artist to get the 'Indian national award' for Kathakali (a form of Indian dance-drama). He was honoured with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards (the highest award for an artist in India).

He was the master-mind in creating fresh aesthetics of Kathakali acting/dancing, by the sublime presentation of rasa and bhava abhinaya. He was known for his pacha and kathi roles. He is considered to be one of the best talents Kathkali, Kerala ever produced.

When Kalamandalam (School for performing arts) was founded by Vallathol Narayana Menon, he invited Guru Kunchu Kurup as the master trainer.

Pacha and Kathi (two of the five make-up codes in Kathakali) characters were Kunchu Kurup's speciality. The Hamsa (the swan), Kaattaala (the barbarian), Kuchela and Brahman were his notable characters.

He is the paternal uncle of the Malayalam novelist and Jnanpeet literary award winner Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. He had his initial training in Kathakali under the Kochappiramans of Kurichi, Kottayam. Then he studied under the Champakkulam Sanku Pillai.

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