V. K. Narayana Menon

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Dr. V. K. Narayana Menon (Thrissur Thekke Kurupath Narayana Menon)(b.1911) was a great scholar of Classical Indian dance and music. He was one of the prominent art critic of India. He was a Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

V.K. Narayana Menon was born in Kerala. He started his career as BBC Music program producer. Later he became the Director General of the same. He had held important positions in art institutions and broadcasting centres of India. He was Deputy Director of All India Radio. He was the secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi- supreme centre for art, music and dance of Govt. of India. He was the Presidant of National Centre for the Performing Arts- Bombay etc. During these tenures he promoted various arts and artists immensely.

He was noted for his writings about Classical Indian dance and music. He has written many articles and books on the subject. He was considered as one of the finest Indian art critic. Kerala A profile, Balasaraswati (About the life of great Bharatanatyam dancer Balasaraswati), The Communication Revolution, The Language of Music, Development of William Butler Yeats are some of his works. He used to write columns regularly in reputed magazines like Illustrated Weekly of India and newspapers.

Indian government honoured him by the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1980^[1].

He was married to the daughter of Rabindranath Tagore's brother.