Kalamandalam Gangadharan – Famous Kathakali Musician

Kalamandalam Gangadharan (1936 – 2015) was a well-known Kathakali musician and singer. He was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006, Kalamandalam Fellowship and many other honours. He was a visiting professor at Margi – which teaches and promotes Kathakali and Kutiyattom. He was also the former vice principal of Kalamandalam. As a Kathakali musician and singer he has performed in different venues in India and abroad. He taught famous musicians – Kalamandalam Hyderali , Sankaran Embranthiri and Kalamandalam Haridas at Kerala Kalamandalam.

Kalamandalam Gangadharan hailed from Oyoor, Kollam. Kottarakara is his native place. Since 10, he started learning Carnatic vocal music from Kadakkavur Velukuuty Nair. At the age of 17, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam as a student. It was in the 1950s when he was one among the early batch students who surprised his gurus with his confidence, and also got three months training from Mundaya Venkita Krishna Bhagavathar. After finishing his course he joined the institute as faculty and later served as its vice principal too. He explored many unfamiliar ragas in Kathakali music. He was married to Sathiamma and had two sons.

Kalamandalam Gangadharan – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He was one among the first students to complete Kathakali music course at Kalamandalam.

2. A top-rank artist he was one of the senior most Kathakali musicians during his active years post year 2000.

3. He learnt Kathakali music from Sivaraman Nair and Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan.