Panjal Unnikrishnan
Panjal Unnikrishnan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unnikrishnan March 18, 1944 |
| Occupations | Chenda exponent and teacher |
| Awards |
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Panjal Unnikrishnan also known as Kalamandalam Panjal Unnikrishnan and Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan is an Indian percussionist from Kerala. He is primarily a Chenda player and also plays the Edakka. He received several awards and honors including the senior fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Pravasi Kalasree award 2013 by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and the 2014 Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Chenda. In 2022, he received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Government of Kerala.
Biography
Unnikrishnan was born on March 18, 1944, at Panjal in present-day Thrissur district of Kerala.[1] He started learning Chenda from Thamattoor Shankaran Nair and later received training from Kalamandalam Achunni Poduval.[2] He studied 5-year diploma at Kerala Kalamandalam during 1957–62.[2]
Career
Immediately after completing the Kalamandalam course, Krishnankutty Poduval included Unnikrishnan in his Vellinezhi Sahrudaya Sangam, which he had started with the aim of encouraging young people in the field of Kathakali.[2] After that, he worked at the Unnai Warrier Memorial Art Center in Irinjalakuda and the Muthappan Kathakali Yogam in Parassinikkadav in Kannur district.[2]
In 1967 he joined the International Centre for Kathakali (ICK) in Delhi as a teacher and later became its principal, and retired from there in 2010.[2]
Apart from Kathakali, Unnikrishnan plays the Chenda as background music for Indian performing arts like Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and also fusion dances.[2] He also plays Edakka for Panchavadyam.[1] He has also collaborated with North Indian and forign percussionists, such as tabla and taiko players.[2] He has performed at many venues in India and abroad. In addition, Unnikrishnan also leads lectures and performances to spread the reach of Kerala art to other parts of the country.[2]
Awards and honors
In 2006, Unnikrishnan received the senior fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.[2] In 2013, He received the Pravasi Kalasree award by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.[2] In 2014, he received the Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Chenda.[3] In 2022, he received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Government of Kerala.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b "Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan". Archived from the original on 2000-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Percussion artiste finds his rhythm in his native soil". The Hindu. 24 May 2013.
- ^ "Kalamandalam Awards Declared". The New Indian Express. 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ "Fellowship List" (PDF). Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
- ^ "കലാകാരന്മാർക്കുള്ള പിന്തുണ സർക്കാരിൻ്റെ നയം: മന്ത്രി ഡോ. ആർ ബിന്ദു". www.prd.kerala.gov.in. Information Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 2025-08-19.