Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai

Early and professional life

Vasudevan Pillai was born to M. R. Ramakrishna Pillai (late) and Parukutty Amma (late), at a small village called Kadammanitta in Pathanamthitta district Kerala on 24 May 1947. His only sister is Omana Kumariamma. From childhood itself, he was interested in Padayani and Kerala folklore. He completed his pre-school and graduated from Catholicate College in Pathanamthitta. He did his MSc in Mathematics from Ravi Shankar University Raipur state of Chhattisgarh (then Madhya Pradesh) and was the first rank holder. He completed his Post Graduation with Gold medal. He later came back to Kerala and joined as lecturer in Mathematics in various colleges of NSS Management in Kerala. He worked in NSS College, Pandalam for most of the time, till his retirement as Head of Department in 2002. He has served as the vice chairman of The Kerala Folklore Academy from 1997 to 2001.

As Padayani exponent and writer

Vasudevan Pillai has contributed greatly to the field of Kerala folklore. He has written books on Padayani and other traditional art forms. :

1. Padayaniyile pala kolangal

2. Padayani

3. Padayaniyude jeevathalam

4. Padayani : Janakeya anushtaana nadakam (Mahatma Gandhi University textbook)

5. Padayani : Oru ithihasa nadakam

6. Padayani : The traditional epi theater (English, but not a translation)

7. Vamsheeya sangeetha shastram

8. Ethino musicology (English, but not a translation)

9. Apasaraka bimbangalude aasura gethiroopangal (study on Kadammanitta poetry)

10. Kadinjoo pottan (drama based on Kadammanitta poetry)

Awards

He is the recipient of State Awards for his literary and cultural contributions. :

1. Kerala sangeetha naadaka Academy Award in 1995

2. Kerala sahithya Academy Award in 1996

3. Kerala youth welfare board award in 1997

4. P. K Kalan puraskaram sponsored by Kerala folklore academy and kerala cultural department. The cash award of Rs 1 Lakh along with his contributions were used to form a trust to award every year Rs10000 to a veteran ashan(Guru/Master) of padayani.

His Guru

The guru to Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai is Kadammanitta Raman Nair the father of famous poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan.

Other contributions

His bond with villages can be seen clearly in his works. His association with the great poet of Kerala Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan led to many valuable literary contributions.

The youth of Kadammanitta, under the leadership of Vasudevan Pillai, had formed Kadammanitta Gothra Kala Kalari through which this art form has been taught to many and is being passed over to generations.

Personal life

He currently lives in Kadammanitta. He is married to D. Omana Kumari and is father of three - Kadammanitta Manu (Mrudangam Artist), Kadammanitta Anu (Singer) and Lakshmi (Violin Artist). His company with Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan had led to the rise of many literary contributions.