Peruvanam Kuttan Marar

Early life

Peruvanam Kuttan Marar was born to a family of chenda artists in Peruvanam, Thrissur, Kerala. His grandfather, late Peruvanam Narayana Marar and his father, Late Peruvanam Appu Marar were also well known chenda artists. His teachers include his father, Peruvanam Appu Marar, Kumarapuram Appu Marar and Sreenarayanapuram Appu Marar. He made his debut with Chenda at the age of 10. He performed at festivals in nearby temples including Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple. He also joined as a clerk in C N N Boys' High School, Cherpu at the age of 20.

Career as an Artist

Kuttan Marar features in prominent temple festivals of Kerala including Thrissur Pooram, Peruvanam pooram, Kollam Pooram and those at Guruvayur Temple. He leads the famous Ilanjithara Melam of Thrissur Pooram. Kuttan Marar started performing at the Ilanjithara Melam from 1977 and has been its Pramani since 1999.

(Partial) listing of temples where Peruvanam Kuttan Marar has performed :

1. puthucode Bhaghavathy temple
2. Puthur Thirupuraikal Bhagavathy Temple
3. Panangad Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple
4. Thripunithura Poornathrayeesa temple
5. Vaikom Mahadeva temple
6. Guruvayur temple
7. Pallathamkullangara Bhagavathy temple, Ernakulam
8. Ilankunnapuzha temple, Ernakulam
9. Kuttanelloor temple, Thrissur
10. Manalaarukaavu temple, Thrissur
11. Puzhakkarakkavu temple, Moovattupuzha
12. Paramekkavu temple
13. Vadakkumnathan temple
14. Thamarakulangara temple, Tripunithura
15. Kottaram Bhagavathy temple. Maradu
16. Ernakulam temple
17. Peruvanam temple
18. Aarattupuzha temple
19. Chinakathoor temple
20. Malliyoor Mahaganapathy temple
21. Irinjalakuda temple
22. Kodunthirapully Durgasthami & Mahanavami Navaratri Fest, Palakkad
23. Cherpu Bhagavathy temple
24. Paliam Siva Temple
25. Sree Mahadheva Temple, Rajakkad

(Partial) listing of artists who perform with Peruvanam Kuttan Marar on a regular basis :

1. Tiruvalla Radhakrishnan
2. Peruvanam Satheeshan Marar
3. Kelath Aravindakshan Marar
4. Pazhuvil Raghu Marar
5. Chowalloor Mohanan Nair
6. Chowalloor Mohanan Warrier

1. Anthikkad Ramachandran
2. Anthikkad Padmanbhan
3. Peruvanam Sankaranarayanan
4. Peruvanam Shivan
5. Peruvanam Prakashan
6. Peruvanam Krishnan
7. Maniyamparambil Mani Nair
8. Kizhoot Nandanan

In popular culture

C. Venugopal and K. Ramachandran produced a 45 minute documentary on Kuttan Marar, named Pranathi.

Awards

1. Keli Melasooryan Award 2012
2. Sangeetha Nataka Academy Fellowship 2012
3. Pallavoor Puraskaram 2012.
4. Padma Shri award in 2011.
5. Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship 2010.
6. Veerashringhala 2000
7. Arattupuzha Sri Sastha Award
8. Sri Guruvayurappan Award
9. Keli's promising Artist Award 1999
10. Keli's Golden Conch 2005
11. Keli's Lifetime achievement Award 2009
12. Kala Darpana Award
13. Nada Purnathrayee Award
14. Adaraneeyam Award
15. Mela Kala Chakravarti
16. Vadyotama Award
17. Melakalanidhi