Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan is an Indian percussionist from Kerala. He is an exponent of Chenda. He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Kathakali Chenda in 2019 and Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship for Chenda in 2022.
Biography
M. Unnikrishnan popularity known as Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan was born on October 10, 1958, as eldest of six children of Ramakrishnan Nair and Maniattu Dakshayani Amma, in Kolathur in Malappuram district of Kerala. His father who was a daily-wage labourer in Kolathur was also a part-time ritualistic chenda player at a temple near his house. His brother Kottakkal Ravi is a Maddalam exponent at the Kottakkal PSV Natya Sangh. He started learning Chenda under Narayana Kurup at the age of eight. Later he joined Kerala Kalamandalam and studied chenda under Chandra Mannadiyar and Achunni Pothuval.Personal life
Unnikrishnan and his wife Kalamandalam Sudha, who is a classical dancer, have two daughters, Sreeranjini and Kavyashree.Career
After completing studies, Unnikrishnan joined his alma mater Kerala Kalamandalam as a Chenda teacher in 1982. He retired as principal of Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University in 2015.Unnikrishnan also served as the president of the Kathakali Artists Association.
As a performer Unnikrishnan mainly plays Chenda as background music for Kathakali performances.