Peruvanam Kuttan Marar


Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.

Early life

Peruvanam Kuttan Marar was born to a family of chenda artists in Peruvanam, Thrissur, Kerala. His grandfather, Peruvanam Narayana Marar and his father, Peruvanam Appu Marar were also well-known chenda artists. His teachers include his father, 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.
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. Cherpu Bagavathi temple, Cherpu
  15. Thamarakulangara temple, Tripunithura
  16. Kottaram Bhagavathy temple. Maradu
  17. Ernakulam_Shiva_Temple
  18. Peruvanam temple
  19. Aarattupuzha temple
  20. Chinakathoor temple
  21. Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple
  22. Irinjalakuda temple
  23. Kodunthirapully Durgasthami & Mahanavami Navaratri Fest, Palakkad
  24. Cherpulasshery Bhagavathy temple
  25. Paliam Siva Temple
  26. Sree Mahadheva Temple, Rajakkad
  27. Pilakkad Sree Ramankulangara Ayyappa Temple
  28. Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Swamy temple, Kottayam
  29. Mannuthrukkovil Mahavishnu temple, Pullazhy, Thrissur
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
  7. Peruvanam Karthik Marar
  8. Anthikkad Ramachandran
  9. Anthikkad Padmanbhan
  10. Peruvanam Sankaranarayanan
  11. Peruvanam Shivan
  12. Peruvanam Prakashan
  13. Peruvanam Krishnan
  14. Maniyamparambil Mani Nair
  15. 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 Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2010
  6. Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2001
  7. Veerashringhala 2000
  8. Arattupuzha Sri Sastha Award
  9. Sri Guruvayurappan Award
  10. Keli's promising Artist Award 1999
  11. Keli's Golden Conch 2005
  12. Keli's Lifetime achievement Award 2009
  13. Kala Darpana Award
  14. Nada Purnathrayee Award
  15. Adaraneeyam Award
  16. Mela Kala Chakravarti
  17. Vadyotama Award
  18. Melakalanidhi