K. Sankara Warrier

Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier is an Indian percussionist of the Kerala ethnic drum called maddalam, and has specialised in its playing for the dance-drama of Kathakali.

Personal life

Sankara Warrier was born on 1 June 1952, at Thillenkery, a small village in Kannur district of the Malabar region, to Krishna Warrier and Madhavi Warrasiar. He lives with his wife Valsala S Warrier in Eloor near Kochi where he worked for 18 years as a maddalam teacher in FACT Kathakali School. The couple have two sons.

Career

Sankara Warrier joined Kalamandalam at the age of 15 and was trained in maddalam under masters like Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval and Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambeesan. After his four-year course, Warrier joined Kalamandalam as a first grade maddalam teacher. In 1981, FACT invited Warrier to join its Kathakali school as a maddalam teacher. Warrier worked in the FACT Kathakali School for 18 years. He retired in 2005. He has also been a maddalam percussionist in the classical ensemble Panchavadyam.

Books

Sankara Warrier has written a book, Maddalam Enna Mangalavadyam, published in 2003 with the help of his alma mater.