Mani Madhava Chakyar
Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār, Devanāgarī: माणि माधव चाक्यार्, Malayalam: മാണി മാധവ ചാക്യാര്) (15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam (ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition) artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya (the classical Indian acting style) and Nātyaśāstra.
Known as "the Emperor of Rasa-Abhinaya", he had an exceptional ability to perform Rasa-Abhinaya. His Netrābhinaya was world famous and he had the ability to act only with eyes. He was well versed in all the traditional Koodiyattams and all the prabandhas used in Chakyar Koothu. He was able to explain the concepts, methods and practices of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu in a clear and scientific way. He had an in depth study of Nātyaśāstra of Bharata Muni, as well as ways of acting which were popular in Kerala. His knowledge and mastery over both theory and practice of Koodiyattam were superb. He was a veteran teacher and practitioner of these art forms and Sanskrit.
He was the first one to take Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu outside the precincts of the temples of Kerala to all over India and to impart training in Kudiyattam to non-Chakyar disciples including foreigners. He had produced many accomplished disciples in Kutiyattam and other classical arts like Kathakali. He was a Sanskrit scholar of supreme rank and was used to give lectures and talks in Sanskrit.
He is the author of Nātyakalpadrumam - the authoritative encyclopedic treatise on all aspects of Koodiyattam. He was a Fellow of important national art academies like Sangeet Natak Akademi[8]and recipient of coveted titles like "Nātyāchārya", "Vidūshakaratnam" and prestigious Awards like Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award etc.
Films and documentaries
There are several films and documentaries featuring legend Māni Mādhava Chakyar's Rasa-Abhinaya, Koodiyattam performances, illustrious life etc.
- Mani Madhava Chakyar: The Master at Work ( 1994, Kavalam Narayana Panikar Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi) is a biographical film on the life and work of Mani Madhava Chakyar. Film shows Movie contains interview with the maestro where he explains the difficulty he had to face from hardliners when he took the traditional art forms outside temple for the first time in 1949. The film contains a session focussed on Rasa abhinaya by the maestro, where he enacts various Rasas.
- Parvati Viraham: Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana (1993, Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi) features Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana in the Pārvatī Viraham (separation ofPārvatī) in Koodiyattam form. Movie shows the famous Pārvatī Viraham part of the Ascharyachodamani Kutiyattam, one of the masterpieces of the Guru. It includes the famous Pakarnnattamabhinaya of the maestro.
- In Manifestations of Shiva (1980, Malcolm Leigh& Stella Kramrisch, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Asia Society, USA)- critically acclaimed documentary film; he has performed as Lord Siva in Classical Indian dance form.
- Kutiyattam- Sanskrit Theater of India (Multimedia CD, Farley Richmond (University of Georgia), The University of Michigan Press, USA) contains rare videos of the maestro's Rasa Abhinaya including glimpses of his world famous Netrabhinaya. The CD also contains the audios of recital of Shlokas and play parts by him in his unique unparalleled style.
- Kudiattam (1986, Prakash Jha, India) features Guru Mani Madhava Cakyar's abhinaya and shows him explaining the concepts of Kutiyattam and its abhinaya techniques. It also features him teaching etc. This film has won Indian government's National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film (1987).
- Mani Madhava Chakkiar (English, Classic Films) is a documentary film about the maestro. It shows the famous Abhinaya of the maestro in different Kutiyattams, his Chakyar Koothu performance etc. It also gives a picture of his personal life.
- Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (2009, Krishnan Unni, Govt. of Kerala) is a documentary about the guru. This project by Information and Public Relations Dept. of Govt. of Kerala as part of capturing the eminent personalities in Kerala and to highlight their rich contribution made to the State.
- Chakyar Koothu performance of the prabandha Prahlādacharita, Prahladacharitham Chakyar Koothu (1986, audio, Harisree Audios, Kerala) gives unique feeling of the maestro's ability in narration and recital. It is unique since he hasn't performed Prahlādacharita after the death of his guru HH Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran in 1964, except for this recording.
 Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār- The Doyen ofKutiyattam and Abhinaya | |
| Born | Māni Mādhava Chākyār February 15, 1899 Kozhikode, Kerala,  India |
|---|---|
| Died | January 14, 1990 (aged 90) Ottappalam, Kerala, India |
| Years active | 1910-1990 |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Spouse | Smt. P.K Kunjimalu Nangiaramma |
| Awards | 1964: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1964: Paderewski Foundation (New York) Certificate of Merit 1974: Padma Shri 1975: Kerala Sahitya Academy Award 1976: Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship 1982: Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 1982: Govt. of India Emeritus Fellowship 1982: Kalidasa Academy Fellowship 1983: Kerala KalamandalamFellowship 1987: Tulsi Samman 1991: Guruvayoorappan Sammanam |
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