By Samudri
The Kalasagar awards instituted in memory of chenda maestro Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval, were presented on his 91st birth anniversary to several artists, on 28 May at Changapuzha park in Edapally, Kerala. The function was inaugurated by the chief guest Balakrishnan Koyyal, Station Director, AIR-Kochi. V.M. Girija delivered the keynote address, and rich tributes were paid to Krishnankutty Poduval by Dr. Mankulam Krishnan Namboodiri, V. Kaladharan and Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan.
Apart from Kathakali actor Peesappilly Rajeev, Kathakali accompanists were also honoured. They included Kalamandalam Babu Namboodiri (music), Kottakkal Prasad (chenda), Kottakkal Radhakrishnan (maddalam), and Kalamandalam Balan (chutti or make-up).
Artists belonging to different genres were honoured -- Vayalar Krishnankutty (Ottanthullal), Vallachira C.N. Ramachakyar (Koodiyattam), Kala Vijayan (Mohini Attam), Kalamandalam Sugandhi (Bharatanatyam), Kalamandalam Sangeetha (Kuchipudi), and Kalanilayam Udayan Namboodiri (thayambaka). The Panchavadyam artists felicitated on the occasion were Kelath Kuttappa Marar (timila), Kalamandalam Kuttynarayanan (maddalam), Tiruvalatoor Sivan ( edakka), Kalloor Raghu (talam) and Kummath Ramankutty (kombu).
The finale was the staging of the Kathakali play Baali Vijayam.