C. N. Karunakaran

Who was C. N. Karunakaran?

C. N. Karunakaran was a painter from India. He was the Chairman of the Kerala Lalitakala Academy. He was born in 1940 at Brahmakulam in Thrissur District of Kerala. Karunakaran received degrees in design and painting from the Government School of Arts and Crafts, Chennai while studying under the tutelage of the renowned artists D.P. Roy Choudhari and K.C.S. Panikker. He died in Kochi on 14 December 2013 following a period of brief illness.

After completing his studies, Karunakaran worked as art director and made ad films in Chennai. He returned to Kerala in 1970, to take charge of Kalapeetom in Kochi.

Karunakaran foundedd "Chitrakoodam", which was the first private art gallery in Kerala. He has worked as art director for Malayalam movies such as Aswathamavu, Ore Thooval Pakshikal, Akkare, Purushartham and Aaleesinte Anweshanam.

Karunakaran's illustrations have appeared in Malayala Manorama Weekly, Kalakaumudi Weekly, Kerala Kaumudi, Malayalanadu, Chintha, Deshabhimani, Kumkumam Mathrubhumi, Bhashaposhini and India Today. They also appear in Lore and Legends of Kerala, selection from the Aithihyamala published by OUP.