Krishnankutty Poduval

Who was Krishnankutty Poduval?

Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval was a self-taught maestro of Kathakali percussion who excelled in the art of chenda playing by redefining its aesthetics as an audio accompaniment for the classical dance-drama from Kerala in south India.

Poduval, who was born in the Kathakali village of Vellinezhi in Palakkad district, was groomed in chenda playing by legendary Moothamana Kesavan Namboodiri and Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, in whose classrooms he underwent training in playing the percussion instrument. He had earlier received basic training in chenda under Chamrankulangara Appu Marar.

Poduval has been credited with lending audio support on the chenda to emotional scenes on the Kathakali stage. His art, in tandem with the late maddalam maestro Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval, won wide appreciation from audiences. Together, they used to prop up the performance of the renowned master, Padma Bhushan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair.

Krishnankutty Poduval, a winner of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award, groomed several disciples at Kerala Kalamandalam from where he retired as professor in the late 1980s. They include Ayamkudi Kuttappa Marrar, Kalamandalam Krishnadas, and the late Kalamandalam Kesavan,.His main disciples are considered to be Ayamkudi Kuttappa Marrar and Kalamandalam Kesavan.