Biographical Sketch Padma Bhushan Sri. Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair The kathakali legend Sri. Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair is a rare personality who has the credit of spreading the. dance form far beyond borders. As a master performer of `Kathakali', the four-century old dance- drama of Kerala, he has been a lively presence in the scene for over seven decades. He specialized in the heavily stylized `Kalluvazhi' style of Kathakali and excelled in it by his jerk-less and polished movement of the limbs and torso. From childhood itself, Shri Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair had the legendary 'Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon' as his guru and from the age of 13, went on to master the art at Kerala Kalamandalam where he taught for several years and served as Principal too. Sri. Ramankutty Nair is acclaimed for his portrayal of the anti-hero 'Kathi" roles. His 'Ravana', Duryodhana', 'Keechaka' and `Cheriya Narakasura' are unparalleled for their power and perfection. He is equally a master in the role of Hanuman in 'Kalyansougandhikam', `Thoranayuddham' and "Lavanasuravadham'. In his early days he earned a name for his path-breaking portrayal of sage 'Parasurama' in semi-realistic make-up and costumes (in place of the traditional yellow-hued pazhuppu vesham). Among his numerous disciples were Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody, M.P.S. Namboodiri, Balasubramanian & the late K. Gopalakrishnan. Many of the younger generation Kathakali artistes from Kalamandalam like Soman & Shanmughan received advanced training from him. He has received several awards & accolades, the most significant among them being Central Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 1975 received from President of India,Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 1987, Kalamandalam Special Award in 1984 and Fellowship in 1998, Kalidas Samman from Madhya Pradesh government in 1994, First artist to receive Emeritus Fellowship from Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India in 1999, First Kathakali artist to receive Kathakali Puraskar from Government of Kerala in 2000, Narthaka Chakravarthi in 2003, Kalarathnam from Bombay in 2003, Sri. Guruvayoorappan Puraskar in 2004, Central Sangeetha Nataka Academy Ratna in 2004 received from President of India and Padmabhooshan in 2007 received from President of India. In 1995, he published his autobiography, `Thiranottam'. In 2005 the noted film director Sri. Adoor Gopalakrishnan produced a documentary on him by the same name. (Special Convocation Handbook CUSAT 2010 Cusat Digital Library Service 27http://dspace.cusat.ac.in/ .