Kerala Kalamandalam

Posted Date: 21-Jul-2010	Category: Arts of Kerala	Rating:
Author: Latha Jayaprakash	Member Level: Diamond	Points: 30 (Rs 30)

Kerala Kalamandalam, is presently called as the Deemed University for the Art and Culture is located in Cheruthuruthy of the Thrissur District of the state of Kerala.

Location and How to Reach Kerala Kalamandalam

The Kerala Kalamandalam is located on the banks of the river Nila at Cheruthuruthy at about 32 kilometers north og Thrissur town. This destination is easily accessible to the tourists. If you are travelling by air, you can reach Cochin international airport at Nedumbassery and if by train you can alight at Shornur. From Shornur Railway station kalamandalam is just 10 kilometers away.

About Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy

The Kerala Kalamandalam was established by the well known Malayalam Poet Vallathol Narayanan Menon. When he noticed that one of the famous Dance art forms of Kerala Kathakali was losing its popularity, he decided to do something to keep the art form alive.
Vallathol Narayanan Menon took the onus on himself to revive and popularize Kathakali. He also received some help from the royal family who were Kathakali enthusiasts like Kunjikuttan Thampuran and M. Mukundaraja. They took great pains to arrnge great performances by renowned and well known artiststhrough out the state of Kerala. They also raised finance through lotteries.

Musical Classes and Art Training at Kerala Kalamandalam

From those days The Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district had started giving training in its own signature style for Kathakali, Kootiyattam, Mohiniyattom, Panchavadyam, Thullal and others, by the method of Gurukulam, ancient system of teaching in India. This is the residential center of learning where in all the artists, veteran teachers and the students participate in al the programs held in and put of Kalamandalam.

Traditional Art forms at Kerala Kalamandalam

Kerala Kalamandalam reveals the pure, simple and cultural atmosphere, where in the traditional art forms of Kerala could survive. Kalamandalam has a a conventional dance theatre namely Koothambalam and this Koothambalam is the only dance theatre which has been constructed outside the temple in Kerala. This dance theatre has been built according to the vikrushtra madhya as specified in the article on art by sage Bharatha. This Theatre is 14.62 m in length and 7.31m in width and is supported by four wooden pillars with green room or Aniyara as they call in Malayalam, Rangam the stage and Mridanga Patha for keeping the drums, in the three main parts of the theatre. The remaining space in front of the rangam is for the audience or the spectators.

It can be safely said that at present Kerala Kalamandalam is the cradle for all the dance and art forms in Kerala and this centre gives training to master them. There are a large number of renowned artistes who have had their training here at Kalamandalam through out India and not only in Kerala.

Contact Details for Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy

Kerala Kalamandalam
Deemed University for Art and Culture
Cheruthuruthy – 679 531
via Thrissur, Kerala, India

Telephone: 91+ 4884 262418, 262526,
Fax: 91- 4884 - 262019

Website: www.kalamandalam.org
Email: info@kalamandalam.org

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