Chenganoor Raman Pillai
Encyclopedia
Guru Chenganoor Raman Pillai, also spelt Chengannur Raman Pillai, (1886-1980) was a celebrated Kathakali
artiste from Kerala
in south India
. He was known for his brilliant portrayal of the anti-heroic Kathi roles on stage, and was a palace dancer to the Travancore
Maharaja in a career spanning almost 65 years.
Raman Pillai, born in Chenganoor on 16 January 1886), was a specialist in Kathakali southern style called Kapplingad, which gives prominence to abhinaya
(acting). A book, "Thekkan Chittayilulla Abhyasa Kramangal", he authored is considered one of the major training manuals in the southern-style Kathakali.
Raman Pillai was a disciple of Thakazhi Kesava Panikker, Mathur Kunhupilla Panikker and Ambalappuzha Kunhikrishna Panikker. Another Kathakali master, Chennthala Kochupillai Panikker, helped him a lot to gain popularity in his art.
Raman Pillai had his masterpieces in roles like Duryodhana
n, Ravana
n and Keechakan, Jarasandhan, Bana
n and Kamsa
n. He also performed as Hanuman, Hamsam and the black-bearded Kaatalan (woodsman).
Raman Pillai's leading disciples include Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
and Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai
, besides late masters like Harippad Ramakrishna Pillai and Chennithala Chellappan Pillai. They all took class under him as per the residential Gurukul
a system.
There is a documentary film, titled 'Chenganoor Raman Pillai', profiling his life and contribution. He died on 11 November 1980.
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
artiste from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was known for his brilliant portrayal of the anti-heroic Kathi roles on stage, and was a palace dancer to the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
Maharaja in a career spanning almost 65 years.
Raman Pillai, born in Chenganoor on 16 January 1886), was a specialist in Kathakali southern style called Kapplingad, which gives prominence to abhinaya
Abhinaya
Abhinaya is a concept in Indian dance and drama derived from Bharata's Natya Shastra. Although now, the word has come to mean 'the art of expression', etymologically it derives from Sanskrit abhi- 'towards' + nii- 'leading/guide', so literally it means a 'leading towards' Aside from its clear...
(acting). A book, "Thekkan Chittayilulla Abhyasa Kramangal", he authored is considered one of the major training manuals in the southern-style Kathakali.
Raman Pillai was a disciple of Thakazhi Kesava Panikker, Mathur Kunhupilla Panikker and Ambalappuzha Kunhikrishna Panikker. Another Kathakali master, Chennthala Kochupillai Panikker, helped him a lot to gain popularity in his art.
Raman Pillai had his masterpieces in roles like Duryodhana
Duryodhana
In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, Emperor of the world at that time which means Emperor of India or Bharatvarsha as it was known at that time, cousin and the chief...
n, Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
n and Keechakan, Jarasandhan, Bana
Bana
Bana may refer to:*Term for the Fali people, especially in Nigeria* Bana, Gabon* Bana, Guinea* Bana , a village in Rajasthan state of India* Bana , popular balladeer from Cape Verde* Bana, Hungary, village in Hungary...
n and Kamsa
Kamsa
In Hinduism, Kamsa or Kansa , often known as Kans in Hindi, is the brother of Devaki, and ruler of the Vrishni kingdom with its capital at Mathura. His father was King Ugrasena and mother was Queen Padmavati...
n. He also performed as Hanuman, Hamsam and the black-bearded Kaatalan (woodsman).
Raman Pillai's leading disciples include Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Madavoor Vasudevan Nair is a veteran Kathakali artiste and one of the last practitioners of the pristine south Kerala-style Kapplingadu school of the classical dance-drama from the south Indian state....
and Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai
Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai
Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai, of Kerala in south India, is a reputed Kathakali artiste of the classical dance-drama's southern style. Noted for his consummate depiction of pachcha, kathi and minukku roles, he is a disciple of late maestro Chenganoor Raman Pillai.Born in Mankompu of Kuttanad belt in...
, besides late masters like Harippad Ramakrishna Pillai and Chennithala Chellappan Pillai. They all took class under him as per the residential Gurukul
Gurukul
A gurukul is a type of school in India, residential in nature, with shishyas living in proximity to the guru, often within the same house...
a system.
There is a documentary film, titled 'Chenganoor Raman Pillai', profiling his life and contribution. He died on 11 November 1980.