Guru Chandrasekharan
Encyclopedia
Guru Chandrasekharan was an India
n classical dancer, and choreographer in Kathakali
, who was born at Trivandrum, India during 1916. His father was artist N.K. Nair (Kunju Krishna Kurup), a notable oil painter.
He was a renowned Professor of Kathakali Dance at the Visva Bharati University (Santiniketan
) during 1947-50.
, in 1916. His father was N.K. Nair (Kunju Krishna Kurup), a great artist and notable oil painter.
While studying in the university he started practicing dance without informing his parents and studied Kathakali
dance under the guidance of Guru Gopinath
. During that period Gopinath received Royal Patronage from Travncore palace and a dance school
named “Sri. Chithrodaya Nartha Kalalayam was established by the Travancore Government at Poojappura. Chandrasekharan was a student of that school.
After some time Chandrasekharan practiced Kathakali under Nedumudi Narayana Kurup who was also a Palace Artist. Later he organized his own troup and conducted performances in important cities all over India. During that period social themes were rarely used in the classical Indian dances.
He has directed and choreographed several social themes in dance form. In 1943 on an invitation from the Government he took his troupe to Alexandria (Egypt), Middle East
and Italy for military entertainment as the Indian Army
was engaged in the World War II
. At the close of the war in 1946 he was again invited to go for a Middle East tour, but that tour ended at Jaffna, in Cylon.
He served as a dance professor at Santiniketan
, West Bengal
, a member of the Kerala University
Senate, Board of director Kerala Kalamandalam
, Advisory Committee member Malayalam Encyclopedia, Director, Jawahar Balabhavan and a visiting dance professor and Chairman,Board of Examination, Swathy Thirunal College of Music.
In the late forties he composed and played the 'Voice of Travancore', a political theme in dance form about the autocratic rule of the Dewan Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer and people's movement of resistance thereon. However C.P. was an admirer of Chandrasekharan's dance performance and every year he use to arrange his dance programs at his official residence
. He had received his highest honour when he was praised in the report published by the All India Educational Conference held in Trivandrum in 1946.
The Report Says:-"The Nataraja Thandava was presented in a remarkable manner by Chandrasekharan . When he presented the Hunter Dance his joy of being the monarch of all he surveyed in the forest was vividly perceivable. He aroused the tragic sentiments to a remarkable extent while he was experiencing suicidal agony as he was bitten by a snake. As he entered the 'Ardhanareeswara', here the body was responding to a double call of vigour and grace. It was perhaps more than what an Udayasankar could do". His another composition is "Polinja Deepam" (The light that failed) depicting the sad end of Mahatma Gandhi
, which he played in 1948.
In 1949 he joined the Viswabharati University (Santiniketan
) as a Professor of Kathakali Dance. During this period he composed and played Rebindranath Tagores famous dance dramas, 'Chithrangada', 'Chandalika' etc. in various cities of North India
including New Delhi
and Calcutta. In Viswabharathi, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with various dance forms including those from Kandi, Bali, Burmese etc. During this period in Santhiniketan he got acquainted with Prof. Humayun Kabir
, Zakir Hussain
(Former President of India
) who were then frequent visitors of Santhinikethan. These great men were all praise for the young dancer: about him " Chandrasekharan has great expressiveness and was able to communicate shades of feeling with subtlety and power. His sense of rhythm and dramatic interpretation marks him out as an artist of distinction"
Sri. S.K. George, a Gandhian disciple and a former Director of Deenabandhu Bhavan, Santiniketan said about him "Sri Chandrasekharan was one of the best teachers of the Art that Santiniketan has had and did much to rouse interest in its study among students from various parts of the country. He delighted visitors to Santiniketan from all parts of the world during his stay there by the finished technique of his art and has received glowing testimonials from many of them, including delegates to the World Pacifist meeting. In Gurudev's dance dramas like 'Chandalika', 'Chitrangata' and 'Syama' presented in Santiniketan and outside, he took the leading parts".
After couple of years he came back from Viswabharathi and started his own school at Trivandrum in the name Prathbha Nrithakala Kendra and trained several students in Kerala .During 1954, he performed Thilakkunna Mannu" (Simmering Sand)which had a social theme advocating agrarian revolution
. It received wide acclamation from celebrated persons like President Rajendra Prasad
and Dr. Radhakrishnan .
Chandrasekharan’s crative contribution include such compositions as Voice of Travancore', 'Manishada,'Siva Thandavam'. ‘Ganesh Nritham’ ‘Ardhanareeswara’, ‘Surya Nritham’, ‘Geethopadesam’, ‘Kalidasa’s ‘Kumara Sambhavam’, ‘Sakunthalam’, Kumaran Asan's ‘Chandala Bhikshuki’, ‘Vallathol’s ‘Magdalana Maria’, ‘Guruvum Sishyanum, Vayalar's ‘Ayisha’, Changampuzha’s Ramanan and ‘Markandeyan’ ‘Mohini Rugmangada’, ‘Savithri’, ‘Dakshayagom’, ‘Ekalavyan’, ‘Chilappadikaram’, Greek story ‘Pigmalin’, Chinese story ‘Fisherman's Revenge’, Japanese story
‘Esashiyuvo’ (Prapidiyan Pathalathil), Bible story ‘Salomi’ and a lot more. He successfully composed and performed. Several balets such as 'Sri. Guruvayurappan', 'Kumara Sambhavam', 'Sri Ayyappan', 'Hrishya Sringan', and ‘Sri Hanuman’ .
He had produced another ballet named "Himavante Makkal" ( Son of the Himalaya) in 1964 on the background of the history of India
, which concluded with the Chinese attack on India . After seeing it V.V.Giri, then Governor of Kerala, was so happy that he invited Chandrasekharan to Raj Bhavan
and offered him some special awards. Here is an extract from his complimentary remarks;
[I am delighted to witness a performance a dance drama based on National Integration
presented by Pratibha Nrithakala Kendra, Trivandrum, and directed by the famous and distinguished Dancer Chandrasekharan.This play describes the various periods through which we have passed from Vedic period up to the present day.It is a most thought provoking play and one who attends this function will feel enthused and inspired and would strengthen his spirit of patriotism
and love of sacrifice for his country
In 1965 Chandrasekharan composed an Opera which was the first of its kind in Malayalam as well as in any other Indian language
. The opera was based on the Mahabharatha character Karnan. Chandrasekharan himself played the role of Karna while nearly hundred others took part in it, which was presented in Trivandrum for more than couple of months. This opera was produced by Kala Nilayam Theatres . After a while Chandrasekharan started his own a permanent opera stage in Kerala at Trivandrum and produced another opera entitled "Bhishmar" the Mahabharata hero which was an artistic success, but financially a flop, which forced him to withdraw from the scene partly. However, he continued his activities till 1980.
At a public meeting in connection with his "Shashtibdapurthi" (60th birthday) at Hassan Marrikar Hall, Trivandrum, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ayappa Panicker, he was conferred the title of "Guru" by the Public of Trivandrum. He was honoured with an Award by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy
in 1976 . Chandrasekharan had written several articles and periodicals about various dance forms of India. His book on bharathanatyam" Natiya Nirishanam “is a masterpiece which is culmination of a research work done by him with a Fellowship Award from the Government of India..He was also a good oil painter and received an award from Government of Kerala for his art work in 1973.
in former Travancore State. Due to his bitter experiences in the field of art he did not encourage his children to accept dance as a profession. His elder son, Santhikumar, a Food Technologist settled in Canada and younger son, Krishna Kumar, an officer in the Sports Authority
of India. Among his two daughters Ragini is no more and his youngest daughter Renuka was a film artist and acted in different south Indian movies and now conducting dance classes for children at Thiruvananthapuram ,Kerala ,India.
At the age of 82 he died on 5 August 1998.
Poet Harindranth Chatopadhyaya wrote to him on 21.2. 1952.
"Courage is this that single willed
unaided lone you build and build
which shows you have the spirits pluck
so from the heart I wish you luck."
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...
n classical dancer, and choreographer in Kathakali
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...
, who was born at Trivandrum, India during 1916. His father was artist N.K. Nair (Kunju Krishna Kurup), a notable oil painter.
He was a renowned Professor of Kathakali Dance at the Visva Bharati University (Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
) during 1947-50.
Early life and training
Born at Trivandrum, KeralaKerala
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 1916. His father was N.K. Nair (Kunju Krishna Kurup), a great artist and notable oil painter.
While studying in the university he started practicing dance without informing his parents and studied Kathakali
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...
dance under the guidance of Guru Gopinath
Guru Gopinath
Guru Gopinath was an Indian classical dancer, Kathakali master and mentor of a relatively new creative modern dancing style called Kerala Natanam. - Significance :...
. During that period Gopinath received Royal Patronage from Travncore palace and a dance school
Dance studio
A dance studio is a space in which dancers learn or rehearse. The term is typically used to describe a space that has either been built or equipped for the purpose....
named “Sri. Chithrodaya Nartha Kalalayam was established by the Travancore Government at Poojappura. Chandrasekharan was a student of that school.
Career
After some time Chandrasekharan practiced Kathakali under Nedumudi Narayana Kurup who was also a Palace Artist. Later he organized his own troup and conducted performances in important cities all over India. During that period social themes were rarely used in the classical Indian dances.
He has directed and choreographed several social themes in dance form. In 1943 on an invitation from the Government he took his troupe to Alexandria (Egypt), Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Italy for military entertainment as the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
was engaged in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At the close of the war in 1946 he was again invited to go for a Middle East tour, but that tour ended at Jaffna, in Cylon.
He served as a dance professor at Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
, West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, a member of the Kerala University
Kerala University
The University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is an affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. It was established in 1937, long before the birth of the state of Kerala in India...
Senate, Board of director Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam , lately renamed as Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture, is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of India, with the special emphasis on Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in...
, Advisory Committee member Malayalam Encyclopedia, Director, Jawahar Balabhavan and a visiting dance professor and Chairman,Board of Examination, Swathy Thirunal College of Music.
In the late forties he composed and played the 'Voice of Travancore', a political theme in dance form about the autocratic rule of the Dewan Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer and people's movement of resistance thereon. However C.P. was an admirer of Chandrasekharan's dance performance and every year he use to arrange his dance programs at his official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
. He had received his highest honour when he was praised in the report published by the All India Educational Conference held in Trivandrum in 1946.
The Report Says:-"The Nataraja Thandava was presented in a remarkable manner by Chandrasekharan . When he presented the Hunter Dance his joy of being the monarch of all he surveyed in the forest was vividly perceivable. He aroused the tragic sentiments to a remarkable extent while he was experiencing suicidal agony as he was bitten by a snake. As he entered the 'Ardhanareeswara', here the body was responding to a double call of vigour and grace. It was perhaps more than what an Udayasankar could do". His another composition is "Polinja Deepam" (The light that failed) depicting the sad end of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, which he played in 1948.
In 1949 he joined the Viswabharati University (Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
) as a Professor of Kathakali Dance. During this period he composed and played Rebindranath Tagores famous dance dramas, 'Chithrangada', 'Chandalika' etc. in various cities of North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
including New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Calcutta. In Viswabharathi, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with various dance forms including those from Kandi, Bali, Burmese etc. During this period in Santhiniketan he got acquainted with Prof. Humayun Kabir
Humayun Kabir
Humayun Zahiruddin Amir-i Kabir or Humayun Kabir was an Indian educationist, politician, writer and philosopher.-Ancestry and early life:...
, Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (politician)
Dr. Zakir Hussain , was the third President of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969. He was the first elected Muslim president of India....
(Former President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
) who were then frequent visitors of Santhinikethan. These great men were all praise for the young dancer: about him " Chandrasekharan has great expressiveness and was able to communicate shades of feeling with subtlety and power. His sense of rhythm and dramatic interpretation marks him out as an artist of distinction"
Sri. S.K. George, a Gandhian disciple and a former Director of Deenabandhu Bhavan, Santiniketan said about him "Sri Chandrasekharan was one of the best teachers of the Art that Santiniketan has had and did much to rouse interest in its study among students from various parts of the country. He delighted visitors to Santiniketan from all parts of the world during his stay there by the finished technique of his art and has received glowing testimonials from many of them, including delegates to the World Pacifist meeting. In Gurudev's dance dramas like 'Chandalika', 'Chitrangata' and 'Syama' presented in Santiniketan and outside, he took the leading parts".
After couple of years he came back from Viswabharathi and started his own school at Trivandrum in the name Prathbha Nrithakala Kendra and trained several students in Kerala .During 1954, he performed Thilakkunna Mannu" (Simmering Sand)which had a social theme advocating agrarian revolution
Agricultural revolution
Agricultural Revolution or Agrarian Revolution may refer to:*The Neolithic Revolution , the initial transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture in prehistory...
. It received wide acclamation from celebrated persons like President Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
and Dr. Radhakrishnan .
Chandrasekharan’s crative contribution include such compositions as Voice of Travancore', 'Manishada,'Siva Thandavam'. ‘Ganesh Nritham’ ‘Ardhanareeswara’, ‘Surya Nritham’, ‘Geethopadesam’, ‘Kalidasa’s ‘Kumara Sambhavam’, ‘Sakunthalam’, Kumaran Asan's ‘Chandala Bhikshuki’, ‘Vallathol’s ‘Magdalana Maria’, ‘Guruvum Sishyanum, Vayalar's ‘Ayisha’, Changampuzha’s Ramanan and ‘Markandeyan’ ‘Mohini Rugmangada’, ‘Savithri’, ‘Dakshayagom’, ‘Ekalavyan’, ‘Chilappadikaram’, Greek story ‘Pigmalin’, Chinese story ‘Fisherman's Revenge’, Japanese story
Japanese Story
Japanese Story is a 2003 Australian romantic drama film directed by Sue Brooks. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
‘Esashiyuvo’ (Prapidiyan Pathalathil), Bible story ‘Salomi’ and a lot more. He successfully composed and performed. Several balets such as 'Sri. Guruvayurappan', 'Kumara Sambhavam', 'Sri Ayyappan', 'Hrishya Sringan', and ‘Sri Hanuman’ .
He had produced another ballet named "Himavante Makkal" ( Son of the Himalaya) in 1964 on the background of the history of India
History of India
The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...
, which concluded with the Chinese attack on India . After seeing it V.V.Giri, then Governor of Kerala, was so happy that he invited Chandrasekharan to Raj Bhavan
Raj Bhavan (Kerala)
Raj Bhavan is the official residence of the Governor of Kerala. It is located in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Built in 1829 as Palace Guest house of Travancore Government Guest, this heritage structure hosts the present governor of Kerala is H.E R.S...
and offered him some special awards. Here is an extract from his complimentary remarks;
[I am delighted to witness a performance a dance drama based on National Integration
presented by Pratibha Nrithakala Kendra, Trivandrum, and directed by the famous and distinguished Dancer Chandrasekharan.This play describes the various periods through which we have passed from Vedic period up to the present day.It is a most thought provoking play and one who attends this function will feel enthused and inspired and would strengthen his spirit of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
and love of sacrifice for his country
In 1965 Chandrasekharan composed an Opera which was the first of its kind in Malayalam as well as in any other Indian language
Languages of India
The languages of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-European languages—Indo-Aryan and the Dravidian languages...
. The opera was based on the Mahabharatha character Karnan. Chandrasekharan himself played the role of Karna while nearly hundred others took part in it, which was presented in Trivandrum for more than couple of months. This opera was produced by Kala Nilayam Theatres . After a while Chandrasekharan started his own a permanent opera stage in Kerala at Trivandrum and produced another opera entitled "Bhishmar" the Mahabharata hero which was an artistic success, but financially a flop, which forced him to withdraw from the scene partly. However, he continued his activities till 1980.
At a public meeting in connection with his "Shashtibdapurthi" (60th birthday) at Hassan Marrikar Hall, Trivandrum, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ayappa Panicker, he was conferred the title of "Guru" by the Public of Trivandrum. He was honoured with an Award by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy
Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy, Thrissur
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India.It was established on 26 April 1958, inautgurated by then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Its aim is to foster and develop Kerala dance, drama and music and to promote the cultural unity of Kerala...
in 1976 . Chandrasekharan had written several articles and periodicals about various dance forms of India. His book on bharathanatyam" Natiya Nirishanam “is a masterpiece which is culmination of a research work done by him with a Fellowship Award from the Government of India..He was also a good oil painter and received an award from Government of Kerala for his art work in 1973.
Personal life
Chandrasekharan married Mohanavally Amma of Kalappurakkal family, Alangad North Paravur and daughter of V.K Gopala Panicker, Asst. Superintendent of PoliceSuperintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
in former Travancore State. Due to his bitter experiences in the field of art he did not encourage his children to accept dance as a profession. His elder son, Santhikumar, a Food Technologist settled in Canada and younger son, Krishna Kumar, an officer in the Sports Authority
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc. is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States. It is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and operates more than 460 stores in 45 U.S...
of India. Among his two daughters Ragini is no more and his youngest daughter Renuka was a film artist and acted in different south Indian movies and now conducting dance classes for children at Thiruvananthapuram ,Kerala ,India.
At the age of 82 he died on 5 August 1998.
Poet Harindranth Chatopadhyaya wrote to him on 21.2. 1952.
"Courage is this that single willed
unaided lone you build and build
which shows you have the spirits pluck
so from the heart I wish you luck."