Kunjikkuttan Thampuran (actor)
Encyclopedia
Ravi Varma Kunjikkuttan Thampuran was a Malayalam film actor, Kathakali
artist and writer.
from Kerala Kalamandalam
and has written a book Aalukal Arangukal, in which, the lives of Kathakali artistes are depicted.
He has acted in more than fifty films and several telefilms and serials. Some of his notable films are Mookkilla Rajyathu, Ulladakkam, God Father
, Oridathu, Kalyana Raman
and Ivory Merchant. He has also acted in a Hollywood film, Cotton Mary
, which was directed by Ismail Merchant
.
The T. V. serials in which Thampuran acted are Chitta and Samayam. He has also played pivotal roles in Shyama Prasad's Telefilm Kariyilakaattu pole, Venalinte Ozhivu and Innale Peytha Mazha. Thampuran was also seen in the central character in a documentary by Doordarshan
, which created awareness among the public to keep their surroundings clean. He is a follower of CPM
and had written an Attakatha `Kurukshethra ' for the sake of the party.
The veteran actor died on 24 August 2010. He was survived by his wife Sathi Varma who is the manager of Kathakali Kendram, son R. V. Vasudevan and daughter Suma Varma.
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...
artist and writer.
Biography
He was born in 1936 as a member of Kochi Dynasty. He got training in KathakaliKathakali
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...
from 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...
and has written a book Aalukal Arangukal, in which, the lives of Kathakali artistes are depicted.
He has acted in more than fifty films and several telefilms and serials. Some of his notable films are Mookkilla Rajyathu, Ulladakkam, God Father
Godfather (1991 film)
Godfather is a 1991 Malayalam musical comedy film written and directed by Siddique-Lal, and produced by Appachan. The film stars a huge cast consisting of Mukesh, N. N. Pillai, Kanaka, Jagadish, Innocent, Thilakan, Philomina, Siddique, K. P. A. C...
, Oridathu, Kalyana Raman
Kalyanaraman (2002 film)
Kalyanaraman is a 2002 Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Shafi starring Dileep and Navya Nair. The film was remade in Telugu as Kalyanaramudu starring Venu, Suman, Prabhudeva and Nikita Thukral.-Synopsis:...
and Ivory Merchant. He has also acted in a Hollywood film, Cotton Mary
Cotton Mary
Cotton Mary is a 1999 film directed by Ismail Merchant, best known as the producer half of Merchant Ivory and Madhur Jaffrey, actress and author of cookery books. It was filmed in India.-Plot:...
, which was directed by Ismail Merchant
Ismail Merchant
Ismail Merchant was an Indian-born film producer, best known for the results of his famously long collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included director James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...
.
The T. V. serials in which Thampuran acted are Chitta and Samayam. He has also played pivotal roles in Shyama Prasad's Telefilm Kariyilakaattu pole, Venalinte Ozhivu and Innale Peytha Mazha. Thampuran was also seen in the central character in a documentary by Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
, which created awareness among the public to keep their surroundings clean. He is a follower of CPM
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
and had written an Attakatha `Kurukshethra ' for the sake of the party.
The veteran actor died on 24 August 2010. He was survived by his wife Sathi Varma who is the manager of Kathakali Kendram, son R. V. Vasudevan and daughter Suma Varma.