Kottakal Nandakumaran Nair is a well known Kathakali dancer and he is famous for his ‘Kathi’ Veshas. He also shows excellent skill in enacting ‘Pacha’ and ‘Minukku’ veshas. As a panel artist enlisted by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) he had opportunity to perform Kathakali on international stages in Poland, France, China, Korea, Indonesia, Malasia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Netherlands, Spain and Arab Countries. Paris Theater Festival, Gothenburg Theater Festival, Ramayana Festival Indonesia, Shakespearean Festival Germany and Portugal, Traditional Theater Festival Brazil and International Theatre Festival of Kerala (IFFK) are some of the major festivals where he performed Kathakali.

Nandakumaran Nair was born in 1948 to Kovurath Mundathu Parukutti Amma and Karuthedath Govindan Nair. After completing primary education in his native place Desamangalam in Thrissur district, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam to learn Thullal. He completed the course under the tutelage of Kalamandalam Divakaran Nair and Malabar Kannan Nair. Proximity to the Kathakali classes nurtured Nandakumaran’s innate inclination for classical style. Following the instructions of late Kathakali legend Padmashree Vazhenkada Kunju Nair, he joined P. S. V. Natyasangam of Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala in 1962 and began his lessons in Kathakali. 16 years of regular training under Guru Kottakkal Krishnankutty Nair shaped Nandakumaran into a complete Kathakali dancer.

Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair has received senior Fellowship from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and Govt. of Kerala honoured him with Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award for the year 2010. He is presently Chief Instructor in Chuduvalathur Janabheri Kathakali Kendram, Shornur and guest Faculty at Salabhanjika Studio For Arts And Performance, Thrissur.

Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair is highly sought as resource person and demonstrator in Kathakali all over the world. His services were made use by Warsaw University (Poland), Lordz University (Poland), Rio de Jeniero University (Brazil), Moscow University (Russia) and Universities, Colleges and Schools all over India.

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