GURU SADANAM BALAKRISHNAN
KATHAKALI ARTIST & GURU
(“Videham”, P.O. Kuttikkol, Via. Taliparamba, (Dist) Kannur, Kerala-670141)
Tel.: +91 9747271880, +91 9952075792
Sadanam P.V. Balakrishnan was born on 1944 in Chuzhali, Kannur district, in
northern Kerala. His father is Late Sri. A.V. Krishnan
and Mother is Late Sri. Umayamma.
He showed a keen interest in Kathakali from a
young age. He began his study of Kathakali under
Guru Kondiveetil Narayanan Nair Asan under the
patronage of the late Brahmashree Kurumathur
Narayanan Namboodiripad, who later supported his
eight years of intensive training at Gandhi Seva
Sadanam Kathakali Akademy in Palakkad district.
At Sadanam, Sri Balakrishnan studied under the famous gurus, Thekinkattil Ramunni
Nair Asan and Keezhupadam Kumaran Nair Asan. After completing the eight-year
Diploma course at Sadanam, he undertook the two-year Post-Diploma course with
a Central Government scholarship, and earned First Class Honours. It was due to
the teaching and example of his guru and mentor, the outstanding contemporary
Kathakali master and innovator of the Kalluvazhi style, Kumaran Nair Asan, that Sri
Balakrishnan himself developed into a great performing artist, teacher,
choreographer and director.
After his formal training, Sadanam Balakrishnan worked as an artist and teacher in
well-known Kathakali institutions in Kerala, including Parassinikadavu Sree
Muthappan Kathakali Yogam in Kannur district and Gandhi Seva Sadanam Kathakali
Akademy (his alma mater) in Perur, Palakkad district.
Sadanam Balakrishnan has been attached to the International Centre for Kathakali
in New Delhi, initially as an artist and teacher. Since 1980, on the retirement of his
guru, Kumaran Nair Asan, he became the Centre’s Director and Principal. During
those years, Sadanam Balakrishnan has had ample opportunity to further develop
his mastery in abhinaya, choreography, directing and in teaching. He has
performed most of the categories of characters—paccha, kathi, chuvanna thadi,
minukku, and has specialised in the major roles, such as Hanuman, Sri Krishna,
Arjuna, Yuddhishtira, Ravana and Duryodhana. His performances are highly
acclaimed by audiences and the media, both here in India and abroad.
Address Kerala: “Videham”, P.O. Kuttikkol, Via. Taliparamba, (Dist) Kannur, Kerala-670141
Address Chennai: H66/F2, Kurinji Flats, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Cheenai-600041
He retired from The International Centre for Kathakali, Delhi in the year 2007. Now
he is attached to Kalakshetra, Chennai as Senior Visiting Fellow.
As a teacher of Kathakali, Sadanam Balakrishnan is considered one of the
outstanding and highly respected gurus of his generation. His students come from
all over India and from abroad. He is scrupulous as a teacher within the classical
tradition as well as being innovative in his approach to text and theme.
Sadanam Balakrishnan had worked closely with his guru, Kumaran Nair Asan, during
the Asan’s tenure as the Centre’s Director, collaborating with him on his new
productions. He has followed his guru’s example in approaching texts and themes,
such as adapting non-Puranic stories, and, in the process, developing innovative
choreographies and new productions. Sadanam Balakrishnan has also written
attakathas, as well as choreographing and composing the music for more than
thirty new Kathakali dramas. Several of these are original works of his own, thus
further extending the traditional Kathakali repertoire. Two productions he is
particularly proud of are The Bacchae (adapted from Euripides’ Greek tragedy) and
Othello (based on Shakespeare’s drama).
Productions that he has composed himself include Le Cid (adapted from the French
classical drama by Corneille), Macbeth and Othello (adapted from Shakespeare),
Neelamaneeyam, Bhishmanuthapam and Taraneesenan. Sadanam Balakrishnan is
presently adapting two dramas of Euripides—Alcestis and Helen—and
Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Sadanam Balakrishnan has been connected with several cultural institutions that
seek him out as a teacher, conductor of workshops and lecture demonstrations as
well as principal artist in Kathakali performances. These include the National School
of Drama, the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, Indian Council for
Cultural Relations, Delhi University, SPIC-MACAY, and Bhoomika in India, and ARTA,
Association de Reserche des Traditions de l’Acteur, in France, Kalakshetra Chennai.
He is the recipient of many awards, including the following.
1. Naatya Sri Puraskar from Nataraj Music & Dance Academy, Visakhapatnam 2014
2. Dr. K.N.Pisharody Smaraka Award from K.N. Pisharody Smaraka Kathakali
Club – 2010
3. Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Poduval Smaraka Award – 2009
4. “Guru Sree” Award from Kaladarpan – 2008
Address Kerala: “Videham”, P.O. Kuttikkol, Via. Taliparamba, (Dist) Kannur, Kerala-670141
Address Chennai: H66/F2, Kurinji Flats, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Cheenai-600041
5. Kerala Kalamandalam Award – 2007
6. Natyakalaratnam and Gold Medal from Mattannur Mahadeva Kshetram &
Mattannur Pancha Vadya Sangham – 2007
7. “Natyacharyan” Title and Veerasrinkhala (Golden Bracelet) from
Rajarajeswara Temple, Taliparamba – 2006
8. “GURU PATTIKAMTHODI SMARAKA PURASKARA” from Gandhi Seva
Sadanam Kathakli Academy – in 2006.
9. Golden Bracelet, Rudraksham & Pendulam from students, Collegues & Well wishers
from New Delhi, 2005
10. Gold Medal – Ayyapa Temple, Chandigarh – 2005
11. Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Kathakali—2003
12. Natana Bhaskara Award from Bharata Kalanjali and Bhaskara—2003
13. G.S.S. Kathakali Akademy Golden Jubilee Award—2003
14. Mookambika Kathakali Vidyalaya Award – 2003
15. Gold Medal—Ayyappa Temple, Haridwar—1999
16. Kala Snehi Award—1995
17. Alapathi Ramachandra Rao Kala Peedham Award—1991
18. Gold Medal, Mudralaya, London—1990
19. Parishad Samman from Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi—1988
20. Swathi Thirunal Nadalaya Award—1986
Sadanam Balakrishnan has also been awarded two Senior Fellowships by Ministry of
Culture, Government of India, in the following areas of research:
1. To undertake a study of the aharya abhinaya—the stylised costumes and
headgear—of Kathakali characters with reference to other dance drama
styles of South India.
2. To prepare a manual and syllabus for a new Kathakali style based on the
three prevailing styles.
He had also completed a higher study and research on Northern Kathakali style with
the financial assistance of Central Sangeet Natak Akademi
He has written and published two books, Kathakali (as part of a series on the six
classical Indian dances) published by Wisdom Tree and Kathakali: A Practitioner’s
Perspective published by Poorna Publications
Sadanam Balakrishnan has performed extensively in India and abroad, including at
the following prestigious international festivals.
Address Kerala: “Videham”, P.O. Kuttikkol, Via. Taliparamba, (Dist) Kannur, Kerala-670141
Address Chennai: H66/F2, Kurinji Flats, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Cheenai-600041
India
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CHOGAM, New Delhi
Asian Games – Asiad Festival
International Ramayana Festival – New Delhi
Khajuraho Festival
Kalidas Samaroh Festival – Ujjain
Ananya – New Delhi
Konark Festival – Konark
PATA Conference
Abroad
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8.
Athens Festival (Greece) - 1979
Berlin Festival (Germany) - 1979
Manisalis Festival (Colombia) - 1999
Serventina Festival (Mexico)
N.R.I. Festival (New York)
Indian Ocean Festival (Australia) - 1984
Pacific Ocean Festival (New Zealand) - 1984
N.H.K. Festival (Japan) - 1984
9. Italian Opera in Rome – 1992
10. Early Music and Dance Festival (Holland) – 1994
11. International Ramayana Festival (Cambodia) - 1995
12. 96 Oriental Drama Performance and Academic Research Conference (China)
- 1995
13. SESC Autumn Festival (Brazil) - 1997
14. European Theatre Festival-Delphi (Greece) -1998
15. Mundao Festival (Brazil) -1997
16. International Theater Conference (Brazil) – 2003
17. Euro Kaz International Festival of New Theatre-Zagreb (Croatia) -1999
18. International Dance & Music Festival (France) – 2006
19. Iberoamericano Festival-Bogota (Columbia) - 1999
20. International Theatre Festival-Caracus (Venezuela) - 1999
21. Lahor International Music & Theatre Festival (Lahor, Pakistan) - 2006
22. International Dance and Music Festival, Holland – 2008
23. Thiranottam – Mahotsava at Dubai – 2009
24. Korea Festival - 2011
Family: Wife Janaki Balakrishnan, Sons Pradeep and Prasad.
Address Kerala: “Videham”, P.O. Kuttikkol, Via. Taliparamba, (Dist) Kannur, Kerala-670141
Address Chennai: H66/F2, Kurinji Flats, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Cheenai-600041