Kalamandalam Gangadharan

Kalamandalam Gangadharan
Kalamandalam Gangadharan
Background information
Birth name	Gangadharan
Born	26 June 1936
Died	April 26, 2015(2015-04-26) (aged 78)
Genres	Kathakali
Occupation(s)	Singer

Kalamandalam Gangadhran (26 June 1936 – 26 April 2015) was a prominent Kathakali musician from Kerala. His unique tenor and accent has earned him a large audience both within and outside Kerala. He was the most prominent disciple of Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan, and the Master of the many later generations of Kathakali Musicians. He was a visiting professor at Margi, an organization dedicated to the revival of Kathakali and Kutiyattom, two classical art forms of Kerala. In 2006, he was honoured by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Gangadharan was born on 26 June 1936 at Oyoor, Kollam, Kerala. His parents were Puthenmadathil Sankara Pillai and Parvathiamma. At the age of ten, he started learning vocal music as a pupil of Kadakkavur Velukuuty Nair.

After completing the basics of Carnatic music, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam at the age of 17. He started teaching at Kerala Kalamandalam immediately after finishing his courses. Kalamandalam Gangadharan was among the first students who completed the course of Kathakali music from Kalamandalam successfully. He was also trained under the great Kathakali musician Mundaya Venkita Krishna Bhagavathar for three months. Soon after, at 24, he became a teacher at his alma mater. In 1991, he retired from kalamandalam as its vice principal. He was nicknamed as Asan (meaning 'The master') by his students and followers. Some of his famous students were kalamandalam Hyderali , Sankaran Embranthiri , Kalamandalam Haridas and Kalamandalam Subramanyam.

During his lifetime, he performed and showcased many kathakali presentations all over Kerala, India and many foreign countries including Japan, America, Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia and Iran.