Neralattu Rama Poduval

Neralattu Rama Poduval or Njaralathu Rama Poduval (1916–1996) was an exponent of the ashtapadi/sopanam music form practised in Kerala in southern India. A recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Academy award, he hailed from a rugged village called Thiruvaazhaamkunnu, near Mannarkkad in Palakkad district and lived most of life in Angadipuram in Malappuram district, the place famous for the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.

Born into an Ambalavasi family on 16 February 1916, Poduval had his schooling till the fifth standard and moved on to practice the idakka and the chenda. He inherited the art of playing the edakka from his uncle, Njeralathu Karunakara Pothuval, and went on to establish an indelible mark in this field.

He also practiced instruments like the veena from Parappanaatu Rama Kuruppu. He practised Carnatic music from the Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar besides Kodikunnath Madhavan Nair. His experience in Kerala Kalamandalam helped him in gaining knowledge in Kathakali music as well.

Poduval married Lakshmikutty Amma at the age of 36. By the age of 56, he became the father of seven children: Janakikutty, Krishna Vijayan, Gopalakrishnan, Anjaneyan, Gaayathri, Hari Govindan, and Aananda Sivaraman. After his marriage, he lived at Palakkode village near Angadipuram, under the patronage of the chief priest of Thirumanthamkunnu Temple at Angadipuram, Pandhalakkode Sankaran Namboodiri. Poduval died on August 13, 1996, aged 80.

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