SUPER ACTORS: Mani Madhava Chakyar

Mani Madhava Chakyar

Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār, Devanāgarī: माणि माधव चाक्यार्, Malayalam: മാണി മാധവ ചാക്യാര്‍) (15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam (ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition) artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya (the classical Indian acting style) and Nātyaśāstra.

Known as "the Emperor of Rasa-Abhinaya", he had an exceptional ability to perform Rasa-Abhinaya. His Netrābhinaya was world famous and he had the ability to act only with eyes. He was well versed in all the traditional Koodiyattams and all the prabandhas used in Chakyar Koothu. He was able to explain the concepts, methods and practices of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu in a clear and scientific way. He had an in depth study of Nātyaśāstra of Bharata Muni, as well as ways of acting which were popular in Kerala. His knowledge and mastery over both theory and practice of Koodiyattam were superb. He was a veteran teacher and practitioner of these art forms and Sanskrit.

He was the first one to take Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu outside the precincts of the temples of Kerala to all over India and to impart training in Kudiyattam to non-Chakyar disciples including foreigners. He had produced many accomplished disciples in Kutiyattam and other classical arts like Kathakali.[3] He was a Sanskrit scholar of supreme rank and was used to give lectures and talks in Sanskrit.

He is the author of Nātyakalpadrumam - the authoritative encyclopedic treatise on all aspects of Koodiyattam. He was a Fellow of important national art academies like Sangeet Natak Akademi[8] and recipient of coveted titles like "Nātyāchārya", "Vidūshakaratnam" and prestigious Awards like Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award etc.