Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair

Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair, also known as Guru Chemancheri (26 June 1916 – 15 March 2021) was an Indian Kathakali actor. He spent over eighty years learning and teaching and performing Kathakali, a major form of classical Indian dance. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour, Padma Shri in 2017.

Personal life Kunhiraman Nair was raised in the village of Cheliya, near Koyilandy, Kozhikode district.

Later, he came to live in Kannur, and at the age of 31, he met his life partner, Janaki. After six years of marriage, the couple lost their first-born child, a girl. Janaki died a year later, leaving Nair to raise their one-year-old son.

Career and teaching After many years as a performer, Nair eventually became a teacher of Kathakali.

In addition to Kathakali, he also supported other dance-drama forms, including Ashtapadi Attam, based on the verses of Gitagovindam, by the medieval poet Jayadeva. Nair, in collaboration with another dance master, Guru Gopinath, formulated Kerala Natanam, which is based on Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, and became a government-recognised dance form in Kerala.

Death Nair died on 15 March 2021 at his residence at Cheliya village near Koyilandy at the age of 104.

Awards and honours 1979 Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award recognised him for his contributions. 1999 Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship of the Academy 2001 Kerala Kalamandalam granted an award for special contributions to art. 2002 Darpanam Natyakulapathi award 2002 Kerala Kalamandalam Visishta Kala Seva Award 2009 Kalaratnam Award of Kerala Kalamandalam 2017 Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India Mayilpeeli award Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Award for contributions to Kathakali