K.K. Gopalakrishnan

Early life and education K.K. Gopalakrishnan was born in Kerala, India. He developed an early interest in the ritual and classical arts of the region, particularly Theyyam and Kathakali, after encountering Theyyam performances during visits to Kannur and Kasaragod in his childhood.

Personal life K.K. Gopalakrishnan was born into the Kamballoore Kottayil matrilineal family in Kerala, which has patronised the ritual art form Theyyam for over three centuries, including support for Muslim Theyyam performers and a mosque within the family estate. His work and book Theyyam: Indian Folk Ritual Theatre have also received attention in reviews and interviews published by Frontline, The Wire, and The Times of India, which described his efforts in contextualizing the deity-based performance art within social frameworks. In an interview with The New Indian Express, he discussed his motivations and challenges while documenting the art form.

Journalism He wrote numerous news and entertainment outlets including The New Indian Express, The Hindu, etc. where he has written more than 15 articles.