Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan

Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan is an Indian percussionist from Kerala. He is an exponent of Chenda. He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Kathakali Chenda in 2019 and Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship for Chenda in 2022.

Biography M. Unnikrishnan popularity known as Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan was born on October 10, 1958, as eldest of six children of Ramakrishnan Nair and Maniattu Dakshayani Amma, in Kolathur in Malappuram district of Kerala. His father who was a daily-wage labourer in Kolathur was also a part-time ritualistic chenda player at a temple near his house.

As a performer Unnikrishnan mainly plays Chenda as background music for Kathakali performances.

Works on him Melaprayanam: The Saga of a Drummer directed by filmmaker Vinu Vasudevan is a documentary on the life of Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan.

Awards and honors In 2019, Unnikrishnan received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Kathakali Chenda for the year 2018. In 2022, he has been awarded the Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship for Chenda, for the year 2021.