Moozhikkal Pankajakshi

Moozhikkal Pankajakshi (14 March 1936 – 15 July 2026) was an Indian expert in Nokkuvidya pavakali, a form of puppetry. She was awarded her country's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2020.

Life and career Pankajakshi Moozhikkal Sivaraman, popularly known as Moozhikkal Pankajakshi Amma, was born on 14 March 1936, at Urulikunnath, Pala, Kottayam district. She dropped out of school midway due to financial difficulties. A Nokkuvidya Pavakali performer for over 60 years, due to old age, vision loss and memory loss, she stopped performing Nokkuvidya at the age of 72. After that she taught the folk art form to her granddaughter Renjini. The couple had three children, Vijayan, Radhamani and Shiva.

Awards and honours Pankajakshi received several awards including Padma Shri (2020), India's fourth highest civilian honour and fellowship from Kerala Folklore Academy (2012). In 2008, as part of the Kerala Tourism Festival, she performed at Paris.

Works on her Reshmi Radhakrishnan's documentary film Nokkuvidya, The life of a lone string puppeteer, screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, is about Nokkuvidya and its performer Pankajakshi.