Sarojini Nangiaramma

Sarojini Nangiaramma also known as Sarojini Nangiar was a Koodiyattam and Nangiar koothu exponent from Kerala, India. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015. She was the first Nangiar to receive this national honor. In 2021 she received the Kerala Kalamandalam Award for koodiyattam for the year 2020.

Biography Sarojini Nangiaramma was born on 20 October 1940 in Edanad Nambiar Madhom in Chovvara village near Aluva in present-day Kerala, into a family of kurtiyattam artists. Her mother Ammukutty Nangiaramma and father Villuvatta Ravunni Nambiar were Koodiyattam and Nangiar koothu artists. She learned koodiyattam and nangiar koothu from her parents as well as from her aunt Kochukutty Nangiaramma.

Sarojini Nangiaramma made her debut at the Edanad Bhagavathy temple at the age of 9.

Personal life and death Her husband, late Mani Parameshwara Chakyar, was a Koothu and Koodiyattam artist.

Career Following tradition, Sarojini Nangiaramma performed Koodiyattam and Nangiar koothu mainly in temples in Kerala.

In addition to the Nangiar Kooth, she also performed the Kooths of Angulyankam, Mattavilasam and Mantrankam.

Awards and honors Sarojini Nangiaramma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015.