Biography

Varanattu Narayana Kurup is a contemporary Mudiyettu performing artist. He won several awards. He is belonging to the Varanattu Kurup family of traditional performing artists of Mudiyettu, based in Koratty in the Thrissur district of Kerala. Narayana Kurup has expertise in the other facets of Mudiyettu as well, such as Kalam Pattu, Chutti Kuthal and Kalikoppu making. He also is an expert in the Kalamezhuthu art. He has performed Mudiyettu enactments, engaged in the art of Kalamezhuthu making as well as Kalam Pattu, in more than 1500 stages within and outside Kerala.

Varanattu Narayana Kurup was born in the year 1944 and brought up in a well known Varanattu Kizhakke family traditionally performing folklore arts such as Mudiyettu and Kalamezhuthu, as their family heritage. At the age of 12, he began his training under the mentorship of his own uncle Late Sree Rama Kurup, a well known figure in the same field. In 1959 at the age of 15, Narayana Kurup gave his debut performance at Mattoor Nelamkulangara Bhagavathi Temple, playing the role of Daarika.

Awards and Recognitions

Gurupuja Puraskaram by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in 2007, for services rendered in Mudiyettu

Folklore Academy Award in 2008, for 50 years of contribution in the field of Mudiyettu. Keerthipathra from Dr. T. Radhakrishnan, Vice-Chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam in 2002.

Keerthimudra by Mattoor Nelamkulangara Bhagavathi Temple in 2001.

Koratty Chettarikkal Temple Award in 2005

Chirangara Bhagavathi Temple’s reward given by late film star Shri M. S. Thripunithara

Chirangara Temple Kshethra Kshema Samathi award in 2008

Gouri Shankara Temple shield in Chalakkudy in 2005

The Shield received on the 75th day of the film ‘Thaniyavarthanam’, for performing Mudiyettu in the film.

The Shield received from the Thapasya Kala Sahithyavedi in Irinjalakuda.

The Honour and Shield received in the Panambally Govind Menon Smaraka Nattarang, conducted by Chalakkudy Sanskara Sahithi in 2008.

The Shield received from Kshetra Sumrashana Samathi in Thrissur in 2006.

The Shield received in Chirangara Kalasamithi, conducted by Prathibha Sangam and Kalasandhya in 2009.

The Shield received on the stage of Koratty Swarasudha (School of Music and Dance), at the fest conducted on the day of Vijayadashmi 2009.

The Shield received from Malayalam Nammude Abhimanam Samskarika Yathra organizing committee in 2010.

Njanodhayam Vayanasala West Koratty Award (shield)

Vivekananda Balagokulam Koratty Award (shield).

His Initiatives

He has also registered a Kala Sangham (performing troupe) known as the Kizhakke Varanattu Mudiyettu Kala Sangham, under his leadership, teaching newcomers in the Mudiyettu and Kalamezhuthu arenas systematically. He has also authored a book completely on Mudiyettu, on the basis of his knowledge and experience that he accessed thus far.

Details

 Kunjan Marar Mudiyettu Kalakendra, formerly the Pazhoor Damodara Marar Smaraka Gurukulam, is the leading traditional group performing Mudiyettu for three centuries. It is one of the surviving eight troupes performing the UNESCO-recognised folk ritual art form, in central Kerala. It is the only legitimate troupe under the Pazhoor/ Punnackal Kunjan Marar family of Piravom in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, which has been in the tradition of regularly performing Mudiyettu for generations, "with a deep commitment to perpetuating and protecting the precious ritual art - a gift from the goddess". The Kunjan Marar Mudiyettu Kalakendra operates from Thirumarayoor in the Ernakulam district, presently led by performing artists Thirumarayoor Muralidharan Marar and Thirumarayoor Girijan Narayanan Marar.  Mudiyettu Exponents of Kunjan Marar Mudiyettu Kalakendra  The Kunjan Marar Mudiyettu Kalakendra is custodian of the highly aesthetic and musically rich performance of Mudiyettu, made famous by its late leaders Pazhoor Kunju Kunjan Marar, who was an outstanding personifier of the Goddess Bhadrakali, and Pazhoor Damodara Marar, who was a renowned singer of ‘sopana samgitam’ and skilled drummer honoured with numerous awards and accolades. The current performers and exponents leading the troupe are sons, grandsons and nephews of these legends of the art. The group has performed in more than 8000 stages across the country and abroad as well. The veterans late Pazhoor Kunjan Marar and Pazhoor Damodara Marar had been awarded the prestigious Kendriya Sangeeta Natak Akademi awards, while the former had also been recognised with the Keraleeya Kalakal honour by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in the year 1976, among other various awards and honours. Both of them had brought universal applicability to the ritual art. After the demise of Pazhoor Narayanan Marar, the Kunjan Marar Mudiyettu Kalakendra is currently led by Thirumarayoor Muralidharan Marar and Thirumarayoor Girijan Narayanan Marar.