Snippets of Information
Dance - Kathakali
* 5 June 2025
Appunni Tharakan (1928-2025) fondly called
“Appunniyettan” by the Kathakali fraternity, was the chief costumer of
the Kerala Kalamandalam Kathakali Troupe for some years, . During that
time, he was very active in preparing new costumes and make-up materials
for the artists. After he retired from Kalamandalam, Tharakan slowly
moved to concentrate on his own costume-renting organisation named
"Manjuthara" at his home near Vellinezhi, dedicating over seven decades
to the craft.
Initiated into the world of Kathakali greenrooms at the age of 14 by his
brother-in-law, Pambath Sankaran, Tharakan began his journey as a
costume assistant with the Olappamanna Mana Kathakali Yogam. His first
assignment at the Vazhenkada Narasimhamoorthi Temple involved carrying
heavy costume boxes on foot due to the lack of transportation.
The span of Appunni Tharakan’s service in the Kathakali greenroom
extended from Guru Kunju Kurup to young artists aged twenty-five now.
His mastery over the craft of ‘Uduthukettal’ (the bottom area costume
arrangement) was renowned due to his dedication and commitment. The span
of Appunni Tharakan’s service in the Kathakali greenroom extended from
Guru Kunju Kurup to young artists aged twenty-five now. His mastery over
the craft of ‘Uduthukettal’ (the bottom area costume arrangement) was
renowned due to his dedication and commitment.
His biography, Aniyara Shilpi, Nambyarathu Appunitharakan, by author
Vini Devayani, was launched last year at Kerala Kalamandalam.
Source: Appunni Tharakan (1928-2025): The Soul of Kathakali Costumes by Vinu Vasudevan, indiaartreview.com, Jan 24, 2025
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