Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody is a leading Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...

 artiste known for his restrained portrayal of character roles in the classical dance-drama of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 in south India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. A frontline disciple of Padma Shri

Padma Shri

Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

 Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair

Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair

Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, also spelt Kunju Nair, was a prominent Kathakali exponent of the 20th century and the first principal of Kerala Kalamandalam, the premier performing arts institute of Kerala in south India....

, he excels in virtuous pachcha, anti-hero Kathi and the semi-realistic minukku roles alike. Nala

Nala

Nala , a character in Hindu mythology, is the king of Nishadha Kingdom, son of Virasena. Nala is known for his skill with horses and culinary expertise. He marries princess Damayanti, of Vidarbha Kingdom, and their story is told in the Mahabharata. His main weakness is gambling...

n, Bahuka

Bahuka

Bahuka was the changed name of Nala, a character of Hindu mythology, while he was a charioteer of Rituparna, the king of Ayodhya. His story is told in the Mahabharata, published around the 8th century BC....

n, Arjuna

Arjuna

Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...

n, Bhima

Bhima

In the Mahābhārata, Bhima is one of the central characters of Mahabharata and the second of the Pandava brothers...

n, Dharmaputrar, Rugmangadan, Narakaasuran, Ravanan, Parashuraman and Brahmana

Brahmana

The Brāhmaṇas are part of the Hindu śruti literature. They are commentaries on the four Vedas, detailing the proper performance of rituals....

n are his masterpieces.

Vasu Pisharody was born on August 15, 1943, at Kongad

Kongad

Kongad is a medium-sized town in Palakkad district in the South Indian state of Kerala, and is 20 km north-west of Palakkad town. Nearby towns include Karimpuzha in the west, Mannarakkad in the north, Mundur in the east and Lakkidi and Mankara in the south.The nearest airport is at Coimbatore...

 in Palakkad

Palakkad

Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...

 district. After schooling, he had his primary Kathakali lessons under Balakrishnan Nair at Kerala Kalalayam in Ottapalam

Ottapalam

Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here...

. He subsequently joined PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal

Kottakkal

Kottakkal is a town and a municipality in Malappuram District in Kerala, south India. It has 32 Wards. The National Highway 17 separates the municipality from Edarikkode Panchayath on some part in the west. It is an Eranadan town located 12 km south-west of Malappuram, the district...

, was a student there for 3 years, and later in Kerala Kalamandalam

Kerala Kalamandalam

Kerala Kalamandalam , lately renamed as Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture, is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of India, with the special emphasis on Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in...

, where he undertook further studies for seven years—both under Kunchu Nair. Vasu Pisharody also had his higher studies under Padma Bhushan

Padma Bhushan

The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...

 Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair is one of the most senior performers of Kathakali, having been a grand and sober presence on the art form's stage for a span of over seven decades...

 and the late Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair

Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair

Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair was an eminent Kathakali exponent, equally known for his capacities as a tutor, theoretician and author of a few authentic texts on the classical dance-drama from Kerala in south India....

.

After an initial brief stint at Kerala Kalamandalam, Vasu Pisharody worked at a kalari (Kathakali classroom) run by the Guruvayur

Guruvayur

Guruvayur is a municipal town in Thrissur District, of Kerala State in India. It houses the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.-History:Guruvayur, according to the legends may be 5,000 years old as the Guruvayur...

 Kathakali Club. He rejoined Kalamandalam in 1979 and worked there for two decades before retiring as its vice-principal in 1999.

Vasu Pisharody is a winner of the prestigious Central Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...

award.

Veerashrinkhala from Kongad.
Awards from several Kathakali clubs.
Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 1998.
Fellowship from Central Human Resources Development Ministry.
Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship.
Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Kerala Kalamandalam.
Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Gandhi Seva Sadan.
Olappamanna Devi Puraskar.
Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Podhuval Puraskar.
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalyanikkuty Amma Puraskar.
Puraskar from "Sarggam" Kongad.

His leading disciples include Kalamandalam Sreekumar and Kalamandalam Pradeep.

An ailment of late had forced him to take a break from Kathakali since 2005, but Vasu Pisharody's health improved over the years. He made a comeback to the stage in end-March 2009 at the Thirumandhamkunnu temple in his village of Kongad.