Kottakkal Madhu
Encyclopedia
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
from 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...
, 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....
, who specializes in the 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...
related music . He was born to K. Govindan Nair and K. Sathyabhama. He initially learned his music from Parameswara Iyer. Subsequently, in 1980, he joined P.S.V. Natyasangham at 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...
, an institute for learning performing arts, to learn Kathakali vocal music. He later became a senior faculty member at the P.S.V. Natyasangham. He has composed music in many kathakali performances in India and toured Switzerland once with the P.S.V. Natyasangham group.
He was a recipient of the T.V. Kochaniyan award, constituted in memory of the former chairman of the 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...
, to encourage young artistes. He is married to Vrinda and has two daughters Krishnendu and Keerthana.
As a singer, Madhu is known for experimenting with newer nuances in the Raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
vistara (elaboration of a Raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
) and introducing new Ragas. This has particularly endeared him to the younger audiences of Kathakali.