Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon was the person in charge of the "Kalluvazhi" School, which was one of the most popular varieties of Kathakali dance in the 20th century. He was born in Chetthalloor, Palakkad district and became a student of Ittirariccha Menon. He was famous as the architect of the "Kalluvazhi" technique, which emphasizes vigorous body movements and novel. This style is very difficult in executing properly. He was trained in the art form at a culture-patronising Namboodiri house in Vellinezhi which was near to his house.
Career of Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon
Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon was himself a famed performer of heroic roles. He attained greater influence as a strict instructor, at the Vellinezhi Kalari, Palakkad town. He was trained in Kathakali by the famous Kalluvazhi Kuyilthodi Ittirarissa Menon at Olappamanna Mana with Kariyattil Koppan Nair and Malankattil Sankunni Nair as his co-students. He was initially associated with the Manjeri Kaliyogam which was a Kathakali institution-cum-group. Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon attained the foremost advantage in his profession when he took the real meaning of emotional acting which was "rasabhinaya" under Kunjunni Thampuran. Some of the famous pupils of Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon are Thekkinkattil Ramunni Nair, Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair who was also his son. Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon was also worked as an instructor in the areas like Kerala Kalamandalam, in Cheruthuruthi, Thrissur district; and P. S. V. Natyasangham in Kottakkal, Malappuram district. His son, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, continues the tradition of the "Kalluvazhi" School till date.
Famous roles of Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon
Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon was famous for his pilot roles in the four Kottayam Thampuran plays: "Kalakeyavadham", "Kirmeeravadham", "Bakavadham" and "Kalyanasougandhikam". His masterpieces also include "Dakshan", "Nalan in Nalacharitan" "Randaam Divasam", "Arjunan in Subhadraharanam", "Cheriya Narkasuran and Ravanan in Balivijayam", "Ravanolbhavam", "Kartaveerarjunavijayam" and "Balivadham" besides minukku (makeup of Kathakali) roles like "Bhrahmanan in Santanagopalam" and "Rukminiswayamvaram" and "Durvassavu in Ambareeshacharitam".
Death of Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon
Pattikkantodi Ramunni Menon died in 1948.
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