Art and Culture
Palakkad district has a glorious cultural tradition. It is said that Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam literature, spent his last days in Chittur. To commemorate this, there is the "Thunchathu Acharya Madam" at Chittur. Kunjan nambiar, the mostpopular p[oet of Malayalam and the founder of Thullal,purely a Kerala art form, had his birth in a small village called Killikurissimangalam (Lakkidi) in this district.
Worthy contributions have been made by talented artists of this district for maintaining and enriching the classicaldance forms of Kerala, such as Chakkiar Koothu, Thullal,Kathakali and Mohiniattom. Mani Madhava Chakiar for'Koothu' and Vazhenkada Kunju Nair for Kathakali are the two names to be remembered in this context. The" Kalluvazhichitta", the most popular school of 'Kathakali' had its origin in Palakkad district and its exponentwas late Sri Vazhenkada Kunju Nair. The musical tradition of Palakkad district is unchallenged. The district hasbeen blessed with the birth of the late Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, the exponent of Carnatic musicand Sri Palakkad Mani Iyer, the inimitable maestro of mridangam. Sri C. Sankaran Nair also belongs to Mankara,a place in this district.
Among the eminent personalities of the district are the late K.P.S. Menon, diplomat and author who won theLenin Prize and late K.P.Kesava Menon, the great freedom fighter, celebrated author and journalist. SwadeshabhimaniRamakrishna Pillai spent his life in exile at Vadakkanthara near Palakkad town. Some of the old temples in the districthave in them beautiful paintings and sculptures of great artistic value.
SWARALAYA is a registered Cultural Organization, which hasalready established its name in the cultural horizon of our country by its constant and tireless efforts since its inception in 1997 at Palakkad. The mainobjectives of this prestigious organization, registered under education, cultural and charitable societiesact 21 of 1860 with register number PKD/CA/195/97dated 11.06.1997, are promotion, protection and propagation of all performing arts and providingencouragement to budding young artists to witness the performances of maestros in the field of musicand dance and to share the stage with them
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