Chennithala Chellappan Pillai

Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai was one of the celebrated Kathakali Artistes of 20th century. He was well known for his uniqueness and ingenuity of improvisational roles in Kathakali.

Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai was born in the village of Chennithala near Mavelikara in Alleppey District of Kerala in the year 1924. He had his initial training of Kathakali under his grand-father Shri Chennithala Kochu Pilla Panicker. At a very young age of 15 Shri Chellappan Pillai gave his debut performance as Sreekrishna in Rugminiswayamvaram at Chennithala Thripperumthurai Mahadevar Temple.

Later Shri Chellappan Pillai got his training under the renowed Guru Shri Chengannur Raman Pillai. Even though Shri Chellappan Pillai had not gained sufficient Kalari training in Kathakali, he became a very popular exponent of this art-form. He was highly and justly respected for his hard work on the stage. Shri Chellappan Pillai was applauded mainly for his role of Kachan, Rugmangadan, Harichandran, Karnan, Arjunan, Srikrishna, Srirama and Pushkaran. After the era of Shri Kurichi Kunjan Panickar, Shri Chellappan Pillai became famous for his role of Hamsam in Nalacharitham, like Shri Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai. Shri Chellappan Pillai was well known for his performance in Pachha, Kathi as well as Kari veshams. His performance in all these variety of veshams was acclaimed widely in Kerala and other parts of the country. During London and Germany Tour with FACT Kathakali Group, Shri Chellappan Pillai performed the role of Duryodhanan in ‘Mahabharatham’ Kathakali.

His role as Kachan in Devayani Charitham, Rugmangadan in Rugmangada Charitham, and Mandrikan in Nizhalkuthu are also among his best characterisations. The standard set by him in playing characters in Pachha veshams and minikku veshams like Parasuraman, Thecha veshams like Mandrikan are now considered by many connoisseurs as the yardstick for evaluating the portrayal of these characters.

Shri Chellappan Pillai was honoured for his brilliance in Kathakai, by various institutions including Kerala Kalamandalam. He was honoured with the prestigious Sangeeth Natak Akademi Award in 1991 at Jaipur for his contribution to Kathakali. The Kerala Kalamandalam Award was presented to him in 1996. Above all, he was honoured with awards from many Kathakali Clubs and Organisations in and around Kerala; yet he cherished the love and respect shown to him by other Kathakali artistes and his admirers.

On many occasions, Trivandrum Dooradarsan has recorded and telecast Shri Chellappan Pillai’s excellent performance as Kachan, Bhimasenan, Hamsam, Naradan etc.

S/Shri Mozhoor Rajendra Gopinath, Gowreesapattam Gireesan and Natyasala Ramesh were trained in Kathakali by Shri Chellappan Pillai.

S/Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Poduval, Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai and Thakazhi Kuttan Pillai are some of the starwalts of Kathakali, who helped Shri Chellappan Pillai to become an eminent artiste. The Kathakali lovers of Kerala still admire Shri Chellappan Pillai’s role as Hamsam in Nalacharitham, Manthrikan in Nizhalkuthu, Kachan in Devayani Charitham etc., which were his master-pice veshams.

Shri Chellappan Pillai attained heavenly abode on 31st October 1998.

A Cultural Society has been formed in memory of Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai by the name ‘CHENNITHALA CHELLAPAN PILLAI SMARAKA KALA SAMSKARIKA SAMITHI’. This Society has been conducting memmorial functions called ‘GURUVANDANAM’, in Chennithala, Kerala, as a tribute to Shri Chellappan Pillai on 31st October every year by honouring a senior artiste from the Kathakli field.


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	CHENNITHALA CHELLAPPAN PILLAI
	Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai was one of the celebrated Kathakali Artistes of 20th century. He was well known for his uniqueness and ingenuity of improvisational roles in Kathakali. Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai was born in the village of Chennithala near Mavelikara in Alleppey District of Kerala in the year 1924. He had his initial training of Kathakali under his grand-father Shri Chennithala Kochu Pilla Panicker. At a very young age of 15 Shri Chellappan Pillai gave his debut performance as Sreekrishna in Rugminiswayamvaram at Chennithala Thripperumthurai Mahadevar Temple. Later Shri Chellappan Pillai got his training under the renowed Guru Shri Chengannur Raman Pillai. Even though Shri Chellappan Pillai had not gained sufficient Kalari training in Kathakali, he became a very popular exponent of this art-form. He was highly and justly respected for his hard work on the stage. Shri Chellappan Pillai was applauded mainly for his role of Kachan, Rugmangadan, Harichandran, Karnan, Arjunan, Srikrishna, Srirama and Pushkaran. After the era of Shri Kurichi Kunjan Panickar, Shri Chellappan Pillai became famous for his role of Hamsam in Nalacharitham, like Shri Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai. Shri Chellappan Pillai was well known for his performance in Pachha, Kathi as well as Kari veshams. His performance in all these variety of veshams was acclaimed widely in Kerala and other parts of the country. During London and Germany Tour with FACT Kathakali Group, Shri Chellappan Pillai performed the role of Duryodhanan in ‘Mahabharatham’ Kathakali. His role as Kachan in Devayani Charitham, Rugmangadan in Rugmangada Charitham, and Mandrikan in Nizhalkuthu are also among his best characterisations. The standard set by him in playing characters in Pachha veshams and minikku veshams like Parasuraman, Thecha veshams like Mandrikan are now considered by many connoisseurs as the yardstick for evaluating the portrayal of these characters. Shri Chellappan Pillai was honoured for his brilliance in Kathakai, by various institutions including Kerala Kalamandalam. He was honoured with the prestigious Sangeeth Natak Akademi Award in 1991 at Jaipur for his contribution to Kathakali. The Kerala Kalamandalam Award was presented to him in 1996. Above all, he was honoured with awards from many Kathakali Clubs and Organisations in and around Kerala; yet he cherished the love and respect shown to him by other Kathakali artistes and his admirers. On many occasions, Trivandrum Dooradarsan has recorded and telecast Shri Chellappan Pillai’s excellent performance as Kachan, Bhimasenan, Hamsam, Naradan etc. S/Shri Mozhoor Rajendra Gopinath, Gowreesapattam Gireesan and Natyasala Ramesh were trained in Kathakali by Shri Chellappan Pillai. S/Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Poduval, Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai and Thakazhi Kuttan Pillai are some of the starwalts of Kathakali, who helped Shri Chellappan Pillai to become an eminent artiste. The Kathakali lovers of Kerala still admire Shri Chellappan Pillai’s role as Hamsam in Nalacharitham, Manthrikan in Nizhalkuthu, Kachan in Devayani Charitham etc., which were his master-pice veshams. Shri Chellappan Pillai attained heavenly abode on 31st October 1998. A Cultural Society has been formed in memory of Shri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai by the name ‘CHENNITHALA CHELLAPAN PILLAI SMARAKA KALA SAMSKARIKA SAMITHI’. This Society has been conducting memmorial functions called ‘GURUVANDANAM’, in Chennithala, Kerala, as a tribute to Shri Chellappan Pillai on 31st October every year by honouring a senior artiste from the Kathakli field.