KOZHIKODE: Yet again proving that age is just a number, Kathakali maestro Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair celebrated his 100th birthday with much grandeur on Sunday.
Many political and cultural leaders, celebrities and dear and near ones arrived in his home-town of Cheliya, near Koyilandy, to convey birthday wishes.
The day-long celebrations started with a grand musical tribute to the legend who dedicated 85 precious years of his life for popularising Kerala’s age old dance tradition.
Around 100 music students and nearly 150 percussionists lined up at Ilahia School open auditorium for the musical tribute.
Inaugurating the centenary celebrations, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said, “The legend of Kathakali who has made our state proud, will be among the top five personalities who will be nominated for this year’s Padma Bhushan award from Kerala”.
Not just for the award nomination, state government will sanction an amount of Rs 10 Lakh in the Guru’s name for the construction of a cultural centre in his home town.
Culture minister K. C. Joseph assured him to set up a cultural gallery of Kerala Kalamandalam in Kozhikode in his name.
Surprising hundreds of people gathered, Chemanchery appeared at the finale of the grand celebration in one of his favourite roles - lord Krishna.
In spite of a nagging pain in his right leg, he adorned the heavy costume and make-up of Kathakali and appeared before his audience.
Adding colour to his birthday celebrations, film star and dancer Vineeth performed a classical dance as a tribute to Guru, in the name of ‘Krishnaparvam’.
Mr Joseph crowned him with the precious Navaratna crown and lawmakers Mullappally Ramachandran and M K Raghavan presented traditional Kerala shawls.
While presenting the centenary celebration report, the organising committee members declared yearlong celebrations marked with various cultural programs. It will culminate in his performance on his début stage in Thalassery, on July 12, 2016.
