Vasu Pisharody

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody (15 August 1943 – 1 December 2022) was an Indian Kathakali actor known for his classical dance-drama of Kerala.[1] A frontline disciple of Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, he exceled in virtuous pachcha, anti-hero Kathi and the semi-realistic minukku roles alike. Nalan, Bahukan, Arjunan, Bhiman, Dharmaputrar, Rugmangadan, Narakaasuran, Ravanan, Parashuraman and Brahmanan were his masterpieces.[2] Vasu Pisharody performed Kathakali all over India and visited foreign countries about 20 times.[2]

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody

Life and career

Vasu Pisharody was born at Kongad in the Palakkad district, on 15 August 1943.[3] His primary education is up to 7th.[2] After schooling, he had his primary Kathakali lessons under Balakrishnan Nair at Kerala Kalalayam in Ottapalam.[4] He learned Kathakali after his 7th in Kerala Kalalayam, for one year.[2] He subsequently joined PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal, was a student there for three years, and later in Kerala Kalamandalam, where he undertook further studies for seven years—both under Padmasree Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.[2] Vasu Pisharody also had his higher studies under Padma Bhushan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair.[2]

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody

After an initial brief stint at Kerala Kalamandalam, he continued his education for two years there with the Scholarship of Central Govt.[2] He finished his studies in 1969, After that Vasu Pisharody worked at a kalari (Kathakali classroom) run by the Guruvayur Kathakali Club in a Temporary post till 1979.[2] He rejoined Kalamandalam in 1979 and worked there for two decades before retiring as its vice-principal of Kathakali Vesham in 1999.[2]

Pisharody died from heart disease at his house in Kongad, on 1 December 2022, at the age of 79.[5]

Awards

Vasu Pisharody is a winner of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

  • Veerashrinkhala from Kongad.
  • Awards from several Kathakali clubs.
  • Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 1998.
  • Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2020[6]
  • Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2003[7]
  • Fellowship from Central Human Resources Development Ministry.
  • Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship.
  • Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Kerala Kalamandalam.
  • Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Gandhi Seva Sadan.
  • Olappamanna Devi Puraskar.
  • Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Podhuval Puraskar.
  • Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalyanikkuty Amma Puraskar.
  • Puraskar from "Sarggam" Kongad.

Later years

An ailment forced him to take a break from Kathakali in 2005, but his health improved again. He made a comeback to the stage in end-March 2009 at the Thirumandhamkunnu temple in his village of Kongad.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody.
  1. "Kathakali Artists - Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody".
  2. "Kathakali Artists - Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody". www.cyberkerala.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  3. "Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody". www.indiansarts.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007.
  4. Kathakali Vijnanakosam (encyclopedia), page 420
  5. "Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody passes away". The Hindu. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. "2020 പുരസ്‌കാര സമർപ്പണം" (PDF) (in Malayalam). Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Kathakali". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.


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