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Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Kala Samskarika Samithy

CHENNITHALA CHELLAPPAN PILLAI  KALA SAMSKARIKA SAMITHY is a Registered cultural organization  functioning at Chennithala, in Thripperumthura village of Mavelikara Taluk, Alappuzha dist. Kerala, dedicated to the revival of Kerala’s art forms, from the year 2002. It is formed  in the honour of veteran Kathakali actor Late Chennithala  Chellappan Pillai who had acquired more than 15 awards including Kerala Kalamandalam Award and Kendra Sangitha Nataka Akademy Award 1991.The Samithy wished for its ambitious Project “ Patana Kendram”  to impart cultural training to  youngsters who have aptitude in various forms of arts. Shri R. Gopalakrisnan Nair, President of Mahatma Nursery School Committee with its Members Shri K.K. Kunjummen Koippurath Villa(Secretary), Shri M.N. Gopalakrishnan Nair Harikrishna Mandiram, Shri KR Narayana Pillai Sudarsana and Shri K.J Varghese Kochuplammoottil had donated 4.85 cents land for constructing Patana Kendram. Further we had contacted MLA and MP of Mavelikara constituency and with the help of Shri M. Murali MLA, the ground floor of Patana Kendram was dedicated to the public by Hon’ble Cultural Minister of Kerala  in 2007. By 2008 we started Training and cultural classes in the branch of Classical Music, Dance and Chenda Vadyam for selected children. Patana kendram was  further strengthened by Mavelikara MP Smt. C.S. Sujatha and Shri Kodikkunnil Suresh with their MP lads Fund.

Every year we  conduct our annual programme on the eve of the death anniversary of Sri Chennithala Chellappan Pillai during the month of November  with various programmes This include Award presentation  to a Senior Kathakali Artiste Memento and Cash (Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Puraskaram) & Cash Prize  to the winner - One Boy and One Girl- of kathakali vesham competition in the Alappuzha revenue Jilla School Yuvajanolsavam and  Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Smaraka Everolling Trophy to the winner of the Mavelikara sub jilla school yuvajanolsavam. Along with this we conduct  kathakali awareness classes and  Kathakali demonstration bi monthly. We also conduct  Kavi Arang- Poets conference- in which young poets will be presenting their own poems for discussion. We also conducts stage performances of our Dance, Chenda and Music by our students during Onam,  New year and our annual functions. Apart from this, we also honour personalities from the field of literature, art, active service etc. Also helps to study kerala’s art forms. We are actively participating in various programmes   conducted by  cultural bodies and ensuring our presence in cultural field.

Gurus bestowed with Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Puraskaram

• 2002- Guru Champakkulam Pachu Pillai    - Kathakali Natan
• 2003- Shri Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai       -                “
• 2004- Prof. Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai  -                “
• 2005- Padmabhushan Madavur Vasudevan Nair-      “
• 2006- Shri Mathoor Govindan Kutty                             “
• 2007- Shri Varanasi Vishnu Namboodiri     - Kathakali Maddalam
• 2008-Shri Thalavadi Aravindan                     - Kathakali Natan
• 2009- Shri Ayabkudi Kuttappa Marar          - Kathakali Chenda
• 2010- Shri Tiruvalla Gopikkuttan Nair         - Kathakali Sangeetham
• 2011-Smt. Chavara Paru Kutty                     - Kathakali Nati
• 2012-Shri Thonnakkal Peethambaran        - Kathakali Natan
• 2013-Shri Fact Padmanabhan                      -                “
• 2014-Shri Kandalloor Sadasivan                  - Kathakali Chenda
• 2015-Shri Kalamandalam Rajasekharan     - Kathakali Natan
• 2016-Shri Kurur Vasudevan Namboodiri    - Kathakali Chenda
• 2017-Shri Pathiyoor Sankaran Kutty           - Kathakali Sangeetham
• 2018-Shri Thiruvalla Gopinathan Nair           - Kathakali Chutti
• 2019-Shri Inchakkattu Ramachandran Pillai  - Kathakali Vesham
• 2020. Sri Mankulam Krishnan Nampoothiri -Kathakali Chenda
• 2021. Sri Kalamandalam Surendran             -Kathakali Singer
• 2022-Smt. Kottaarakkara Ganga                   - Kathakali Vesham