Peruvanam Kuttan Marar

Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.

Early life
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar was born to a family of chenda artists in Peruvanam, Thrissur, Kerala. His grandfather, Peruvanam Narayana Marar and his father, Peruvanam Appu Marar were also well-known chenda artists. His teachers include his father, Kumarapuram Appu Marar and Sreenarayanapuram Appu Marar. He made his debut with Chenda at the age of 10. He performed at festivals in nearby temples including Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple. He also joined as a clerk in C N N Boys' High School, Cherpu at the age of 20.

Career as an artist
Kuttan Marar features in prominent temple festivals of Kerala including Thrissur Pooram, Peruvanam pooram, Kollam Pooram and those at Guruvayur Temple. He leads the famous Ilanjithara Melam of Thrissur Pooram. Kuttan Marar started performing at the Ilanjithara Melam from 1977 and has been its Pramani since 1999.

(Partial) listing of temples where Peruvanam Kuttan Marar has performed : (Partial) listing of artists who perform with Peruvanam Kuttan Marar on a regular basis :
 * 1) Puthucode Bhaghavathy temple
 * 2) Puthur Thirupuraikal Bhagavathy Temple
 * 3) Panangad Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple
 * 4) Thripunithura Poornathrayeesa temple
 * 5) Vaikom Mahadeva temple
 * 6) Guruvayur temple
 * 7) Pallathamkullangara Bhagavathy temple, Ernakulam
 * 8) Ilankunnapuzha temple, Ernakulam
 * 9) Kuttanelloor temple, Thrissur
 * 10) Manalaarukaavu temple, Thrissur
 * 11) Puzhakkarakkavu temple, Moovattupuzha
 * 12) Paramekkavu temple
 * 13) Vadakkumnathan temple
 * 14) Cherpu Bagavathi temple, Cherpu
 * 15) Thamarakulangara temple, Tripunithura
 * 16) Kottaram Bhagavathy temple. Maradu
 * 17) Ernakulam temple
 * 18) Peruvanam temple
 * 19) Aarattupuzha temple
 * 20) Chinakathoor temple
 * 21) Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple
 * 22) Irinjalakuda temple
 * 23) Kodunthirapully Durgasthami & Mahanavami Navaratri Fest, Palakkad
 * 24) Cherpulasshery Bhagavathy temple
 * 25) Paliam Siva Temple
 * 26) Sree Mahadheva Temple, Rajakkad
 * 27) Pilakkad Sree Ramankulangara Ayyappa Temple
 * 28) Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Swamy temple, Kottayam
 * 29) Mannuthrukkovil Mahavishnu temple, Pullazhy, Thrissur


 * 1) Tiruvalla Radhakrishnan
 * 2) Peruvanam Satheeshan Marar
 * 3) Kelath Aravindakshan Marar
 * 4) Pazhuvil Raghu Marar
 * 5) Chowalloor Mohanan Nair
 * 6) Chowalloor Mohanan Warrier
 * 7) Peruvanam Karthik Marar


 * 1) Anthikkad Ramachandran
 * 2) Anthikkad Padmanbhan
 * 3) Peruvanam Sankaranarayanan
 * 4) Peruvanam Shivan
 * 5) Peruvanam Prakashan
 * 6) Peruvanam Krishnan
 * 7) Maniyamparambil Mani Nair
 * 8) Kizhoot Nandanan

In popular culture
C. Venugopal and K. Ramachandran produced a 45-minute documentary on Kuttan Marar, named Pranathi.

Awards

 * 1) Keli Melasooryan Award 2012
 * 2) Sangeetha Nataka Academy Fellowship 2012
 * 3) Pallavoor Puraskaram 2012
 * 4) Padma Shri award in 2011
 * 5) Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2010
 * 6) Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2001
 * 7) Veerashringhala 2000
 * 8) Arattupuzha Sri Sastha Award
 * 9) Sri Guruvayurappan Award
 * 10) Keli's promising Artist Award 1999
 * 11) Keli's Golden Conch 2005
 * 12) Keli's Lifetime achievement Award 2009
 * 13) Kala Darpana Award
 * 14) Nada Purnathrayee Award
 * 15) Adaraneeyam Award
 * 16) Mela Kala Chakravarti
 * 17) Vadyotama Award
 * 18) Melakalanidhi