User:Achuthanandan P/sandbox

Achuthananda Marar, born in Cheruthazham, Kannur, Kerala is a trained professional in percussion instruments like Chenda, Thimila and Edakka. He started playing these instruments when he was 10 years old. He is the disciple of the renowned Panchavadyam Maestro Shri Kariyannoor Narayanan Namboodiri. But his first guru was Shri Cheruthazham Damodara Marar and learned the basics of Chendmelam and Panchari Melam from him. Later he learned Kelikottu (the chenda alone in Kelikottu) from Sri Cheruthazham Kunjirama Marar, who is presently working with International National Centre for kathakali, New Delhi. The initial lessons of Thimila and Thayambaka was taught by Sri Kadannappalli Shankaran Kutty Marar, who is traditionally known as one of the maestros in Thimila in the region. During this time he learned Edacka and Sopanam also from Sri Puliyampilly Shankara Marar, who is a renowned Edacka and Sopanam artist from Northern Kerala. At the age of 19 he started his career as a Sopanam Artist with Ayyappa Seva Samithi, R K Puram, New Delhi. After serving there for 2.5 years he did higher studies and gradually shifted his career to administration and now works for an MNC company in Bangalore.

Achuvettan (as the near ones call him) who is a blessed artist and an inborn talent in the temple art forms has not given up the skills that he acquired through rigorous practice. He is now conducting performances, workshops and Seminars on these percussion instruments, Panchavadyam, Thayampaka etc. apart from the regular performances for temples and other arts associations on demand. Even though it’s difficult to manage time for these activities from the stand point of an Administrative Professional, it’s his dedication to these temple art forms and the luck of those who associate with him to learn on them. He is teaching Chenda, Edakka and Thimila to a group of art enthuse who are from the different walks of life in Bangalore. Achu Marar is the lead artist (Pramani) for 2 major percussion groups in Bangalore - The Madivala Vadya Kalakshetra Samithi and The Jalahalli Panchavadya Sangham.

He has also accompanied with Edacka for the famous Mohiniyattam dancers like, Gopika Varma, Bharathi Shivaji, Deepthi Omcheri Bhalla, Monisha Unni etc.

Among his achievements, he was given Special Recognition by the then Hon. President of India, Dr. Sankar Dayal Sharma during a program at The Rashtrapthi Bhavan. He was playing Edakka regularly for most of the programs by Doordarshan during 2003 – 2005, when he was in Delhi.