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Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal was born in the year Malayalam Era 1001. He was the son of Punathur Manakkadan Raman. Kunhambu gurikkal was a Kathakali performer. He was belonged to the place called Kathirur which was belong to Kottayam Taluk, Ponnyam Desam, Kathirur C.D Kunhambu gurikkal was a Sanskrit scholar, and a worshipper of arts like Music and dance.

He traveled many southern countries like Kadathanadu, Kurumbra Nadu, Vettethnadu, Palakkad, and Perumpadappu etc. in his younger age and got close contact with Kathakali. Therefore, his inner dream to study Kathakali increased. He stayed in Palakkad for a short period and practiced Kathakali, under the style of Kallikkodan sambrathatayam. The practice of Kathakali was not permissible for thiyya Community in Valluvanad (Present Perunthalmanna taluk,Ottappalam taluk some portions of Ponnani,Tirur and Yeranadu taluk), Palakkad and other neighboring countries.

After a preliminary study in Kathakali, Kunhambu Gurikkal decided to start Kalari to practice kathakali for Thiyya Communities from his home place. This Kalari situated in Eranholi, Thalassery. He himself wanted to practice and develops his Kalari performance. Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal performed Kathakali based on Kottayath Thamburan’s attakkada named as Kirmeeravadham, Bakavadham, Kalyana Saugandhikam, Nivathaka vacha kala keya vadham etc.

However, Kunhambu Gurikkal’s famous vesham was Vella tadi (Hanuman). As most of the people in Kerala worshiped God hanuman,kathakali viewers enjoyed Kalyana Saugandhikam. The Kathakali performance was conducted in some Nair Tharavad or in the residence of some prominent and rich peoples.

In those days, the Kathakali performances were conducted in two different ways named as Kalivattom and Kaliyogam. The Kalivattom is a temporary set up for a period of one year beginning from the month of Vrichikam to 10th of Edavam. However, Kaliyogam is an expensive arrangement can be assemble only by the help of a Raja or a Naduvazhi. It is an institution, that can be able to harbor actors, singers, orchestra men together and do practice and performances permanently. Kunhambu Gurikkal’s arrangement was Kaliyogam.

Kunhambu Gurikkal’s kaliyogam existed during the Malayalam Era from 1045 to 1065. However, he continued his Kathakali performance until his death. He was seriously injured and lost one of his eyes by an accident while conducting a Kathakali performance. He expired in the Malayalam Era 1077in the age of 76 from Eranholi.

The singers and musicians served in Kunhambu Gurikkal’s kaliyogam were mainly from Palakkad, and few of them were marars from Thalassery. We could not identify their names. A number of teachers and performers were also served in Kunhambu Gurikkal’s Kaliyogam. Their names were also not fully identified. However, some of the names were identified from the performers and teachers life history. Their names were Eachara Menon, Koothannur Madhavan Nair, Elannummel Kuttan Nair, Koottil Kunhan Menon, and Gopala Panicker. Kunhambu gurikkal had a property in his name having an area of 7 acres and 31 Cents named as Akavalappu nilam, also named as both Illath poyil Paramba and Kalyadan Eloth Paramba in Thalassery Districts, belong to Kathirur Sub-districts, Kottayam Taluk, Eranholi Amsam- Desam, under Survey No: 27/2 and Pattayam No: 46, which recorded in British Malabar register named ‘Revenue Survey and Settlement Register-1904. This is kept in Regional Archives, Kozhikode Civil Station, and Kozhikode.