Veteran Kathakali Singer Thakazhi Kuttan Pillai passes away

Thakazhi Kuttan Pillai passes away

Alappuzha: Veteran singer of Kathakali theatre Thakazhi Kuttan Pillai passed away at his residence at Thakazhi near here on Tuesday. He was 88 and had been keeping indifferent health for several years. Pillai is survived by eight children. His wife Visalakshi had predeceased him a few years back. Kuttan Pillai was credited with structuring the music of the Southern school — Thekkan Chitta — of Kathakali theatre. He had sung in the background for prominent Kathakali actors including the late Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Guru Chengannur Raman Pillai, Guru Kunju Kurup, Mangulam Vishnu Namboodiri and Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair. His career spanned over five decades until he stopped appearing on the stage since mid-1990s due to poor health. Pillai had been honoured with several awards including the State Government’s Kathakali Puraskaram and Kala Ratna Puraskaram of the Trvancore Devaswom Board.

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