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Margi Madhu

Margi Madhu
Born
Madhu A.K[1]

(1966-05-19) 19 May 1966 (age 59)
Moozhikkulam, Eranakulam district, Kerala
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Koodiyattam performer and teacher
Known forKoodiyattam performer and teacher
SpouseIndu G. Nair
Children1
Parents
Awards

Madhu A.K popularly known as Margi Madhu or Margi Madhu Chakyar is an Indian Koodiyattam exponent and teacher from Kerala. He received several awards including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2011 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Koodiyattam in 2022.

Biography

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Madhu was born on 19 May 1966, to Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar and Pothiyil Sulochana Illodamma at Moozhikkulam, Eranakulam district, Kerala.[2][3] Born into a family of Koodiyattam artists, his father and parental uncle Ammannur Madhava Chakyar are noted Kootiyattam exponents.[4] He was educated at St. Mary's School, Moozhikulam and N.S.S. High School, Eranakulam.[3]

Started studying Koodiyattam from his father he later trained under uncle Madhava Chakyar, P.K. Narayanan Nambiar and M. Madhavanunni.[3][5] In 1981, he joined the performing arts institute 'Margi' in Thiruvananthapuram. He along with his brother Margi Narayana Chakyar, father's nephew Margi Rama Chakyar were the first Koodiyattam students in Margi.[6]

Personal life

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Madhu is married to Indu G. Nair from Edappally, Eranakulam.[3] She is also a Koodiyattam and Nangiar koothu artiste for more than 20 years.[7] They have one son, Srihari.[8]

Career

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Margi Madhu as Ravana in a Kootiyattam play at Nepathya

Madhu has performed in various venues across India and abroad, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in USA.[9] He has performed roles uch as Ravana, Arjuna, Sugreiva and Vidushak in Koodiyattam plays.[10]

Madhu has also written the acting manual for four Koodiyattam plays, Dooth Ghadodgajam, Kanchukeeyam, Karnabharam and Macbeth.[9]

Madhu, who is also a Koodiyattam teacher, has trained many people as assistant professor in Theatre at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit and through the study center 'Nepathya', which he started in Moozhikkulam in 2003.[1][9]

Awards and honours

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Madhu has received the Sanskriti National Award and the Junior Fellowship of the Human Resource Development Department, Government of India.[3] In 2011, he received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Koodiyattam.[11] In 2022 he received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Koodiyattam.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Margi Madhu".
  2. ^ a b "Margi Madhu Chakyar" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 46.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Margi Madhu".
  4. ^ "Koodiyattam exponent Margi Madhu on the survival of the 2,000-year-old Sanskrit theatre". The Indian Express. 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Margi Madhu Chakyar Entertainment Photo Margi Madhu Cha..." Times Of India. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Kutiyattam: In Conversation with Margi Madhu". Sahapedia.
  7. ^ T.K, Achuthan (8 August 2019). "'Koodiyattam is a full-time vocation'". The Hindu.
  8. ^ "Tradition and the times". The Hindu. 12 July 2012.
  9. ^ a b c "Interview - Margi Madhu: Nepathya is my dream project - Lalitha Venkat". narthaki.com.
  10. ^ "Ravana is my favourite character: Margi Madhu". The Times of India. 17 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Awards for Koodiyattam".