Kshetra Kala awards out, Taliparamba in spotlight again

Thaliparamba:With the Kerala Kshetra Kala Academy (KKAA), a cultural institution under the Malabar Devaswom Board, announcing its annual awards, Taliparamba has once again stepped into the spotlight. While actor-dancer Nikhila Vimal bagged the Kshetra Kala Fellowship, Kalamandalam Bindu Marar of Poomangalam and Dr C K Bhanumathi of Thrichambaram have also brought pride to the town, winning honours in Mohiniyattam and Classical Music, respectively.

A life dedicated to dance
Kalamandalam Bindu Marar, a diploma holder in classical dance from Kerala Kalamandalam, has been into dance-teaching for the past 28 years. She serves as the director of the Bharatanjali Dance School at Poomangalam and the Bindu Marar Dance Academy in Payyannur, besides having taught abroad for several years. Recipient of the Kerala Nrithasree Award last year, she is also a `grade artist' with Doordarshan. Currently, she teaches Mohiniyattam at the Kshetra Kala Academy under the Malabar Devaswom Board. Bindu is married to Gopalakrishna Marar and the couple has two daughters-- Revathy and Madhurima.

Five decades in classical music
Dr C K Bhanumathi, a native of Thrichambaram, has been at the forefront of classical music for more than five decades. She runs Shubharagam, a music school she founded three decades ago, and is also a guest artist with the Akashvani. She was trained in classical music by her father, C K Bhagavathar and her brother, Kanhangad Ramachandran is a playback singer..

Dr Bhanumathi has been performing classical music concerts for the past 50 years. In recognition of her contributions, the International Tamil University conferred a D.Litt upon her in 2019. She also received the A T Ummer Award in 2022. She is married to Retired Chief Telephone Supervisor V P Balakrishnan and the couple has three children-- Shubhan, a music teacher, and daughters Shabna and Shruthy, both singers.