Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Feb 8: Madavoor Vasudevan Nair (89), well-known authority on Kathakali form of art from Thiruvananthapuram, who had won a number of awards including 'Padma Bhushan' national honour, collapsed on stage and breathed his last on the night of Tuesday February 6.

Nair was performing at Anchal Agastyakkodu Mahadevar temple in Kollam district when his end came.

Nair was donning the role of Ravana in the episode 'Ravana Vijaya' that was being performed at the temple. Immediately after he collapsed to his knees, office bearers of the temple took him to a private hospital nearby but his life could not be saved.

Vasudevan Nair had been born as son of Puttanveed Rama Kurup from Kadavoor Karattpura in 1929. He joined as the disciple of Parameshwaran Paillai Madavoor, a Kathakkali exponent, when he was 12 years old. Since young, he was able to breathe life into the roles he donned on stage.

Nair had served as Kathakali teacher in Kerala Kalamandalam for about ten years. He had won central Sangeeta Nataka Akademi ward in 1998 and state Kathakali award in 2009. He also had won the central government's fellowship.

Nair is survived by wife and three children.