Painkulam Damodara Chakyar is a renowned artist of the traditional theatre art form Koodiyattam, the oldest surviving specimen of ancient Sanskrit theatre. He is considered as one of the trinity of Koodiyattam, along with renowned performance artists Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar and Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, who with their relentless passion and vision, redefined the contours of this art while also extending it beyond the temple theatres of its original place Kerala, to across country and the globe.

Early Life and Training of Painkulam Damodara Chakyar
Painkulam Damodara Chakyar hails from a small hamlet called Painkulam, in the Thrissur district of Kerala. The Kutiyattam art form was embedded deep in his genes and training in it was just a domestic affair. As a child, he waddled around the Koothambalams (temple theatres of Kerala), clenching the hands of his uncle, the great Painkulam Rama Chakyar, who became his first guru. With decades of training, Damodara Chakyar achieved mastery over this intricate art form. In addition, he has also learned Sanskrit Literature from Poomulli Neelakantan Namboothiri, which is a prerequisite to becoming a good artist.

Performances and Teachings of Painkulam Damodara Chakyar
Painkulam Damodara Chakyar has his feet firm in Koodiyattam and became an established artist and teacher in the art form. When Painkulam Rama Chakyar crossed the seas with his troupe to perform Koodiyattam for the European audience, his nephew Damodara Chakyara was an essential member of his team. Together with the great artists of Kalamandalam (a major centre for performing arts in Kerala), Damodara Chakyar performed in Poland, France, Germany and Thailand besides making appearances at the major festivals within the territories of the country.

After the demise of his guru and uncle Rama Chakyar, Damodara Chakyar took a detour from Koodiyattam and started performing Chakyar Koothu, a classical dance art form indigenous to Kerala, at various temples. Damodara Chakyar has also nurtured several talents in Koodiyattam as a teacher, and has conducted quite a few workshops in temples and secular institutions.

Awards received by Painkulam Damodara Chakyar
Painkulam Damodara Chakyar was conferred the Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 2004, the Kerala Sangeeta Natak Akademi Award in 2006 and the prestigious Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 2012, by the Government of India.

Related Articles:
Sanskrit Language
Forms of Indian Theatre
Kerala
Folk Theatre of Kerala
Sanskrit Theatre
Classical Indian Dance Drama
Koothu
Sanskrit Literature
Indian Classical Dance
Koodiyattam, Folk Theatre of Kerala
Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar
Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar