Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi selected for First K. Harihara Iyer Memorial Award

Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi

The first K. Harihara Iyer Memorial Award jointly instituted by Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Perumbavoor Upasabha and Adv. K.Harihara Iyer Foundation was announced here on 25^th of July 2011. Eminent Kathakali artist, Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi was selected for this award by a three member jury appointed by Kerala Brahmana Sabha. The jury members - N. Ranganathan (State Committee Member, Kerala Brahmana Sabha), K. Gangadharan Nair (Retired Headmaster and Ex-President, Kathakalai Club, Perumbavoor) and Kalamandalam Sumathy - said that he is the most deserving person who is an ‘evergreen hero in Kathakali stages’. The award carries a citation; memento and cash prize of Rupees Ten thousand. Kalamandalam Gopi learned Kathakali form from Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, Kalamandalam Ramankutti Nair and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair. Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi retired as the Principal of Kerala Kalamandalam and has won many awards and fellowships from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Academy. He has performed in many foreign countries and has numerous disciples all across the World.

N. Hariharasubramania Iyer (Vice President, Vadarkutti Brahmana Samooham), N. Ramachandran (President) and K. Hari (Secretary) of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Peumbavoor Upasabha declared this award on the occasion of the 26^th death anniversary of Adv. K. Harihara Iyer. A commemorative meeting was also organized at Nagamangalam Madom by the Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Perumbavoor Upasabha. N. Ramachandran presided over the meeting and K. Gangadharan Nair (Retired Headmaster and former President of Kathakali Club of Perumbavoor), Kalamandalam Sumathi, Prof. P. S. Ramachandran (former Secretary, Perumbavoor Upasabha), K. Krishna Iyer (Secretary, Brahmana Samooham), Kamala Hariharan (Convenor, Narayaneeyam Seva Samithy), N. Hariharasubramania Iyer, K. Hari, H. Balakrishnan (Treasurer), J. Lalitha (President, Vanitha Vibhagam) and H. Vanchiswaran (President, Yuvajana Vibhagam) were present in the meeting.

K. Gangadharan Nair lighting the Vilakku. (from Left to Right) N. Ranganathan, Prof. P. S. Ramachandran, K. Krishna Iyer, N. Rmachandran, K. Hari, Kalamandalam Sumathi, Kamala Hariharan

Adv. K. Harihara Iyer was the first Municipal Chairman of the Municipal Council of Perumbavoor in 1953. He was the first President of Perumbavoor Bar Association and continued in the office for 25 years, the first President of Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Sabha and the first President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Perumbavoor Upasabha. He was the Patron of Kathakali Club and Akshara Sloka Samithy of Perumbavoor. He also served as the President of the Congress Committee of Perumbavoor Constituency. Wife: late. Janaki Hariharan. Son: H. Krishna Sounder (Abu Dhabi) Daughter: Hamsalatha Hariharan (Chennai).