Panjal Unnikrishnan

Immediately after completing the Kalamandalam course, Krishnankutty Poduval included Unnikrishnan in his Vellinezhi Sahrudaya Sangam, which he had started with the aim of encouraging young people in the field of Kathakali.^[2] After that, he worked at the Unnai Warrier Memorial Art Center in Irinjalakuda and the Muthappan Kathakali Yogam in Parassinikkadav in Kannur district.^[2]

In 1967 he joined the International Centre for Kathakali (ICK) in Delhi as a teacher and later became its principal, and retired from there in 2010.^[2]

Apart from Kathakali, Unnikrishnan plays the Chenda as background music for Indian performing arts like Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and also fusion dances.^[2] He also plays Edakka for Panchavadyam.^[1] He has also collaborated with North Indian and forign percussionists, such as tabla and taiko players.^[2] He has performed at many venues in India and abroad. In addition, Unnikrishnan also leads lectures and performances to spread the reach of Kerala art to other parts of the country.^[2]

In 2006, Unnikrishnan received the senior fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.^[2] In 2013, He received the Pravasi Kalasree award by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.^[2] In 2014, he received the Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Chenda.^[3] In 2022, he received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Government of Kerala.^[4][5]