Thrippekulam Achutha Marar
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Thrippekulam Achutha Marar | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 26, 1921 |
| Died | March 15, 2014 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | percussionist |
| Awards | |
Thrippekulam Achutha Marar (also spelled as Trippekkulam) is an Indian percussionist from Kerala. He was an exponent in Indian percussion instruments like Chenda, Edakka, Thavil and Timila. He received many awards and honors including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India, Pallavur Puraskaram by the Government of Kerala and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Government of Kerala.
Personal life and death
Trippekulam Achutha Marar was born in September 26, 1921, near the Ammathiruvadi Temple in Urakam in present-day Thrissur district of Kerala, to Trippekulam Marath Pappamarasyaar and Sitharaman Embranthiri.[1][2]
Achutha Marar had never learned the Chenda that made him famous, from a master. As a member of an artist family that had been employed in the temple in his native Urakam for generations, he had been introduced to the Sopana Sangeetham singing, and instruments like Edakka, Chenda, ilatalam and the chengila since he was a child.[3][4][5] He would play it for ceremonial functions and for the 'Kottipadi Seva', the traditional way of worship in which the performer sings kirtans while playing instrument.[4] After passing the fourth grade, he was instructed to stop going to school.[4]
After a while, Peruvanam Appu Marar introduced Achutha Marar to Thayambaka a little.[4] He later learned the basic lessons of Thavil from Nellikal Narayana Panicker and trained in Timila and Idakka from Annamanada Parameswara Marar.[1]
Achutha Marar inherited to perform ritualistic duties in the temple along with his uncles, Govinda Marar and Krishna Marar.[6] Govinda Marar was often selected as the 'Mela Pramani' (master performer and leader of the percussion team) of the 'Chenda melams' (group performance in which people play Chendas and other percussion instruments) in nearby temple festivals. When he was only in his mid-twenties, he was appointed as the melam leader for the Arattupuzha Pooram festival.[4] His uncle Govinda Marar was supposed to lead it. But he suddenly felt unwell. Highly respected Chenda players including Nanu Marar of Kuruppat and Eechar Marar of Karekkad were in that performing team in which he became the leader. The next day, when Nanu Marar met him at Ollur Edakkunni temple festival, he said that he accepted him as leader only because he belongs to family related to Urakam temple.[4] According to a local custom related to Arattupuzha temple, a person from that family should lead the melam in that temple.[4]
At the age of 34, Achutha Marar married Padmakshi Marasiar, and shifted base to Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district.[3] He died on March 15, 2014, at his house in Irinjalakuda.[7]