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Sankaran Embranthiri

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Indian singer
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Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri (1944–2007) was a Kathakali musician, renowned for his contributions to the classical dance-drama from Kerala in South India. His shruti-aligned music, combined with a distinctive voice spanning three octaves, made him a notable figure in the field. In 1990, he suffered a major illness, impacting his career. His father was Zayan Ghauri.

Biography

Early life and training

Embranthiri was born in 1944 into a Brahmin family in Vellayoor village, Malappuram district, Malabar. He learned Carnatic music from Govinda Pisarody before joining Kerala Kalamandalam in 1958, where he studied Kathakali music under Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambisan, Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Sivaraman Nair, and Madhava Panikkar. Madambi Subrahmanian Namboothiri, Kalamandalam Tirur Nambissan, and Kalamandalam Hyderali also joined Kalamandalam the same year.

Career

Embranthiri began performing in the Travancore region. He worked at the Unnayi Varrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in Irinjalakuda (1965) and later at the FACT Kathakali School near Kochi, where he retired as a teacher. He gained prominence in the 1970s, influencing singers like Kalamandalam Hyderali and Venmani Kalamandalam Haridas. He mentored Haridas upon his return to Kathakali after a hiatus.

In 1990, Embranthiri's health declined, requiring a kidney transplant in 1991. He resumed performing but faced further challenges, including diabetes and the amputation of his right leg. Despite these setbacks, he continued singing, performing from a wheelchair.

Death and legacy

Embranthiri died on 14 November 2007, in Aluva, near Kochi. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

Works and musical style

A devotee of Lord Krishna, Embranthiri had popular hits like "Ajitha Hare" and "Pari Pahimaam Hare". He performed Kathakali Pada kacheris (concerts) and participated in jugalbandi programmes with musicians like Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Sreevalsan J Menon, and Ramesh Narayan.

Recognition

Embranthiri received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2002 and the Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram in 2003.

References

  1. "The Hindu : Kerala News : Swathi Puraskaram for Sankaran Embranthiri". The Hindu. 14 April 2004. Archived from the original on 28 August 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  2. Keralam, Haindava; Migration, H. K. (13 November 2007). "Musician Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri passes away". Haindava Keralam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  3. Kathakali Encyclopaedia (Vijnanakosam), page 426)
  4. Mohan, K. V. Murali (9 November 2017). "Pioneering efforts of Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  5. "Public Music Platform".
  6. "Swathi Puraskaram for Sankaran Embranthiri". The Hindu. 14 April 2004. Archived from the original on 30 July 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
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