Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar (1928–2009) was an exponent of Koodiyattam,[1] a traditional form of Sanskrit theatre from Kerala, which has been recognised by UNESCO as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind.[2] Born in a family of Koodiyattam performers, in 1928, at Ammannur, a small hamlet near Irinjalakuda, in Thrissur district in the south Indian state of Kerala, Chakyar had his early training in the art form from within his family. Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, a renowned Koodiyattam performer and a Padmabhushan awardee, was his cousin and the two, later, would evolve a new school of performance, popularly known as the Ammannur tradition of Koodiyattam.[3] When Margi, an institution promoting traditional art forms of Kerala, started their Koodiyattam training centre in 1981, he was the first residential guru.[4] The institution imparted training to many aspiring performers[5][6] which included two sons of Chakyar, Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar[7] and Margi Madhu[8] and both of them are known exponents of the art form. In 1998, Chakyar joined Nepathya, a centre for excellence in Kudiyattam, as the Mukhya Acharya (Head Teacher), and continued his association with the institution till his last.[9] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2008, for his contributions to Arts.[10] He died in 2009, at the age of 81.[2] He is remembered by an annual festival, Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival, at Moozhikkulam, a suburb of Kochi where Nepathya is headquartered in,[2][11] and through orations organised by Nepathya.[12]
