Noted Artists
In the modern world, the late Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam Padma Shree guru Mani Madhava Chakyar mastered Rasa Abhinaya with special reference to Netrābhinaya. He has been a major force in popularizing Koodiyattam by taking it out of the Hindu temples, performing across India with his troupe, and teaching it to non-Chakyar caste members. He has adapted, choreographed and directed plays such as Kalidasa's The Recognition of Sakuntala, Vikramorvaśīya and Mālavikāgnimitra and Bhasa's Swapnavāsadatta and Pancharātra for performance in the Koodiyattam style.
The other most important exponent of Koodiyattam is Padma Bhushan Ammannur Madhava Chakyar. In the 1980s, he became one of the first Koodiyattam performers to present this art to an international audience. He visited France and England in 1982, Switzerland and The Netherlands in 1987 and Japan in 1988. He presented plays such as Balivadham, Thoranayudham, Asokavanikankam, Hanumaddutam, Jatayuvadham, Surpanakhangam, Thoranayudham and Ankuliyankam and greatly popularised Koodiyattam. He continued his teaching practice throughout his life in Ammanoor Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District. Any reference to Chakyar Koothu will not be complete without mentioning Painkulam Raman Chakyar. He was the first instructor for Chakyar Koothu when it was started as a course in Kalamadalam. In 1980, he was also the first one to spread international awareness of "Chakyar Koothu" and Koodiyattam by mentoring a few European students and facilitated by them in leading his troupe on a European tour including Germany, France and Poland. He had more than 1000 stage appearances in different roles. He successfully produced and staged the 2nd Act of Sakunthalam, 3rd Act of Nagananda and Jadayuvadhankam in Ascharyachoodamani. He also supervised and participated in the production of a colour documentary film on koodiyattam in 1974.
Mani Madhava Chakkiar's disciple and nephew Mani Damodara Chakyar is also a Koodiyattam performer of traditional devotional Koodiyattams, such as Anguliyanka, Mattavilasa, Mantranka, Ezhamanka (seventh act of Ascharyachoodamani). Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar is a Koodiyattam artist from Thrissur, Kerala, India.
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