Mattannoor Sankarankutty

Mattanur Sankarankutty
Mattannoor Sankarankutty Marar, A Click from Thrissur Pooram 2010.
Born (1954-08-25) 25 August 1954 (age 70)
Mattanur, Kannur, Kerala, India
Occupation(s)Percussionist, Thayambaka exponent
Years active1970–present
SpouseBharathi
ChildrenMattannoor Sreekanth
Mattannoor Sreeraj
Mattannoor Saranya
Parent(s)Mattannoor Kunhikrishna Marar
Karthyayani Marasyar
AwardsPadma Shri–2007
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award–2012

Mattanur Sankarankutty (M. P. Sankara Marar) is an Indian percussionist who plays the chenda (a traditional Kerala drum), Thayambaka, Panchari melam, and Panchavadyam. He was born in Mattanur in Kannur district of Kerala.[1] He was awarded the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1996,[2] the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009[3] and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012.[4]

Mattanur, as he is known, is married to Bharathi, a native of Tirur in Malappuram district. They have two sons, Mattannur Sreekanth and Mattannur Sreeraj, and a daughter named Mattannur Saranya. Both Sreekanth and Sreeraj are also popular Thayambaka artists. Triple Thayambakas played by father and sons are very popular in Kerala.[5][6]

  1. ^ Kaladharan, V. (4 November 2005). "Heir to a proud musical legacy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Keraleeya Vadyangal". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Untitled Page".
  4. ^ "SNA Awardees' List". Sangeet Natak Akademi. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  5. ^ Vikram, Phukan (27 February 2020). "When the drums speak". The Hindu.
  6. ^ Kaladharan, V. (11 December 2019). "Chenda maestro Mattannoor Sankarankutty Marar's beats of ebullience - The Hindu". The Hindu.