Sh. Kodoth Rajan

Brahmasree Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri (44), resident of Puthumana Illam, Chemmattam Vayal, Kanhangad is a famous Thitampu Nritham artist (expert) at temples. He has performed at almost all the temples (around 150) in north Kerala for the past 25 years. His guru is Brahmasree Madamana Sankaran Embranthiri (68), resident of Muthalappara, Neeleswaram, Kasaragod district has 45 years of experience and winner of Badhiramana Award for senior thitampu nritham artists. He started with arangettam at Sree Athiyampoor Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Kanhangad during the Shashthi Uthsavam - 1979. He was inspired by Late Brahmasree Thekkillam Keshavan Embranthiri (First Badhiramana Award Winner) and another senior artist in this field Brahmasree Puthussery Krishnan Embranthiri resident of Payyanur. His fame extends from THALASSERY in the SOUTH to MANGALORE in the north.

He follows entirely Thekkan Saili (South Kerala Style) and has excelled in this area. He has recieved many honours during the past years from well known temples like Sree (Chirakka Kavu, Thalassery, Kuttamath Bhagavathi Temple, Cheruvathur, Pallikkunnu Mahavishnutemple, Kanathur, Edakkad Vishnu Temple, Kannur) etc. Initially he has performed in the telecast on DOORDARSHAN on "KSHETHRAKALAKAL" (in section Thitampu Nritham) while he was performing at Sree KOLLYA MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE, ULLAL. After that he performed in many times for various local channels at Kasaragod like Indiavision, city channels and his NRITHAM appears during the UTSAVA season. His performance at VEERABHADRA TEMPLE, CHERUVATHUR (The second famous ARATTUTHSAVAM of north kerala VAYALIL ARATTU) was captured by the ASIANET VIDEOGRAPHER and was telecasted. His performance at Sree VISHNUMANGALAM temple will be telecasted in the SURYA channel under the programme "KELI". He will be performing for the KAIRALI channel also soon.

His style of performing thitampu nritham is unique and makes attractive to the viewers even without the knowledge of this divine art. It is always found that there will be a large crowd to watch this performance from areas far away from temples. He keeps all the conventional styles as such with varities which comes under the new trend.he always says "I perform thitampu nritham with bhakthi which is the secret of my success" and he does not believe in the degrading tendencies by the new artists to perform mere dance instead of NRITHAM due to lack of effort. He remains performing different SHAILIS for continous 30 minutes each for 4 THALAVATTAMS (For continous 2 hrs) and says the "ADANTHA" is his favourite.He is becoming popular nowadays as he always sticks only to this art and never tries to copy other dances and art forms.

He respects all THITAMPU artists whether they follow THEKKAN or VATAKKAN saili and continues with its magestic performance from vrishchikam to medam.He comes to perform THITAMPU NRITHAM under request which has fascinated thousands of viewers (art lovers) and devotees irrespecive of weight of the Thitampu.It is a matter of special interest that there are many temples where he continues to perform since he was assigned since 1979!! He lives as pure NAMBOOTHIRI with pooja and maintains old tradition of the community.The soft spoken expert of thitampu nritham is known by majority of marars in north kerala and respected by them.He remembers how he was introduced by KADANNAPPALLI SANKARAN KUTTY MARAR to PALLIKKUNNU KANATHOOR temple for performance with Late Brahmasree thekkillam Kesavan Embranthiri.A majority of his fans believes that the honours recieved by him so far is not sufficient to greet him for his excellence and the dedication he shows in this field.

Coutesy Members of committees of various temples at Kannur, Kanhangad & Mangalore, Unnikrisha warrier (Interview with the Artist)