Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal

                       Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal

Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal was a thiyya Kathakali perfomer who lived in the 19th century in Kerala.

     Manakkadan Kunhambu Gurikkal (1826 - Jan 1902) was born in Manakkadan Tharavadu in Eranholi, Thalasseri Taluk in Kottayam Malabar. The family was famous for their proficiency in Kalaripayattu and Sancriept language. The Tharavadu was a big matrilineal family following Keralas famous Marumakkathayam.   His father Punnathur Manakkadan Raman was a naattupramani in Eranholi, during the period.  He learned Kathakali, considered to be a Namboothiri Brahmin art, from Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker’s Kathakali yogam.  He conducted hisown kathakali yogam in Eranholi and given training in Kathakali for students belong to thiyya community.