Kathakali artist Kottakkal Chandrashekshara Varrier passes away

MALAPPURAM: Renowned Kathakali artist Kottakkal Chandrasekshara Varrier passed away in Kottakkal on Wednesday. He was under treatment for heart-related disease.
Varrier, who was also called as Varrier Ashan, was well known for his Pacha and Kathi roles and his roles like Nalan, Bahikan, Bhiman, Arjuanan, Ravanan, Duryodhanan and Keechakan won applause from Kathakali critics.
He was born in Naduvattam near Pattambi in Palakkad district in 1945. Varrier was disciple of the late Padmashri Vazhenkda Kunchu Nair and Kottakkal Krishnakutty Kair.
Chandraseskharan, who joined PSV Nattaya sangham attached to Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala in 1958, served as principal since 1996.
Apart from performing in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Surat, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Puttaparthy and Chennai, he also performed abroad, in Loka Malayali Mela in UK in 1983 as special invitee of British Council and in Malayisa , Singapore, Indonasia, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Switzerland.
He won Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for his contribution to Kathakali in 2017. He also won Vazhenkada Kunu Nair award, V S Sharma Endowment, Thulaseevanam Award, Alappuzha district Kathakali club award, prize for Ernakaulam Kathakali Club, Alappuzha district club Kathakali Award, etc . He also received honourship of Natyathilakam and Veerashrunkhala in 1994 from Raja Rajeswari temple in Taliparamba.
Cremation would be held at Kottakkal on Thursday. He is survived by his wife Susheela Devi, daughter Jyotsna and son Jithesh.