Vasu Pisharody

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody (15 August 1943 – 1 December 2022) was an Indian Kathakali actor known for his classical dance-drama of Kerala.^[1] A frontline disciple of Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, he exceled in virtuous pachcha, anti-hero Kathi and the semi-realistic minukku roles alike. Nalan, Bahukan, Arjunan, Bhiman, Dharmaputrar, Rugmangadan, Narakaasuran, Ravanan, Parashuraman and Brahmanan were his masterpieces.^[2] Vasu Pisharody performed Kathakali all over India and visited foreign countries about 20 times.^[2]

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody

Life and career

Vasu Pisharody was born at Kongad in the Palakkad district, on 15 August 1943.^[3] His primary education is up to 7th.^[2] After schooling, he had his primary Kathakali lessons under Balakrishnan Nair at Kerala Kalalayam in Ottapalam.^[4] He learned Kathakali after his 7th in Kerala Kalalayam, for one year.^[2] He subsequently joined PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal, was a student there for three years, and later in Kerala Kalamandalam, where he undertook further studies for seven years—both under Padmasree Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.^[2] Vasu Pisharody also had his higher studies under Padma Bhushan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair.^[2]

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody

After an initial brief stint at Kerala Kalamandalam, he continued his education for two years there with the Scholarship of Central Govt.^[2] He finished his studies in 1969, After that Vasu Pisharody worked at a kalari (Kathakali classroom) run by the Guruvayur Kathakali Club in a Temporary post till 1979.^[2] He rejoined Kalamandalam in 1979 and worked there for two decades before retiring as its vice-principal of Kathakali Vesham in 1999.^[2]

Pisharody died from heart disease at his house in Kongad, on 1 December 2022, at the age of 79.^[5]

Awards

Vasu Pisharody is a winner of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

• Veerashrinkhala from Kongad.
• Awards from several Kathakali clubs.
• Kerala Kalamandalam Award in 1998.
• Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2020^[6]
• Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2003^[7]
• Fellowship from Central Human Resources Development Ministry.
• Kerala Kalamandalam Fellowship.
• Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Kerala Kalamandalam.
• Shri Pattikkamthodi Puraskar - Gandhi Seva Sadan.
• Olappamanna Devi Puraskar.
• Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Podhuval Puraskar.
• Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalyanikkuty Amma Puraskar.
• Puraskar from "Sarggam" Kongad.

Later years

An ailment forced him to take a break from Kathakali in 2005, but his health improved again.^{[citation needed]} He made a comeback to the stage by the end of March 2009 at the Thirumandhamkunnu temple in his village of Kongad.^{[citation needed]}