Abstract

Padmabhushan Kavalam Narayana Panikkar was a poet, fundamentally and a rare personality who is equally gifted with fields of music and theater. In addition, he was a scholar of Sanskrit, instrumental music, law, and folklore. He also had a sound knowledge of the Puranas and Ithihasas. Kavalam as a theatre director and musicologist has realized the importance of indigenous tala as a key constituent of Kerala performing arts tradition. He penned many compositions which are aligned to Kerala talas, ragas and also specialized style of music rendition. According to him, music suggests movements. He used indigenous Kerala Talas to bring in the aboriginal flair and flavor of the native land. His music not only suggested the movement but highlighted them in perfect blends. He penned more than a hundred items specifically for Classical Dance form of Mohiniyattom.