Namboothiri (artist)

File:Sukapuram dakshinamoorthy temple.jpg

Namboothiri was born at Karuvattu Mana in Ponnani, in Malappuram district of the south Indian state of Kerala{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/namboothiri_(artist)-profile-6152-42.htm |title=Namboothiri (artist) – Veethi profile |date=13 March 2019 |website=veethi.com |access-date=13 March 2019}} to Parameshwaran Namboothiri and Sreedevi Antharjanam, as their eldest son.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdXZMZRi4NQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/NdXZMZRi4NQ |archive-date=18 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Artist Namboothiri: PaadaMudra 17 Oct 2015 |last=asianetnews |website=YouTube |date=17 October 2015 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cbignore}} During his childhood, he was influenced by the sculptures at the Sukapuram temple near his house. "I had this urge to draw and mould sculptures after seeing these," Namboothiri said.{{cite news|last=Manmadhan|first=Prema|title=The life and times of Artist Namboodiri|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/art/article2717025.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 December 2011|location=Chennai, India}} In order to pursue education in art, he moved to Chennai, with financial assistance from Krishnan Namboodiri of Varikkasseri Mana.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_UfFWgp4Z0 |title=Exclusive interview on his 90th Birthday |last=Manorama Online |date=9 September 2015 |website=YouTube |access-date=13 March 2019}} There, he joined the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai where he had the opportunity to study under Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, the founder and principal of the institution,{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/plumage/living-lines-keralas-artist-namboothiri-at-91/ |title=Living lines – Kerala's artist Namboothiri at 91 |date=12 September 2016 |website=Times of India Blog |language=en-US |access-date=13 March 2019}} and S. Dhanapal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/artist-namboothiri/77 |title=Artist Namboothiri – the maestro painter of Kerala |website=Kerala Tourism |language=en |access-date=13 March 2019}} It was during this period that he came into contact with K. C. S. Paniker, who would exercise influence over the young artist.{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/artist-namboothiri-77.php, |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726220240/http://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/artist-namboothiri-77.php, |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 July 2011 |title=Leading lights, Kerala Tourism |date=26 July 2011 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/art-and-culture/artist-namboothiri-turns-90-enduring-sketches-frozen-in-the-canvas-of-time.html |title=Enduring sketches frozen in the canvas of time |website=OnManorama |access-date=13 March 2019}}

Namboothiri secured two diplomas, one in fine arts and the other in applied arts, from the Government College of Fine Arts in 1954 and after staying at Cholamandal Artists' Village of K. C. S. Paniker where he completed a six-year course in one year, he returned to Kerala to join the newspaper Mathrubhumi as a staff artist in 1960.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cholamandalartistvillage.com/Vasudevan%20Namboodiri.html |title=Vasudevan Namboodiri |date=13 March 2019 |website=Cholamandal Artists' Village |access-date=13 March 2019}} He stayed with Mathrubhumi until 1982, illustrating the literary works of most of the major writers in Malayalam,{{Cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/Programs/Episode/18839/magic-of-namboothiri-sketches-ee-vazhitharayil-ep-129/E |title=Magic of Namboothiri sketches |website=www.mathrubhumi.com |language=en |access-date=13 March 2019}} including Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Kesavadev, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Uroob, S. K. Pottekkatt, Edasseri Govindan Nair, and V.K.N. In Mathrubhumi, he published Naniyammayum Lokavum, which became a popular pocket cartoon series. In 1982, he moved to news magazine Kalakaumudi where he provided illustrations before shifting to The New Indian Express's newsweekly, Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika.

Namboothiri was married to Mrinalini and the couple had two sons, Parameshawaran and Vasudevan. The family lived in Naduvattam in Malappuram district.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/arts/artist-namboothiri-6341.php |title=Artist Namboothiri, Residence, Personlities, Sculptor, Line Sketches |date=13 March 2019 |website=IndiaVideo |access-date=13 March 2019}}

Namboothiri died on 7 July 2023, at age 97.{{cite news |title=Artist Namboothiri, doyen of line sketches, passes away |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/07/06/artist-namboothiri-dies.html |access-date=6 July 2023 |publisher=On Manorama |date=7 July 2023}}

File:Kerala Lalithakala Academi Durbar Hall Ground.JPG Art Gallery]]

One of Namboothiri's first professional assignments was during his Chennai days, when he assisted K. C. S. Paniker to complete an oversize painting for the Indian Railways. One of the most prolific literary illustrators of India, he turned to copper relief work after resigning from Mathrubhumi and soon organized an exhibition consisting of 12 relief works. Later, he made some of his most notable drawings at Kalakaumudi when he illustrated Randamoozham of M. T. Vasudevan Nair; he stated later that these illustrations provided him with satisfaction.{{Cite web |title=Working with M.T was a pleasure and has influenced me in many different ways -Artist Namboothiri |url=https://www.keralaliteraturefestival.com/news_more.aspx?id=MTEx&year=2018 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=keralaliteraturefestival.com}} Namboothiri's illustrations of his characters prompted V.K.N. to call the artist as the Paramashivan of line sketches (The Lord Shiva of line drawings). He was also a proponent of "finger painting". Among his copper relief works, he has created a series based on various events from Mahabharata, entitled Lohabharata,{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGpSPndo-5g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/jGpSPndo-5g |archive-date=18 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Artist Namboothiri in Yathra |last=asianetnews |website=YouTube |date=1 November 2015 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cbignore}} and another based on Parayi Petta Panthirukulam.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/18/stories/2004031802800300.htm |website=The Hindu |title=Art exhibition attracts crowds |date=18 March 2004 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He had created a few large sculptures for Cholamandal which include Modern Family on a Scooter and Maithuna as well as a {{Convert|500|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} long outdoor drawing featuring incidents from the Indian freedom movement.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cholamandalartistvillage.com/img%20Vasudevan%20Namboodiri.html |title=Vasudevan Namboodiri's Paintings |date=13 March 2019 |website=Cholamandal Artists' Village |access-date=13 March 2019}}

Namboothiri had served as the chairman of the Kerala Lalitakala Academy twice, and it was during his tenure that the academy constructed and moved to an owned building in Thrissur. His contributions were also reported{{By whom|date=July 2023}} in the conversion of the Durbar Hall Ground in Kochi into an art gallery. He had embarked on a self-appointed mission of pictorially documenting the cities of Kerala. The project, entitled Nagarangal (The Cities), began with Kochi.

File:Artist namboothiri 01.JPG

Film director and cartoonist G. Aravindan was a friend of Namboothiri, and when Aravindan made his debut movie, Uttarayanam, he invited Namboothiri to work as the art director of the film.{{Refn|group=note|He had also been involved with two more films, Kanchana Sita by Aravindan, and Njan Gandharvan, the 1991 film by P. Padmarajan in which the costume of the Gandharvan was designed by Namboothiri.}} The film went on to receive five Kerala State Film Awards in 1974, including the Award for Best Art Director for Namboothiri.{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2016 |title=official website of INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATION DEPARTMENT OF KERALA |date=3 March 2016 |access-date=13 March 2019}} Kerala Lalithakala Akademi awarded Namboothiri the Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2003 and he became the third recipient of the award which was instituted in 2001.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/30/stories/2004043006580400.htm |website=The Hindu |title=Kerala News : Raja Ravi Varma Award for Artist Namboodiri |date=30 April 2004 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Kerala State Institute for Children's Literature awarded him the Bala Sahitya Award for best illustration for his work in Kuttikalude Ramayanam (Ramayana for children) in 2004.{{Cite web |url=http://ksicl.org/%E0%B4%AC%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B9%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B4%B3/ |title=വിവിധ വര്‍ഷങ്ങളിലെ പുരസ്കാര ജേതാക്കള്‍ |date=13 March 2019 |website=Kerala State Institute for Children's Literature |access-date=13 March 2019}}

A documentary on the life of the artist, Namboodiri-Varayude Kulapathy (Namboodiri — The Emperor of Lines) was made by Ask Movies. The 44-minute documentary film, directed by Binuraj Kalapeedhom, covers the artist's life from his childhood, through his Chennai days, and to his eighties.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/art/the-life-and-times-of-artist-namboodiri/article2717025.ece |title=The life and times of Artist Namboodiri |last=Manmadhan |first=Prema |date=15 December 2011 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=13 March 2019}} Varayum Vaakkum, (Lines and Words) is a book published by N. P. Vijayakrishnan, compiling Namboothiri's reminiscences and some of his drawings.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indulekha.com/artist-namboothiri-varayum-vaakkum-memoirs-n-p-vijayakrishnan |title=Artist Namboothiri: Varayum Vaakkum |website=www.indulekha.com |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406180057/http://www.indulekha.com/artist-namboothiri-varayum-vaakkum-memoirs-n-p-vijayakrishnan |url-status=dead }} Namboothiriyude Sthreekal (The Women of Namboothiri) is another book published by Vijayakrishan and includes several of the artist's line drawings of women and a foreword by Mohanlal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indulekha.com/namboothiriyude-sthreekal-art-namboothiri |title=Namboothiriyude Sthreekal |date=13 March 2019 |website=www.indulekha.com |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528205611/https://www.indulekha.com/namboothiriyude-sthreekal-art-namboothiri |url-status=dead }}

• Randamoozham by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, illustrated by Namboothiri (Current Books). {{ISBN|978-8122613704}}
• Calicut: the City of Truth revisited by M. G. S. Narayanan, illustrations by Artist Namboodiri and Madanan, 2006 (University of Calicut). {{ISBN|9788177481044}}
• Lore and Legends of Kerala: Selections from Kottarathil Sankunni's Aithihyamala, translated from Malayalam by T. C. Narayan, illustrated by C. N. Karunakaran and Namboodiri, 2009 (Malayala Manorama & Oxford University Press). {{ISBN|9780195698893}}
• Antharjanam: Memoirs of a Nambooodiri Woman by Devaki Nilayamgode, translated from Malayalam by Indira Menon and Radhika P. Menon, illustrations by Namboodiri, 2011 (Oxford University Press). {{ISBN|978-0198074168}}
• Sketches: the memoir of an artist, by K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri, foreword by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, translated from the Malayalam by Gita Krishnankutty, 2019 (Penguin Books India). {{ISBN|978-0143449645}}

File:Metal relief by Artist Nampoothiri1.jpg|Metal relief 1

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{{reflist|group=note}}

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{{commons category|K. M. Vasudevan Namboothiri}}

• [https://penguin.co.in/book_author/k-m-vasudevan-namboodiri/ K. M. Vasudevan Namboodiri] at Penguin India
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwuLaVoIdp0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/BwuLaVoIdp0 |archive-date=18 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=A Profile of one of the greatest Artists of our times-Artist Namboodiri |publisher=Kerala DD News |via=YouTube |date=6 December 2015 |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cbignore}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_UfFWgp4Z0 |title=Artist Namboothiri – Exclusive interview on his 90th Birthday |publisher=Manorama Online |via=YouTube |date=9 September 2015 |access-date=13 March 2019}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=182875530 |title=Artist Namboothiri painting exhibition at Nanappa Art Gallery |date=13 March 2019 |publisher=thehinduimages.com |access-date=13 March 2019}}

{{Painters from Kerala}}

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Category:1925 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:20th-century Indian male artists

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Category:Artists from Kerala

Category:Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai alumni

Category:Indian children's book illustrators

Category:Indian contemporary painters

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Category:Kerala State Film Award winners

Category:Malayali people

Category:Painters from Kerala

Category:People from Malappuram district