C.P. UNNIKRISHNAN
B.Sc[HONS], M.Sc.,M.Ed
Dip (Vedanta), Dip (Fine Arts)

Born in 1948. Completed with Distinction and First Rank, my Graduation and Post Graduation in Animal Physiology, from the Wilson College, University of Bombay. Completed B.Ed (1981) and M.Ed (1984) degrees courses with First Class, from the Annamalai University. Later, obtained Diplomas with Distinction in Vedanta from The CCMT, Bombay and in Fine Arts from the ISFA, Bombay.

Recipient of The Vishnu Sohoni Memorial Full Bright Award for the Best Passing out Graduate Student (1970) as well as the Merit Scholarship, (1970 to '73) from the University of Bombay, the Senior Research Fellowships (1974 to '77) from the CSIR and the Ministry of Human Resources, Govt. of India and the Honour with citation for the contributions towards Child Education (1985) from the ICCE, Delhi.

Published 27 research papers in Animal Physiology and Education in National as well as International, journals, seminars and symposia and worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the CMFRI, Cochin for three years.

After working for six years as a faculty member in Life Sciences, in the Bombay University, due to my passion for Kathakali, I returned to Kerala. Under the tutelage of Sri. Kalamandalam Gopinath, an efficient teacher of Kathakali & Dances of Kerala, I became a serious performer of Kathakali and Dance Dramas and a resource person in different Folk as well as Classical art forms of Kerala. I have co-guided PhD degree students of the Madras, Mahatma Gandhi & Sree Sankara (Kaladi) Universities.

Presented several papers and lecture demonstrations on different art forms of Kerala in the prestigious workshops, festivals and seminars in India and abroad. My reviews on dance and theatre programmes have been published in Indian Express, Hindu and Mathrubhoomi - daily news media. The Master Recording Company, Chennai (Madras) has published four-hour long audio cassettes on my Introductory Lectures to Bharata's Natyasastra. The Asianet and the Doordarshan Kendra have telecast some of my productions, as a lyricist, an actor and a choreographer. "Manayola', a fifteen episode-long serial, based on the first chapter of Bharatha's Natyasasthra (along with the cine director V.P. Pavithran), for Asianet, "Vande Bhageerathi" a production that spoke against the pollution of Ganges, "Sugandharanjini" a stage production presented at the International Spices Conferrence & "Sankaram Lokasankaram" - a production for The Sree Sankara School of Dance, Kaladi -18 episodes from the Life of Aadi Shankara; "Vedavathi Vaiidehi", "Rithuvarnangal" & "Prakrithi Bhavamayi" - Dance Dramas (lyrics and direction) for the Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Eranakulam, "Saalabhanjika" -Theme & story for the Mohiniyaattom production done by Smt.Pallavi Krishna, (A noted Mohiniyattam dancer & choreographer), Saundaryabhoomoyilekku"- Mohiniyaattom group work for the Kerala Sangeethanataka Akademy and Bharatha's Ashtanayika (lyrics)in the bharathanatyam format in the Sree sankara Music & dance Festival -2005 (music scored by Sri. Trissur Gopi, choreographed by Sri. Kalamandalm Gopinath & performed by Ms. Indu Gopan), Haritaswapnam ( a dance dram on environmental destruction and hopes to come out of it) are few of my most important works, scripted and choreographed by me, along with my teacher Kalamandalam Gopinath.

I have been honoured by several cultural organisations for my contributions towards some of the performing arts of Kerala, which includes the highly prestigious "Honour of Scholarship with citation" from the Institute of Traditional Cultures, University of Madras, in recognition of my four day-long lectures on Bharatha's Natyasasthra.

Writing short poems, stories and plays (in Malayalam and English), photography and painting are my passionate hobbies. I prefer to use oil and water media as well as computer graphics. I have nearly completed as total computer graphics, all the different characters in Kathkali. My humble, yet earnest ambition is to continue this work to cover as many characters as possible in the related art forms too and sell them to institutions, interior decorators, museums, individuals & advertisers at the lowest possible price, which should keep this site active and beneficial to many.

I have published small books - A WINDOW TO KATHAKALI (english), KARANANGAL ORU PATANAM (malayaalam), LEARN TO LEARN-IT'S JUST LEARNING A LIFE STYLE (english).


My son Krishnan, a postgraduate in Marine Biology, now working as scientist B, at the NCAOR Goa,also for his doctoral degree is also a theatre enthusiast. My daughter Lakshmi, a Postgraduate student of Sociology is a keen student and performer of Mohiniyaattom & classical dance dramas. Presently I stay with my mother, wife & children in Cochin (Eranakulam). Since 1979 I have been the Head of the Department of Life Sciences at the Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Eranakulam & Vaduthala (Cochin, Kerala, India)