Manoj Kuroor

Manoj Kurur is one of Malayalam's post modern poets.
Born 1971 in Kottayam. Father: Kurur Cheriya Vasudeval Namboodiri. Mother: Sreedevi Andarjanam.
Third generation from Kurur illam to make substantial contribution to Kathakali.
Manoj's teachers in Thayambaka and Kathakali chenda were his father and Aayamkudi Kuttappa Marar.
From 1989 Manoj has been providing percussion support (chenda) for
Kathakali.

Educational qualifications: MA 91993), B Ed (1994), M.Phil (1995), P.hd (2010).
His research papers The Rhythmic Patterns in "Harini Swayamvaram" (M Phil), Folk Rhythms in Malayalam Poetry (P.hd), are noteworthy.
He composed "Panchali Dhananjayam" Kathakali libretto when he was a first year degree student. His second libretto is Bhagavad Geetha. Although both these have not appeared in print, they have been presented in
many stages.
He has published over fifty articles on Western Classical music, classical arts, popular music, folk art, cinema,literature, cyber culture. The Kathakali libretto in three acts and the three songs in it (padams) composed for the heroine of movie "Vana Prastham" were the work of Manoj.He also was the music director for Prof Balachandran's two plays (Maya Seethamgam" and "Oru Punya Purana Prasna Natakam).

Joined Panthalam NSS College as Malayalam lecturer in 1997. After working in Dhanuvachapuram and Cherthala
NSS Colleges, he is now Associate Professor at Changanasseri NSS Hindu College.
"Uthama Purushan Katha Parayumbol" is his first book of poems. He writes poems
and literary criticism for contemporary publications.

Books-

1.Nathonnada Nadi Vazhi 44 (Poems on Rivers) Editor. Rainbow Books.
2.When the First Person Narrates (Collection of Poems) Rainbow Books

3.Koma (Lyrical story) - D C Books

4.Rehmania: Global Journey of Indian Music (Study of Music/Biography), Rainbow Books

5.Anchadi, Jnanappana, Onappattu (Editor. From the book collection of Hermann Gundert at Tuebingen University Library)

Awards:

* Kunju Pilla Memorial Award for his poem "Thrithala Kesavan" in 1997.

* S B T Poetry Award in 2005 for his book "When the First Person Narrates)

*Sahithya Academy Kanakashree Award for his book Koma in 2008.

Wife:Sandhya Devi.N, Daughter: Sreedevi.K.M, Son: Vishakh K Vasudevan.

Prepared by: Jayasree Thottekkat