Moozhikkal Pankajakshi is an expert in Nokkuvidya pavakali a form of puppetry. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2020.[2][3][4]
Moozhikkal Pankajakshi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 March 1936[1] |
| Occupation | Nokkuvidya pavakali performer |
| Known for | Nokkuvidya pavakali |
| Spouse | Shivarama Panicker |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Biography edit
Pankajakshi Moozhikkal Sivaraman popularly known as Moozhikkal Pankajakshi Amma was born on March 14, 1936, at Urulikunnath, Pala, Kottayam district.[5][1] She dropped out of school midway due to financial difficulties.[1] Pankajakshiamma started learning Nokkuvidya from her mother Paappiyamma.[1] She who learned Nokkuvidya at the age of eleven, later used to perform it with songs written by her husband after her marriage.[6] A Nokkuvidya Pavakali performer for over 60 years, due to old age, vision loss and memory loss, she stopped performing Nokkuvidya at the age of 72.[7] After that she taught the folk art form to her granddaughter Renjini.[7]
Personal life edit
Pankajakshi Amma married Shivarama Panicker of Monippally near Uzhavoor, Kottayam district, at the age of 20.[5][8] Couple has three children, Vijayan, Radhamani and Shiva.[5] She now lives in Monippally with her daughter Radhamani.[5]
Awards and honors edit
She received several awards including Padmasri (2020), India's fourth highest civilian honour and fellowship from Kerala Folklore Academy (2012).[6][9] In 2008, as part of the Kerala Tourism Festival, she performed at Paris.[1] Apart from this Pankajakshi Amma has performed Nokuvidya in many venues in Kerala and outside Kerala.[10]
Works on her edit
Reshmi Radhakrishnan’s documentary film Nokkuvidya, The life of a lone string puppeteer, screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, is about Nokkuvidya and it's performer Pankajakshi.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Smt. Pankajakshi MS" (PDF). Government of India.
- ^ "Puppetry still means the world to muthassi at 84'". Deepika Jayaram. The Times of India. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "Padma Shri Honour For Last Practitioner Of Kerala's Traditional Puppetry". Sanya Jain. NDTV. 30 January 2000. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "'Nokku Vidya Paavakali is grandma's life'". The Times of India. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d Thayabji, Roopa. "'11 വയസ്സ് മുതൽ നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളി പഠിച്ചുതുടങ്ങി; മച്ചിങ്ങ വീണ് മുഖത്ത് ചതവും ഈർക്കിലി കുത്തിക്കയറലും അന്ന് പതിവാണ്'; പത്മശ്രീയേക്കാൾ തിളക്കത്തോടെ പങ്കജാക്ഷിയമ്മ! | Padmasree award winner". vanitha.in (in Malayalam). Vanitha. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b "പദ്മശ്രീയിലെ പെൺതിളക്കം-മൂഴിക്കൽ പങ്കജാക്ഷി". Kerala Women (in Malayalam). 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b c "This Malayalam documentary is about a little-known puppetry form performed by women". The News Minute. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ Barua, Ananya (2021-06-18). "The Fate of a Rare Dying Art Rests on The Lips of This 20-YO Kerala Girl". The Better India. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "നോക്കുവിദ്യാ പാവകളിയുടെ കലാവൈഭവത്തിന് പത്മശ്രീ പുരസ്കാരം". Mathrubhumi. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "മൂഴിക്കല് വീട്ടിലെ പത്മശ്രീ". Janmabhumi. Retrieved 2023-04-10.