Minister for Culture K.C. Joseph has said that all students at Kerala Kalamandalam will be allotted stipend.
Addressing a four-day celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Kerala Kalamandalam and Vallathol Jayanti at Cheruthuruthy, recently, he said a decision on increasing the existing stipend amount will be taken after discussing with the Chief Minister.
The Minister inaugurated the Aniyara (dressing room) and compound wall of the Koothambalam.
He also distributed the awards and fellowships. P.K. Biju, MP, presided over the function held at Koothambalam. A Nila National Dance Festival is being organised on the occasion.
Malalayam University Vice Chancellor K. Jayakumar delivered the Vallathol memorial lecture. Malayalam poetry needed total revamp, he said Many eminent poets participated in the Kavyarchana held at Nila campus.
Kathakali actor Mathur Govindankutty was presented with the Kalamandalam fellowship at the function . Kalaratna Award was given to Kalamandalam Sivan Namboothiri and M.K.K. Nair Puraskaram to ISRO former Chairman K. Radhakrishnan. Manakkulam Mukundaraja Smirti award was presented to Chathanath Achuthanunni.
Award for Best Kathakali Vesham was given to Kalamandalam Ratheesan and Award for Kathakali music was given to Kottakkal Narayanaan. Mankulam Krishnan Namboothiri received award for Chenda from the Minister.
Bharathanatyam recital by Dr. Janaki Rangarajan and group and a kathakali performance by Madavur Vasudevan Nair and Kalamandalam Gopi followed the inaugural function.
Eminent dancers, Kathakali artists and singers performed in the Nila National Dance Festival.
