State Kathakali Puraskar

The noted Kathakali Artist Mr.Keezhpadam Sukumaran Nair , has been selected for this year's State Kathakali Puraskar.

The Award which carries Cash Prize 1 lakh, Momento and Certificate.

M.Krishnan Kutty Memorial Award

The noted Kathakali Singer Mr.Palanad Divakaran Namboothiri, has been selected for this year's
M.Krishnan Kutty Memorial gold medal.

The Award which carries a gold medal of one sovereign, will be presented to him by the chairman
of the Kerala Kalamandalam, Dr. Prabhodhachandran Nair, at a function to be held at the Thiruvambady Kalyana Mandapam on November 10. A kathakali Performance will also be held after the function.

The recognition of Kutiyattam, the Sanskrit theatre form of Kerala, as a remarkable example of the oral less-known art under the spotlight of global attention, and made the world citizen responsible for the protection and promotion of this art. It is as much a vindication of the perseverance and dedication of the actors of Kutiyattam who struggled to keep the art alive down the centuries in spite of heave odds,as the untiring efforts of a few scholars and theatre aficionados who strove to keep this tradition alive through constant support and encouragement.Not only Kutiyattam,

but 18 other artistic and cultural expression across the world, considered "endangered", have been selected from all over the world by UNESCO for proclamation as a world heritage.The oral and intangible aspect of creativity is a broad area of human activity and expression, which does not lend itself to easy definitions and categorization. Part of the collective memory of the people, it finds expression in traditional communities which have their own folklore, world view and systems of indigenous knowledge, developed through a close observation of nature and transmitted through an oral tradition. The vast, complex mosaic of diverse traditional cultures across the world are today facing the threat of subjugation to the overpowering effects of globalization,, standardization of their richness of heritage to a set of universal norms provided by the mass media, and a gradual dissipation of their distinct identities. In this context, UNESCO's intervention of recognizing remarkable forms of cultural expression as "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" is a positive step in protecting cultural diversity and fostering creativity in popular and traditional forms of expression. According to UNESCO's implementation Guide which set forth its statement of intent, this recognition is directed towards "the totality of tradition-based creations of a cultural community, expressed by group of individuals and recognized as reflecting the expectations of community in so far as they reflect its cultural and social identity".