Moozhikkal Pankajakshi
Moozhikkal Pankajakshi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 March 1936 Urulikunnath, Pala, Travancore, India |
| Died | 15 July 2026 (aged 90) Kottayam, Kerala, India |
| Known for | Nokkuvidya pavakali puppetry |
| Spouse | Shivarama Panicker |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Moozhikkal Pankajakshi (14 March 1936 – 15 July 2026) was an Indian expert in Nokkuvidya pavakali, a form of puppetry. She was awarded her country's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2020.[1][2][3]
Life and career
Pankajakshi Moozhikkal Sivaraman, popularly known as Moozhikkal Pankajakshi Amma, was born on 14 March 1936, at Urulikunnath, Pala, Kottayam district.[4][5] She dropped out of school midway due to financial difficulties.[5] Pankajakshiamma started learning Nokkuvidya from her mother Paappiyamma.[5] 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 and death
Pankajakshi Amma married Shivarama Panicker of Monippally near Uzhavoor, Kottayam district, at the age of 20.[4][8] The couple had three children, Vijayan, Radhamani and Shiva.[4] She lived in Monippally with her daughter Radhamani.[4]
Pankajakshi died at a private hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala, on 15 July 2026, after a prolonged illness related to old age. She was 90.[9][10]
Awards and honours
Pankajakshi received several awards including Padma Shri (2020), India's fourth highest civilian honour and fellowship from Kerala Folklore Academy (2012).[6][11] In 2008, as part of the Kerala Tourism Festival, she performed at Paris.[5] Apart from this Pankajakshi Amma had performed Nokuvidya in many venues in Kerala and outside Kerala.[12]
Works on her
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 its performer Pankajakshi.[7]
References
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 3 4 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.
- 1 2 3 4 "Smt. Pankajakshi MS" (PDF). Government of India.
- 1 2 "പദ്മശ്രീയിലെ പെൺതിളക്കം-മൂഴിക്കൽ പങ്കജാക്ഷി". Kerala Women (in Malayalam). 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- 1 2 3 "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.
- ↑ The Hindu Bureau (15 July 2026). "Padma Shri-winning puppeteer Moozhikkal Pankajakshi passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Nokkuvidya Puppetry Exponent Moozhikkal Pankajakshi Passes Away At 80". ETV Bharat. 15 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "നോക്കുവിദ്യാ പാവകളിയുടെ കലാവൈഭവത്തിന് പത്മശ്രീ പുരസ്കാരം". Mathrubhumi. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ↑ "മൂഴിക്കല് വീട്ടിലെ പത്മശ്രീ". Janmabhumi. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-10.