Mani Madhava Chakyar

Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (IAST: Māṇi Mādhava Cākyār)

(15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was an Indian performance artist and Sanskrit scholar

from Kerala, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam (ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition) artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya (the classical Indian acting style) and Nātyaśāstra.

Known as "the Emperor of Rasa-Abhinaya", he was a practitioner of Rasa-Abhinaya. His Netrābhinaya was widely recognized, and he was noted for his use of facial expression, particularly the eyes, in performance. He was versed in the traditional Koodiyattams and the prabandhas used in Chakyar Koothu. He explained the concepts, methods, and practices of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu in detail. He had studied the Nātyaśāstra of Bharata Muni, as well as the acting traditions of Kerala. He had knowledge of both the theory and practice of Koodiyattam, and was a teacher and practitioner of these art forms and Sanskrit.

He was the first one to take Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu outside the precincts of the temples of Kerala to all over India and to impart training in Kudiyattam to non-Chakyar disciples including foreigners. He had produced many disciples in Kutiyattam and other classical arts like Kathakali. He was a Sanskrit scholar and was used to give lectures and talks in Sanskrit.

He is the author of Nātyakalpadrumam – an encyclopaedic treatise on all aspects of Koodiyattam. He was a Fellow of national art academies including Sangeet Natak Akademi and recipient of coveted titles like "Nātyāchārya", "Vidūshakaratnam" and awards including Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.