PROFILE




Dr. C.P. UNNIKRISHNAN
        B.Sc[HONS], M.Sc.,M.Ed; PhD
       Dip (Vedanta), Dip (Fine Arts)

Born in 1948, Mr. C.P. Unnikrishnan completed with Distinction and First Rank, his Graduation and Post Graduation in Human Physiology, from the Wilson College, University of Bombay following which he completed his B.Ed (1981) and M.Ed (1984) degrees courses with First Class, from the Annamalai University. Later he obtained his Diplomas with Distinction in Vedanta from The CCMT, Bombay and in Fine Arts from the ICS, Madras. He was awarded the PhD Degree in Kathakali at the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University, 0n 17th Dec. 2014.  The thesis is titled, "Body Kinetics and The Aesthetics Of Kathakali - A Critical Study Based On Bharata's Natyasastra."

He is a recipient of The Vishnu Sohoni Memorial Full Bright Award for the Best Passing out Graduate Student (1970) as well as the Merit Scholarship, (1970 to ’73) from the University of Bombay, the Senior Research Fellowships (1974 to ’77) from the CSIR and the Ministry of Human Resources, Govt. of India and the Honour for his contributions towards Child Education (1985) from the ICCE, Delhi.

Unnikrishnan has published 27 research papers in Animal Physiology and Education in National as well as International, journals, seminars and symposia and worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the CMFRI, Cochin for three years.

During his student days, Unnikrishnan has been an active participant in various games and sports & was a member of the Cricket teams that played at the university levels.

After working for six years as a faculty member in Physiology, in the Bombay University, due to his passion for Kathakali, Unnikrishnan returned to Kerala. Under the tutelage of Sri. Kalamandalam Gopinath, an efficient teacher of Kathakali & Dances of Kerala, Unnikrishnan became a serious performer of Kathakali and Dance Dramas and a resource person in different Folk as well as Classical art forms of Kerala. He has guided PhD degree students of the Madras, MG & Sree Sankara (Kaladi) Universities.

Unnikrishnan has presented several papers and lecture demonstrations on different art forms of Kerala in the prestigious workshops, festivals and seminars in India and abroad. He is a critic of Kerala Art forms and his reviews have come out in Indian Express, Hindu and Mathrubhoomi. The Master Recording Company, Cennai (Madras) has published his four-hour long audio cassettes on Bharata’s Natyasastra. The Asia Net and the Doordarshan Kendra have telecast Unnikrishnan’s several productions, as a lyricist, actor and choreographer. “Vande Bhageerathi” a production that spoke against the pollution of Ganges, “Sugandharanjini” a stage production presented at the International Spices Conference,  “Saalabhanjika” -Theme & story for the Mohiniyaattom production done by Pallavi Krishna, Saundaryabhoomoyilekku”- Mohiniyaattom group work for the Kerala Sangeethanataka Akademy are few of his most outstanding works. He has received many honours for his contributions towards performing arts, which includes the highly prestigious “Honour of Scholarship” from the Institute of Traditional Cultures, University of Madras.

New Productions (Script & Direction) for  The Sree Sankara School of Dance, Kaladi  -“Sankaram Lokasankaram” –  -18 episodes from the Life of Aadi Shankara, 'Sree Narayana Gurudevacharitam - 21 episodes from the Life of Sree Narayana Gurudev (both were of 2 hrs. long classical style integrating the elements of Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Bharatanatyam & Kuchupudi) 'Bhajagovindam Smaranam Sharanam - A Mohiniyattam solo on the indifference of the concerned authorities towards the stolen 'Marataka Shivalingam' of the Adi Sankara temple at Kaladi, "Keraleeya Aathmeeya Gurusmarana"- A Mohiniyattam solo on the indifference of the Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit, Kaladi- Towards establishing the Study centers for the six great personalities like Sree Sankara, Sree Narayana Gurudev, Swami Aagamananda, Chattambi Swami, Ayyankali & Mahatma Gandhiji., "Periyarinde Dukham" - The polluted condition of the river Periyar Mohiniyattam solo), Vidyaparinaamam"- The chages in the concept of Education from the vedic period to the present(Bharatanatyam solo)., "Om Sreekrishnaya Namah:"- An audi-visual adoration to Lord Krishna (Mohniniyattam solo).

Unnikrishnan is also a serious painter who prefers to use oil and water media as well as computer graphics. Writing short poems stories and plays in Malayalam and English and photography are his passionate hobbies. He has nearly completed as total computer graphics, all the different characters in Kathkali. His ambition is to continue this work to cover as many characters as possible in the related art forms too and sell them to institutions, interior decorators, museums, individuals & advertisers at the lowest possible price, which should keep this site active and beneficial to many.

Unnikrishnan’s son Krishnan, a PhD in Marine Biology, is now working as a scientist 'C' at the NCAOR, Goa. Krishnan  is also a theatre enthusiast. His daughter Lakshmi, a Postgraduate in Sociology is a keen student and performer of Mohiniyaattom & classical dance dramas. Unnikrishnan stays with his mother &  wife in Cochin (Eranakulam). Since 1979 Unnikrishnan has been the Head of the Department of Life Sciences at the Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Eranakulam. Retired in 2009 May; now fully devotes his time to study Natyasastra and participate in cultural activities.