Padma Shri Sankaranarayanan Menon Chundayail

Padma Shri Sankaranarayanan Menon Chundayail

On the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, the Central Government also revealed the names of the Padma award recipients. These honours have been given to deserving individuals who have made great and noteworthy achievements in a variety of professions. It will also honour a lot of athletes from the sporting world. One of these individuals is a veteran instructor of the present-day Kalaripayattu style, the oldest martial art in the nation, and is a recognised institution in its own right. Sankaranarayanan Menon Chundayil

(Unni Gurukkal), 93, is the subject of our discussion and recipient of the Padma Shri.

Who is Sankaranarayanan Menon Chundayail?

Sankara Narayana Menon Chundayil, better known by his stage name Unni Gurukkal, is a Chavakkad-based Kalaripayattu gurukkal or teacher. He has received numerous prestigious honours for his contributions to the Kalaripayattu genre, including the Kerala Folklore Academy Award and India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri.

Sankaranarayanan, who was born in 1929, began studying Kalaripayattu at the age of six from his father. He still adheres to the tight schedule that was taught to him at the time. live a disciplined life even today. Early in the morning, he himself instructs the kids. Along with him, he trains his daughter Gurukkal, and sons Krishnadas Gurukkal and Rajiv Gurukkal. Shankar has travelled extensively abroad with his family to promote Kha’s art. In its 17 branches around the world, 5,000 employees are undergoing training at the moment.