MUMBAI: Noted mridangam exponent Mavellikara Velukutty Nair passed away late last evening after suffering from age related illness.
It is learned that Nair, 86, was admitted at a private hospital on 20 July in Thiruvananthapuram. He is survived by his wife, five daughters and three sons.
Born in Mavellikara in 1926, his first teacher was his father Muthukulam Kumara Pillai, who belonged to the first line of mridangam players of Travancore. Nair started his artistic career at the age of nine by accompanying him to a Harikatha programme in a temple. He was a teacher at the Swathi Thirunal Music College in Thiruvananthapuram and retired as head of the department in 1982.
Nair was the first disciple of famous mridangam exponent Palakkad Mani Iyer. He has also received several accolades including the Sahithya Academy Awards of Central and state governments. He was also honoured with the prestigious Sree Guruvayour Appan Chembai Puraskaram.
Mavelikara Velukutty Nair is an A-grade artiste of All India Radio. He has played at numerous concerts of famous musicians in his career including Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Chemangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, K J Yesudas and the third generation singer Unnikrishnan.