Raman Kutty, The Legendary Maker Of Kathakali Headgear And Costumes Is Dead  

The sole craftsman who made headgears, costumes, and ornaments for art forms such as Kathakali, Chakyarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Nangiarkoothu, Krishnanattam, and Ottan Thullal, Kothavil Raman Kutty (70), died on Saturday (27 October) due to heart ailments, reports The Hindu.

Raman Kutty hails from the artists’ village of Vellinezhy, near Cherpulassery here. Founder of the Krishnan Asari Crafts Centre, Kerala’s only manufacturing centre for ‘koppu’( the accessories and headgear for the traditional performing art forms).

The headgear is made from the wood of a rare tree, Kumizh and priced at around Rs 30,000, however the profits remain low due to scarcity of raw materials and hard work involved.

He had also taught koppu making at the Kerala Kalamandalam three decades ago but had to stop as the institution did not offer the course in the subsequent years.

That led to his setting up of a ‘koppu kendram’ near his home.

His crafts centre had supplied Kathakali headgears to eminent performers, research centres, and cultural institutions. He was supported by his sons Unnikrishnan and Govindankutty.

“Many carpenters were involved in the profession earlier. For two decades, only my sons are helping me. It is more than a job for us; it is a mission,” The Hindu quoted Raman Kutty saying in an interview.