Life

Kavalam Narayana Panikker was born at Kavalam village in Aleppey district of Kerala in 28, April 1928.
After taking BA degree from Kerala University, he worked at Aleppey District Court as Advocate from 1955 to 61.

An avid explorer of history, he has conducted several researches on the folkarts of Kerala. From 1961 to 1971, he functioned as the Secretary of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy. He is the founder/director of Sopanam, an experimental theatre group based in Thiruvananthapuram.

"Sopanam" has tried to discover the basic principles of theatre through various dance and music forms like Sopanam Sangeetam, Mohiniattam, contemporary recreations of epics etc. It seeks to interweave dramatic action with music and dance patterns, so that the spectator can discern the philosophical meanings inherent in epic tales like those of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

He has penned about 20 plays. Some of them are: Sakshi, Avanavan Kadamba, Daivathar, Karinkutty, Thiranottam, Prema Reshmi, Bhootham, Thirumudi, Koima, Theyyatheyyyam, Marukidathi. Childrens drama: Kummatti, Chakki Chankaram. He also left his imprints in the novel arena. He has to his credit three novels.

Panikker has translated several dramas to Malayalam including that of Bhasan. He had directed more than 18 dramas for the Sopanam troupe and more than ten dramas for Kerala Kala Mandalam, Kalidasa Academy, Nrithalaya Aesthetic Society, National School of Drama, and for the University of Wisconsin (USA).

A well travelled personality, he had been to Japan, London, Poland, South Korea, Austria, Russia, and China.