Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar
Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar (1928–2009) was a renowned Koodiyattam artist from Kerala, India. Koodiyattam is a traditional Sanskrit theatre from Kerala and is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage.
He was born in Ammannur, Thrissur district, into a family of Koodiyattam performers and learned the art within his family. His cousin Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, a famous performer and Padma Bhushan awardee, helped shape a newer Ammannur tradition of Koodiyattam that they developed together.
In 1981, when Margi started a Koodiyattam training center, Chakyar became its first residential guru, teaching many students, including his two sons, Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakiar and Margi Madhu, who also became prominent performers.
In 1998 he joined Nepathya as Mukhya Acharya (Head Teacher) and remained there until his death.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2008 for his contributions to the arts.
He died in 2009 at about 81. His legacy is remembered through the Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Memorial Kutiyttam Festival at Moozhikkulam near Kochi, where Nepathya is based, and Nepathya continues to organize programs in his memory.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:23 (CET).