Master of painting, Artist Namboothiri passes away

MALAPPURAM: KM Vasudevan Namboothiri aka Artist Namboothiri, known as the master of painting, has passed away. He died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kottakal. He was 97 years old. He was admitted to the hospital due to a lung infection. He was undergoing treatment for several days due to age-related diseases. He was admitted to the hospital on July 1.

Namboothiri's demise marks the end of the golden chapter of painting in Kerala. It was Namboothiri's paintings that introduced several brilliant characters in Malayalam literature to Malayali readers.

He was born in 1925 in Ponnani to Parameswaran Namboothiri and Sridevi Antharjanam. It was renowned sculptor and painter Varikkasseri Krishnan Namboothiri who brought Namboothiri to Madras College of Fine Arts. He became a disciple of luminaries like KCS Panicker, Roy Chaudhary and S Dhanapal. Later, when KCS Panicker established Cholamandalam Kalagram, he worked there.

Namboothiri joined Mathrubhumi in 1960. He did paintings for the works of famous writers like MT Vasudevan Nair, VKN, Basheer, Thakazhi etc. He had worked in Kalakaumudi and Samakalika Malayalam. Namboothiri's paintings for MT's Randamoozham and VKN's Pitamahan and Payyan Kathakal are famous.

Namboothiri worked as an art director for Aravindan's films Uttarayanam' and 'Kanchana Sita'. He won the state award for best art direction for 'Uttarayanam'. He also served as the president of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. He received numerous awards such as the Raja Ravi Varma Award of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and the Balasahithya Award of the State Institute of Children's Literature. Wife: Mrinalini. Children: Parameswaran and Vasudevan.