THRIPPUNITHURA: Renowned Kathakali chenda artiste Kalamandalam Kesava Poduval (90) passed away in Thrippunithura on Saturday. His funeral will take place on Sunday.

Born in 1931, Kesava Poduval began practising chenda while studying in class 4. He got trained in both Thayambaka and Panchavadyam before the age of 15. Later, he learnt Kathakali chenda from Kalamandalam and began working at the Kathakali chenda section in Parassinikadavu Muthappan Kathakali Yogam. He got settled in Thrippunithura after joining as Kathakali chenda lecturer at RLV college.

A winner of several prestigious awards such as the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award, Kesava Poduval had performed with several Kathakali experts including Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Gopi. He is survived by wife Radha Poduvalasyar and daughter Chitra.