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The ‘Second Perunthachan’ award by Guruvayoor Devaswom and the testimony by M.T.Vasudevan Nair as the Perunthachan of the new generation are some of the honours that have been bestowed on noted woodworker Nandakumar.  And representative proof of his repertoire is the ceremonial wooden doors on the East and West gates of Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple.

While it took 3-month of labour exquisitely carve the Ten Incarnations on the Eastern Gate, it took 6 months of dedicated effort for Nandakumar to complete Sree Krishna Leela in 32 episodes on the Western Gate.

Apart from these, other noted works by the master woodsman includes the embellishments in Kollur Mookambika Temple, the Thunchan Museum at Tirur to name a few.  Also noteworthy are his depiction of Jesus Christ at the St.Xavier’s Church, Anjur and figures in the Church at Kattoor.  He has displayed his dexterity around the sanctum sanctorum of the Kochu Guruvayoor temle at Mattunga, Mumbai also.

Nandakumar, who began learning the craft from his father at the age of 12, considers Kanippayyoor Krishnan Namboothiri, Mammiyoor Krishnankutty Nair etc also as his gurus at heart.  Well versed in murals and traditional architecture, he is a member of the Executive Committee of Lalitha Kala Academy.

He is an adept in the creation of idols and statues, and has proficiency in determining the sex of trees.  Among other classics he is familiar with are Mayamatham, Shilparatnam and Kashyapeeyam – all learned from his father.  And following the footsteps of his father, Nandkumar teaches many interested youngsters free of charge.  And as a further sign of his indebtedness to his illustrious father, he has started the Ilavalli Narayanachari Memorial Woodwork Learning Centre at Ilavalli near Guruvayoor.  His brothers Sankaranarayanan, Jayanthan and Ranjan,  also engaged in the family occupation, work in tandem with Nandakumar.

Courtesy: C.K.Sivanandan, Malayala Manorama, June 5, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator 

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