Biography

Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier is an acclaimed Indian percussionist of the Kerala ethnic drum called maddalam, and has specialised in its playing for the dance-drama of Kathakali.Sankara Warrier joined Kalamandalam at the age of 15 and was trained in maddalam under masters like Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval and Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambeesan. After his four-year course, Warrier joined Kalamandalam as first grade maddalam teacher. In 1981, FACT (Fertilizers and Chemicals of Travancore Ltd) invited Warrier to join its Kathakali school as a maddalam teacher. Warrier worked in FACT Kathakali School for 18 years along with late masters such as Vaikom Karunakaran Nair, Kalamandalam Kesavan (chenda), Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri and Kalamandalam Hyderali (Kathakali music). He retired in 2005. He has also gained name as a maddalam percussionist in the classical ensemble called Panchavadyam.Sankara Warrier has written a pioneering book titled “Maddalam Enna Mangalavadyam”, published in 2003 with the help of his alma mater.