Annamanada Parameswara Marar, a renowned Timila and Panchavadyam maestro in Kerala, passed away on Wednesday. He was 67 and died due to a pulmonary ailment. He was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi on Wednesday where he passed away at 3 pm, according to reports.
His mortal remains will be placed at the NSS Karayogam Hall in Kodakara on Thursday at 9 am for the public to pay homage. From here, it will be taken to his native village of Annamanada at 12 pm, reports state. He will be cremated at the Pambady Ivor Madam crematorium after his last rites.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased maestro. “Annamanada Parameswara Marar was an outstanding percussionist who brought national glory to Panchavadyam. He changed the course of Timila research and study for good as the primary researcher on the percussion instrument. He was known as the meastro of Panchavadyam. As a teacher at Kalamandalam, the changes he made in the teaching methods were notable. I share the grief of his family,” the Chief Minister wrote.
Born in 1952 to Annamanada native Raman Nair and Parukutty Marasyar, Parameswara Marar was one of the leading percussionists in the state of Kerala. He has participated in the famed Madathil Varavu melam of the Thrissur Pooram for the last 45 years and led the troupe for the last 14 years. He last participated in the Thrissur Pooram in 2016 and could not continue as his fingers had been affected by severe diabetes.
Parameswara Marar has performed at several temple festivals in Kerala including the Guruvayur Ekadishi, Thriprayar Ekadishi, Kuttanellor Pooram, Nenmara Vela, Varavoor Palakkad festival etc. He has also performed Panchavadyam at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi and at other venues inside and outside of India such as Mumbai, Kolkata, South Africa, Paris and Dubai.
A recipient of several awards, last year he received the Pallavoor award of the state government. He had also received the Sangeetha Natak Akademi award and fellowship, Kerala Kalamandalam award and other laurels.