Percussion maestro Kuzhur Narayana Marar was born into the Manikkamangalam family (Vadakkinimarath tharavadu) in a tiny village near Mala, in Thrissur district.
Initially Kuzhur was a musician at the Kuzhur Subramanya Swami Temple. Kuzhur was initiated into this arena at the age of five by his father Manikkamangalam Kuchupilla Kurup.
He dedicated his life for the promotion of Panchavadyam, a form of percussion music, across the country.
Having mastered percussion instruments like the thimila and the chenda from gurus Puzhakkarapilly Rama Marar and Manikkamangalam Narayana Kurup, he along with his brothers, Kuzhur Kuttappa Marar and Chandran Marar, formed a percussion trio that delighted Panchavadyam connoisseurs for decades.
Narayana Marar’s debut as a thimila player at the Thrissur Pooram festival from the Paramekkavu side was in 1944 at the young age of 19.
Kerala Kalamandalam honoured the master percussionist in 1990. In 2005, Kuzhur Narayana Marar won the Pallavur Appu Marar award. In 2010 he took part in a ‘double thayambaka’ recital with Kalloor Ramankutty Marar.
Kuzhur Narayana Marar died of old age-related illnesses at a private hospital on August 11, 2011. He was 91 years old. Kuzhur Narayana Marar Narayana Marar is survived by four sons and three daughters.
