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About Chenda Kalari

Preserving the Sacred Rhythm of Kerala

Chenda Kalari is a dedicated training initiative under Gurukripa Institute of Folk Arts & Culture, committed to preserving and promoting the traditional percussion heritage of Kerala.

Through both online and offline training programs, we provide systematic learning opportunities for students, cultural enthusiasts, and international learners who wish to experience the vibrant rhythm traditions of Kerala.

Years of Legacy

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Students Trained

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State Awards

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Programs

Offline & Online

Meet the Founder

About Founder

“Chenda Kalari was established to create a structured global platform for learning authentic Chenda rhythm traditions.”

The foundation of Gurukripa Institute of Folk Arts & Culture was established by the renowned traditional artist Sri. V. Bhanu Assan, who received four State Awards from the Government of Kerala through the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and the Kerala Folklore Academy. He also received a special felicitation from the President of India for his outstanding contributions to traditional arts.

Continuing this legacy, Dr. Prasood Gurukripa, grandson of Sri. V. Bhanu Assan, is a dedicated Chenda artist, cultural educator, and researcher.

Through the Gurukripa Institute of Folk Arts & Culture, he has trained thousands of students globally in Chenda Melam and other traditional art forms including:

• Thiruvathirakkali
• Charadupinnikkali
• Kakkarissi Natakam
• Folk Orchestra

With a strong commitment to preserving traditional knowledge, he combines practical training, cultural heritage values, and academic research perspectives in his teaching.

Sri. V. Bhanu Assan & Dr. Prasood Gurukripa

Founder, Chenda Kalari

Our Vision

We envision a world where traditional arts thrive as living practices. Gurukripa Living Heritage Campus promotes culture as something to be lived and shared, empowering artists to preserve tradition while building dignity, identity, and sustainable livelihoods.

Our Mission

Gurukripa Living Heritage Campus preserves and sustains traditional arts through a living ecosystem where artists earn livelihoods, students learn through practice, traditions pass across generations, and heritage is lived—not just remembered.

About Chenda Kalari

Gurukripa Nadan Kalakendram stands as a symbol of dedication to Kerala’s traditional art forms for over 30 years. Under the leadership of Dr. Prasood S. P, the institution has trained generations of students, preserving the authentic spirit of Chendamelam and other folk traditions.

We are not just an academy. We are a Gurukulam where discipline, culture, and rhythm come together.

Gurukripa Institute of Folk Arts & Culture (Reg. No: T3436/2000) is a registered cultural organization located in Kazhakkunnu village, Panavoor Panchayath, Nedumangad Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

For more than 30 years, the institute has been dedicated to teaching and preserving traditional folk arts of Kerala.

Training programs include:

• Chenda Melam
• Violin
• Music
• Thiruvathirakkali
• Charadupinnikkali
• Kolattakkali
• Kakkarissi Natakam
• Kambadavukkali
• Classical dance and drama

Over the past three decades, the institute has also identified and trained talented but financially disadvantaged youth, helping them develop skills and opportunities in traditional arts.

Through training programs, cultural workshops, and performances, Gurukripa continues to promote Kerala’s rich cultural heritage.

Honouring Our Masters

Our Gurus & State Honours

Several trainers associated with Gurukripa have received State Awards from the Government of Kerala. These honours reflect the rich artistic legacy of the institution.

 

Sri. V. Bhanu Assan

Charadupinnikkali & Thiruvathirakkal

Sri. C. Surendranathan

Kambadavukkali

Smt. V. Prabalakumari

Charadupinnikkali

Sri. Sridharan Assan

Kakkarissi Natakam