Cherpulasseri Sivan- maestro of Maddalam

Shri.Cherpulasseri Sivan is well known eminent Maddalam Artist who performs in Temples and Temple festivals. He a very popular Maddalam Artist and in fact one of the most recognized artists of Pancha vadyam. Shri Sivan belongs to a traditionally famous family of Cherpulsseri who prrform on maddslam.As a matter of Fact the TempleMusic instruments were being played by a community known as Ambalavasi community. But Shri Shivan Chrrpulasseri belongs to a Nair family who are as a matter of heredity playing Maddalam and also used to take part in Temple arts like Kathakali. When time changes the traditional story also changed.Nowadays whoever possess proficiency in a particular art can perform in stages as well as in Temples.The restrictions belonged to Temples were gradually changed according to convenience. Playing Maddalam in Keli is a specially gifted branch of the Temple musical instrument Maddalam.It isnot as common as Maddalam in Pachavadyam. Panchamaddalam Keli is to be performed by Five artists simultaneously and that is the speciality of playing all together upto the rythm of this branch of Temple Arts. Shri.Sivan had training from Gurus at Sadanam annd other organisations..He leant different ways of playing Maddalam for Kathakali and other branches ofArts where Maddalam is included. He also learnt from different Gurus different forms of playing Maddalam The most popular was Mohini attam branch art like Kathakali. Mohini attam consist of Thillana,Jathiswaram and Alarippu where Maddalam is played differently. From mega experience in playing maddalam differently in different areas and also for Nadaswaram,Kathakaliand Mohini attam Shri Cherpulasseri Sivan today is veteran in all the art forms he is performing. He plays in Cherpulasseri Ayyappan Temple also where he had got trained in the early stage of learning. Maddalam is one of the sweetest Temple music instruments in Kerala.The rhythm of Maddalam is as good as Chenda. I was lucky to view his performance of his recent programs in Namboorkavu Temple a suburb of Thrissur city.Hence this blog to describe his talent with Maddalam. Let us wish Shri Sivan Cherpulasseri a long happy life of entertaing vast groups of admirers of Maddalam in different Temples and other stages for a long time to come SreedharanMundanat 14th July 2019.