M. Badrappan

M. Badrappan is a master of Valli Oyil Kummi, a group folk dance of Tamil Nadu. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of art, from Tamil Nadu ^[1].

Farmer and dancer

Badrappan was born on 16 April 1936, studied to Class 10 and made his living as a small farmer ^[2]. He learned Arichandra Kummi in 1959 and from 1962 worked with Tirumappa Gowder, a master of Valli Oyil Kummi ^[2]. In 1992 he formed his own troupe ^[2].

Opening the dance to women

The dance was once performed only by men; under Badrappan, girls and women now take part too ^[2]. For about 20 years he has taught it to around 100 boys and girls at the government middle school in his village, Dasanur ^[2]. He has also used its songs to carry messages about the poet Bharathiyar, the environment, natural farming and health ^[2].

He has led around 300 performances at village festivals, schools, colleges and universities, and has performed on Coimbatore radio for 24 years ^[2]. He also taught under the Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme of the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, in 2015 and 2016 ^[2].

Honours

He received the Kalai Muthumani award in 2002 and the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award in 2019 ^[2].