Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil
A Chavakkad kalaripayattu guru known as Unni Gurukkal, who taught for over 60 years; Padma Shri, 2022. He died in 2023.
Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil, known as Unni Gurukkal, was a master of kalaripayattu, the martial art of Kerala, at the Vallabhatta Kalari in Chavakkad. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of sports, from Kerala [1].
A family of commanders
Menon was born on 15 February 1929, the third son of Gurukkal Sankunni Panicker [2]. His father was the last of the Mudavangattil family, renowned exponents of kalaripayattu who had served as commanders for the Vettath royal family and received the title of Panicker [2]. He began training with his family at seven and went on to practise, perform and teach for more than 60 years [2].
The Vallabhatta Kalari
In 1957 his father set up the present kalari, or training school, at Chavakkad in Thrissur district [2]. It runs classes, workshops and demonstrations, and has worked with dancers on performances in India, Europe, the United States, China, Singapore and Sri Lanka [2]. Even at 93 he was still teaching, and the school’s teaching had reached its ninth generation [2].
He received a lifetime achievement award from the Indian Kalaripayattu Federation and was honoured by the Kerala Kalaripayattu Association and Kerala Kalamandalam [2].
Unni Gurukkal died at Chavakkad in 2023, aged 94 [3].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2022: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2022: citation for Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
- [3] Unni Gurukkal, one of India's oldest kalaripayattu masters, passes away — Black Belt Magazine. Accessed 24 October 2026.
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