Artist Namboodiri brightened Kerala’s art scene with his calm but active presence for over half a century. With his exceptional talent, he influenced and mesmerised Malayali sensibility through his sketches. No doubt, he was one of India’s best illustrators who also created noted paintings and sculptures in clay, wood and metal. Namboodiri made a mark in cinema working with filmmakers G. Aravindan, Padmarajan and Shaji N. Karun. In 1974, his art for Aravindan’s debut film Uttarayanam won him the State award. He was chosen for Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi’s Raja Ravivarma Award for his overall contribution to the field of art in 2003.
His was a childhood of misery which deprived him of basic school education; he could only learn a bit of traditional medicine and Sanskrit. Interested in drawing from a very early age, he took the help of a relative to join the Madras School of Art, where K.C.S. Paniker’s meticulous guidance polished his talent. Paniker’s style influenced him in the early stages.
