Kottayam, July 2, 2013: Noted Kathakali artiste and dance teacher Kudamaloor Appukuttan died following a cardiac arrest here in the wee hours of Monday. He was 69. Although he was admitted at the Kottayam Medical College hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties, his life could not be saved.

Hailing from Medayil house in Kudamaloor, Appukuttan was an active personality in the art field for nearly five decades. He was a disciple of renowned Kathakali artiste Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair. Appukuttan was recently declared the recipient of the Gurupooja Award of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi for the year 2012 in the Saptanirtham category. He had also worked as an official of the Kerala State Electricity Board until his retirement He is survived by his wife P.N. Vijayamma, who is also a dance teacher, and a son. His mortal remains will be cremated at the compound of his house on Tuesday.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 2, 2013.