Nila Campus

The nila campus was the third venue of kalamandalam since it’s inception in 1930. 5 years after its establishment, the facility at Ambalapuram (former venue), grew to be in sufficient to support the quickly expanding kalamandalam. Therefore sri Vallathol and sri Mukunda Raja decided to re-locate kalamandalam to a much larger facility. Vallathol identified a densely wooded patch of land along the banks of the river Nila. After tireless fundraising campaigns, discussions with the Cochin government, the 6 acre grove was handed over to kalamandalam. The old dilapidated building that existed in the property were not habitable. Once again Vallathol and Mukunda Raja embarked on a fund raising journey. With the money so collected the old buildings were renovated and temporary kalaries constructed with mud walls and thatched roofs. In 1935 kalamandalam was relocated to the new venue near the river Nila. For three years the students and teachers of kalamandalam lived in the makeshift buildings and in 1937, on the 8^th anniversary of kalamandalam’s inception and the occasion of Vallathol’s 60^th anniversary the new building was inaugurated.

To this day the same building exists, at the Nila campus (as it is called now), but has been converted into the centre for Master’s degree and doctoral studies. The lush and serene ambience still continues to provide the quietness and solitude, ideal for nourishing art and thought, just like in the days of Vallathol.

There are 3 kalaries in the campus, a portrait gallery and across the road is the Vallathol museum. In June 2007, kalamandalam was declared a deemed university. Since then, the old campus of the institution bordering the river Nila came alive. In the Nila campus, post-graduate program and M.Phil in three art disciplines viz. Kathakali, Kutiyattam and Mohiniyattam are in full swing.

In the last academic year, post-graduate program and m-Phil in three art disciplines viz. Kathakali, Kutiyattam and Mohiniyattam are in full swing. In the last academic year, post-graduate programs in karnatic music and kathakali chenda were begun. In the serene and lush-green surroundings of the campus, practical training in these art forms go hand in hand with advanced lessons in the history, aesthetics and philosophy of Indian traditional arts. Eminent professors in performing arts and distinguished scholars teach the students. All the students of the two campuses have to invariably stay in the hostel. Students of the campuses have to invariably stay in the hostel.

Students of the graduate and post – graduate programs are often included in the performance troupes of kalamandalam. This gives the talented ones opportunities to hone their skills in the respective art forms.