A.Rathnakaran

A. Rathnakaran is one among the several artists for whom the library served as a foundation in the development of their artistic careers. A theatre director, actor and playwriter who contributed immensely to the Malayalam amateur theatre movement. The Deshaposhini Public Library has acted as a playground for developing and polishing his theatrical skills ever since his childhood. During those days, he had actively participated in the drama activities conducted by the children’s wing of Deshaposhini library and had hence built up an interest and flair for stage performance. As an active member of the so-called Balasangham (now renamed as Balavedi) and through the experiences in theatre,  he gained through his associations with the library, Mr. Rathnakaran later turned out to be one of the cornerstones of the Malabar drama world. Through innumerable efforts in amateur as well as professional dramas, he subsequently developed his own style and started being noticed in the drama world. By directing the small productions of Deshaposhini Balavedi and Kala Samithi, he set foot on his journey towards the director’s chair. He has both written and directed plays like Agni(1972), Bheeru(1974) and Rose Mary Parayanirunnathu for the Deshaposhini Kala Samithi and has directed more than 300 plays. Mukhangal and Kaaariveppila are his contributions to the genre of children’s drama among others. Currently, he is working on  re-staging of the 19xx(ed.) Thikkodian play “Pushpavrishti” on the occasion of the library’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Drama  is his passion and kerala drama history will be incomplete if somebody omit him.
He has won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for drama (2023)