Ottanthulal artist Kalamandalam Geethanandan dies during temple performance

A video clip of his last performance circulating in the social media shows Geethanandan collapsing with folding hands in front of the percussion artist with folded hands .

Renowned Ottanthulal artist Kalamandalam Geethanandan died while performing at a temple in Irinjalakkuda on Sunday evening. He was 58.

Kalamandalam Geethanandan, who performed on more than 5,000 stages across the country, was also a tutor of Ottanthullal at Kerala Kalamandalam for decades. (Photo Facebook)

The artist was given first aid and taken to a hospital, but could not be saved. A video clip of his last performance circulating in the social media showed that Geethanandan collapses in front of the percussion artist with folded hands as the shocked audience looks on.

Geethanandan, who performed on more than 5,000 stages across the country, was also a tutor of Ottanthulal at Kerala Kalamandalam for decades.

Chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the artiste’s death

Geethanandan was a recipient of several awards including Sangeet Nataka Academy Award in 2000 and Kalamamdnal award in 2010, also acted in over 30 malayalam films.

He was also the first artist to perform thullal at Paris.

He is survived by his wife Shobana and children Sanalkumar and Sreelakshmi, who are also Thullal artists. (ANI)