SREE BHARATH KALARI

Where teaching and practice of kalarippayattu is a cultural commitment

Celebrating 75 Glorious Years of Kalaripayattu Tradition and Excellence

Padma Shri Award 2023 - S.R.D Prasad Gurukkal

Renowned for his significant contribution to the field of Kalaripayattu, S R D Prasad has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2023. His pioneer work in crafting the syllabus in the Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Mumbai and Preparing the syllabus and course material for Kannur University's diploma course in Kalarippayattu has not only preserved this ancient martial art but has also propelled its recognition to a global scale.In addition to the Padma Shri , S R D Prasad is also a recipient of Guru Pooja Award (2012) , the Award of Best Book (2018), and fellowship(2021) from Kerala State Folklore Acdemy.

OUR VISION

The kalarippayattu is the martial arts originated and popularly practiced in Kerala. The relevance and role classical martial art form like Dhanurveda or Kalarippayattu in the present day society have been time and debated the world over . These deliberations have culminated in the sublimation of such riotous pursuits into competitive sports and games and as ultimate fitness activity. We aspire to create mental and physical awareness in youngsters through systematic practice of this martial discipline in our institution.

THE FOUNDER

Chirakkal T.Sreedharan Nair (1909 - 1984) founder of Sree Bharath Kalari was the third son of H.H Rama Varma Valiya Raja of Chirakkal Kovilakam and Thaiyyil Kalyanikkutty Kettilamma. While in his teens nair took keen interest in several fitness activities including weight training, body building and wrestling.

He started learning Kalarippayattu , when he was 21 and he was privileged to have several masters of payattu to teach him. Sreedharan Nair was a non-conformist. He believed that there was nothing mystical or esoteric in Kalarippayattu. It was an excellent martial arts and it ought to be made available to anyone interested in learning it. With this in view, Sreedharan Nair founded Raj Kumar Kalari in 1935 at Chirakkal and then Sree Bharath Kalari in valapattanam in 1948.

He wrote and published his first ever book in kalrippayattu in 1937. He wrote and elaborate version in 1963, other books by him are Marmadarpanam (1956), Lassim (1960), Games for children (1960), Massage (1983) and Kalarippayattu (English ) (2007). Way of the Malabar Warrior is a 40 minute documentary on Sreedharan Nair shot in 1981. Our founder guru was a unique amalgam of practitioner , master , research scholar and author. As an undisputed authority on every aspect of this martial discipline he became a legend in his lifetime.