Shri. Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan was born in 1944 in Taliparamba in North Kerala and showed remarkable interest in Kathakali from his child hood. He was initiated into this art by Guru Kondiveetil Narayanan Nair under the patronage of Late. Brahmashri. Kurumathur Narayanan Namboothiripad and subsequently took intensive training for 10 years under famous Gurus Thekinkattil Ramunni Nair and Keezhupadam Kumaran Nair at Gandhi SevaSadan Kathakali Academy. It was during his training under the most outstanding contemporary Guru, shri Keezhupadam Kuamaran Nair that Balakrishnan blossomed into a great artiste and competent teacher.

Before joining International Centre for Kathakali in 1974 Shri Balakrishnan has worked as artiste and teacher in well known institutions like Paras Sinikadavu Sree Muthappan Kathakali Yogam, Gandhi Seva Sadan Kathakali Academy, Perur and took over charge as Principal and chief artiste. During this tenure with the international Centre for Kathakali, he got ample opportunities to prove his mettle in the three departments of Kathakali, i.e., Abhinaya, Choreography and Direction and Teaching.

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