**G VENU** **G. VENU**, is one of the senior most exponents of Kutiyattam — the oldest surviving Sanskrit Theater Tradition in India. Over the past three decades through his Natanakairali — Research and Performing Center for Traditional Arts. A recipient of the Homi Bhabha Fellowship, Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and the prestigious 'NIKKEI Asia Prize for culture (from Japan), Venu has authored 15 books on the performing arts of Kerala. Venu was nominated as one of the honorary directors of the World Theater Project in Sweden and as an expert and member of the International jury by the Asian Cultural Center for UNESCO (Tokyo) in its project to safe-guard Intangible Cultural heritage. The first time I saw Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar was at a performance at the *Koothambalam* of Vadakkumnatha temple in Trichur where he was performing the role of Ravana in *Toranayuddham*, the third act of