Padma Shri-winning puppeteer Moozhikkal Pankajakshi passes away
Padma Shri awardee Moozhikkal Pankajakshi, the veteran folk artist who revived and popularised Nokkuvidya Pavakali, a traditional puppetry form of Kerala, passed away at her
Padma Shri awardee Moozhikkal Pankajakshi, the veteran folk artist who revived and popularised Nokkuvidya Pavakali, a traditional puppetry form of Kerala, passed away at her residence in Monippally in Kottayam district on Wednesday (July 15, 2026). She was 90. Pankajakshi was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.
She was honoured by the nation with the Padma Shri in 2020. Pankajakshi had practised Nokkuvidya Pavakali, which involves balancing a three-foot-long wooden rod carrying puppet figures on the artist’s philtrum, for over eight decades. Through the rare art form, Ms. Pankajakshi narrated stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to generations of audience.
Her husband, the late Sivarama Panicker, used to compose songs and provide background support for her performances. Over the decades, Ms. Pankajakshi performed the art form in numerous venues, including major cultural festivals in Paris. She had received numerous distinctions, including the Kerala Folklore Academy Award and Fellowship.
Pankajakshi’s granddaughter, K.S. Ranjini, trained by the veteran artiste who was keen to preserve the rare art form, is reportedly the only active practitioner of Nokkuvidya Pavakali now. Pankajakshi’s final rites will be held later.
The BriefWire