Vinodkumar Sukumaran (Vinod Navadhara)
Sivanandan Kanwasramath Champion of Kerala Arts & Culture Award
Percussionist, Educator & Cultural Leader
Vinodkumar Sukumaran, better known as Vinod Navadhara, is a renowned percussionist, educator and cultural leader whose life’s mission has been to preserve and promote Kerala’s percussion traditions. With more than 35 years of experience and over 3,000 stage performances across India, the UK and Europe, he has become a leading figure in keeping Kerala’s rhythms alive on the global stage.
For two decades, Vinod served as both Percussionist and Manager with Poonjar Navadhara, Kerala’s famous music and drama company, where he shaped his artistry and vision of music as both a cultural legacy and a force for connection.
Since moving to the UK, Vinod has become a cornerstone of the Malayalee community’s cultural identity. His first Chenda class in the UK commenced at MAUK, marking the beginning of a journey that has transformed the cultural life of the diaspora. What began with just a handful of learners has, in just over a decade, grown into over 800 students across 36 active classes nationwide. This achievement reflects not only the appeal of the art form but also Vinod’s dedication to sharing Kerala’s rhythms and giving young Malayalees meaningful ways to connect with their heritage. His greatest contribution has been introducing and popularising the Chenda in the UK and Europe. Once rarely seen outside Kerala, it is now a familiar and celebrated sound at festivals, cultural events and even mainstream stages across Britain. Through both teaching and performance, Vinod has passed on the discipline and depth of this powerful instrument, training a new generation of performers and securing its place in the cultural life of the diaspora.
Through his flagship production, Melaperuma, Vinod has created rare opportunities for his students to perform alongside legendary artists such as Mattanoor Shankarankutty Marar and his team, as well as actor Jayaram. The production has become a cultural landmark in the UK — combining world-class artistry with grassroots participation, drawing diverse audiences in the thousands and giving young Malayalees the chance to learn directly from and share the stage with masters of Kerala’s performing arts.
As leader of the MAUK Nisari Orchestra and MAUK’s celebrated Chenda troupe, Vinod has brought Kerala’s percussion traditions to audiences far beyond the Malayalee community, fostering both pride and cross-cultural appreciation.
Vinod’s legacy is clear: he has given the Malayalee community in the UK a stronger cultural voice, ensured the survival and growth of Kerala’s percussion traditions abroad and inspired pride across generations. His vision continues to connect people through rhythm — uniting communities and carrying Kerala’s heartbeat into the future.
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