K.K. Gopalakrishnan

K.K. Gopalakrishnan, known as KK and KKG, is a renowned Kerala-based art historian, cultural critic, writer, and photographer. Since an early age, he has contributed to leading English and Malayalam periodicals in the country, such as The Hindu and Mathrubhumi. He is a recipient of the Government of India's coveted Tagore National Scholarship.

His critically acclaimed Kathakali Dance-Theatre – A Visual Narrative of Sacred Indian Mime (2016; Niyogi Books, ISBN-13: 978-9385285011) ranked third and fourth in Amazon sales in the dance and dance-theatre categories.

KKG formerly served as Director of the Centre for Kutiyattam of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi (Govt of India's National Akademi of Music, Dance and Drama), and has been Director of the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC) of the Govt of India, Ministry of Culture, since December 2022. SZCC's primary mandate is to preserve and disseminate indigenous art traditions across South India.

He hails from the Hindu matrilineal family Kamballoore Kottayil, an iconic patron of Theyyam for over three centuries, including Muslim Theyyam and a mosque. The annual Theyyam season starts in the last week of October, according to the vernacular calendar, with rituals at his ancestral home and selected places of worship.

His second book, THEYYAM Indian Folk Ritual Theatre – an Insider's Vision, traces India's vibrant folk ritual theatre through letters and lens (Niyogi Books, Delhi, ISBN-13 ‏:‎ 978-9389136982). It has also been reviewed extensively, including by the BBC, and is popular among musicologists and art enthusiasts worldwide.

Meddling Malayali Middles - Slices of life from God’s Own Country (Rubric Publishing, Delhi), an anthology of articles on the arts and humour, and two volumes of Malayalam articles on Kathakali (Kaliyazhakukal - കളിയഴകുകൾ) and other performing arts (Kalanusandhanam - കലാനുസന്ധാനം) by Mathrubhumi Books, Kerala are set to be published soon.