Erickavu N. Sunil, aka Sunil Narayana is a South Indian percussionist, educator, and author, best known for his expertise in

mridangam The ''mridangam'' is an ancient percussion instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion in ...

, the principal rhythmic instrument in Carnatic classical music. He holds an 'A Grade' from All India Radio (Akashvani), India’s national public radio broadcaster, in the discipline of Mridangam. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor (UGC) in Mridangam at the

Kerala Kalamandalam Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed-to-be-University of Art and Culture by the Government of India, is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the country's southern states, with special emphasis on tho ...

. Sunil is the author of the book "Resounding Mridangam" (2021), which is widely referenced in academic and performing arts circles. His second work, "Mattolikkollunna Mridangam" (Malayalam: മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം) was published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute on 1 March 2025. Sunil has conducted seminars, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and scholarly presentations at universities and cultural institutions across India.

Early life and background

He started learning the

at the age of four. His initial teachers were Krishnappa Bhagavathar and M.S. Raju. He had his advanced studies in mridangam from

Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair (Malayalam: മാവേലിക്കര വേലുക്കുട്ടി നായർ) was an Indian mridangam player. Life Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair was born on 2 October 1926 in Chettikulangara (near Mavel ...

Musical career

An A-grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Sunil has performed alongside Padmabhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi T. V. Sankaranarayanan, Padmasri Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Padmasri Parassala Ponnammal, Madhurai G.S. Mony, Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma, K. Omanakutty, K. Venktaramanan, S. Sowmya, Kunnakkudi Balamuralikrishna, Sreevalsan J. Menon, Sankaran Namboothiri, Thiruvengadu Jayaraman, Sharreth, M. Jayachandran, and Balabhaskar. Sunil teaches

Mridangam The ''mridangam'' is an ancient percussion instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion in ...

online and has students in Germany, the US, the UK, Italy and the Middle East.

Indeevaram Cultural Trust

Indeevaram is a Trivandrum-based cultural trust founded by Sunil in 2018.

Resounding Mridangam

Erickavu N. Sunil's first book ''Resounding Mridangam: The Majestic South-Indian Drum'' was formally released in India on 18 April 2021 by

K. S. Chithra Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra (born 27 July 1963) is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning around five decades, she has recorded over 25,000 Songs in various Indian languages languages such as Tamil, Kann ...

. The book received the Kerala Kalamandalam Kalagrandham Award (the best book for art literature) for 2023.

Mattolikkollunna Mridangam

Mattolikkollunna Mridangam (മാറ്റൊലിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന മൃദംഗം) is the second book authored by Erickavu N. Sunil and published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute. It was released on 1 March 2025, with the book being presented by

Divya S. Iyer Dr. Divya Sesha Iyer IAS (born 16 October 1984) is an Indian bureaucrat, medical doctor, editor, and author who is part of the Indian Administrative Service in Kerala. She is the managing director of Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananth ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunil, Erickavu N. Living people Mridangam players 21st-century Indian drummers 21st-century Indian male musicians Indian male classical musicians Musicians from Kerala People from Alappuzha district 20th-century Indian drummers 1976 births