Early life and training Embranthiri was born in 1944 into a
Brahmin family in Vellayoor village,
Malappuram district,
Malabar. He learned Carnatic music from Govinda Pisarody before joining
Kerala Kalamandalam in 1958, where he studied Kathakali music under
Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambisan,
Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Sivaraman Nair, and Madhava Panikkar. Madambi Subrahmanian Namboothiri, Kalamandalam
Tirur Nambissan, and
Kalamandalam Hyderali also joined Kalamandalam the same year.
Career Embranthiri began performing in the
Travancore region. He worked at the Unnayi Varrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in
Irinjalakuda (1965) and later at the FACT Kathakali School near
Kochi, where he retired as a teacher. He gained prominence in the 1970s, influencing singers like
Kalamandalam Hyderali and Venmani
Kalamandalam Haridas. He mentored Haridas upon his return to Kathakali after a hiatus. In 1990, Embranthiri's health declined, requiring a
kidney transplant in 1991. He resumed performing but faced further challenges, including
diabetes and the amputation of his right leg. Despite these setbacks, he continued singing, performing from a wheelchair.
Death and legacy Embranthiri died on 14 November 2007, in
Aluva, near Kochi. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. == Works and musical style ==