[kellyhound]

58-year-old Kalamandalam Geethanandan, was a retired head of the Thullal Department at Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture.

A video shows his last performance how the dancer collapses in front of the percussion artiste with his hands folded. He was rushed to the hospital but it was too late.

One of the finest exponents of Ottanthullal, Kalamandalam Geethanandan, died while performing at a temple in Irinjalakkuda in Kerala's Thrissur district. Ottanthulal is a classical dance form from Kerala, performed by very few artistes now.

58-year-old Geethanandan, was a retired head of the Thullal Department at Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture. A video clip of his last performance, circulating in the social media, showed how the dancer collapsed in front of the percussion artiste with his hands folded. He was rushed to the hospital but it was too late.

Kalamandalam Geethanandan received several awards including the Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 2000. He also acted in over 30 Malayalam films.

Condolences poured in from across party lines in Kerala; Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, Kalamandalam Geethanandan's death was a great loss to art and culture in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said Geethanandan was an artiste who made thullal popular among people.

Thullal, a solo performance, based on poetry combines dance and recitations, is one of the oldest art forms of Kerala. It has its origins in the Natya Shastra, belonging to the 2nd century B.C. Thullal in local dialect means to jump and performers in colourful costumes and heavy makeup perform while reciting the verses.

[guims79]

The best death he could hope to have.

[REVZZYBAN]

I think his batteries died.

[koipin]

The old ticker had had enough.
Could have trimmed a lot of that shite music off the front end though

[DaBigNob]

The castle Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh

[RestInPepperoni]

good death ide say dancing on stage probably did it on purpose he was supposed to be doing backflips and shit but reverted to this low cardio dance for more air time

[RestInPepperoni]

i forgot to say if thats what he liked to do....not everyones thing

[pat11784]

He died quickly, doing something he loved. Bravo.

[Ninjavandal]

It appears that he made it - his death - a part of his routine.

[mparryuk52]

I'm genuinely surprised and sincerely glad to see people react so quickly to the situation, makes a nice change from people looking at each other with blank faces wondering what to do as they get their phones out to record x R.I.P X