Thambi Payyappilly lives on the island of Gothuruth in suburban Kochi and drives an autorickshaw for a living. Endowed with a stentorian voice, he is the chosen one who goes around the island announcing deaths among the Latin Catholic laity. But Thambi also has a Sangeet Natak Academy award as a thespian of Chavittunatakam theatre. On most nights, Thambi becomes Charlemagne, the emperor who ruled much of Western Europe from AD 768 to 814. Thambi began training as a 15-year-old under George Kutty Ashan and debuted with a minor role in Sathyapalakan.

Source: The Hindu May 11, 2019 18:33 UTC