“Kalashree” · Guinness World Record Holder
Dr. Kuzhalmannam
G. Ramakrishnan
Multifaceted artist in percussion — South Indian instruments Mridangam & SRI Mridu. Percussionist, innovator, teacher, lyricist, composer and painter.
501
hours · 21 days
Guinness World Record Holder
5 Guinness World Record certificates since 2004
SuLalitham
Completed 2000 episodes in Sept 2025 and continues its journey — a song a day.
India Book of Records
Maximum Light Music Songs Composed and Posted on YouTube for Longest duration — for SULALITHAM.
Invented ‘SRI Mridu’ & ‘Sadh Mridangam’
New percussion instrument in 2013 — an innovative step forward.
501hrs
Nonstop solo concert in 21 days (2009)
5
Guinness World Record certificates
2000+
SuLalitham episodes (Sept 2025)
50+
Oil & mural paintings on music
Citation
Kuzhalmannam Gopalakrishnan Ramakrishnan
Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan is a percussionist, innovator, organizer, teacher, fusion programmer, lyricist, music director etc. In the COVID lockdown period, Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan, a renowned musician and multi-talented personality from south India, gave relief to many persons across the globe through his music and creativity.
He is a Guinness World Record holder, popularly known by his birthplace Kuzhalmannam — one who achieved mystical heights through perseverance and commitment. He is primarily a south Indian classical percussion instrument player; his multi-talents in singing, painting, drawing, lyrical writing, music composing, acting and art direction make him a unique personality.
Since March 2020, he has been releasing light music songs named SULALITHAM, a lockdown series of songs written and composed by him, involving talents from around the world. Through his YouTube channel “Centre of Music & Arts” and other social media, his creations are enjoyed by millions. He himself does the presenting, editing, recording and publishing through his mobile phone — without compromising the quality of the music or video.
He has been Mridangam in charge for a nonstop continuous 37 years for the grand music festival of Kerala, the Chembai Music Festival. In 2020, when restrictions confined the festival to a single day, he organised a 15-day online music festival through his YouTube channel for the Carnatic fraternity. He also gave free Mridangam classes and shared his Guinness world record experiences, uploaded as 250 episodes.
His experiments on the traditional wooden Mridangam led to a nature-friendly (non-wooden), lightweight and easily dismountable Mridangam — the Sadh Mridangam, for which he received a patent from the Government of India.
In 2004 he made a record with a continuous performance of 36 hours; in 2005 he crossed his own limit with 101 hours; in 2008 he played 301 hours. As part of a musical therapy experiment, his Rhythm Therapy — a continuous performance of 501 hours in 21 days — remains another feather in his cap.
He has performed across India and abroad for four decades. His accolades include the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2013), Prasar Bharathi’s AIR Top Grade in Mridangam, Gold medal in the National Youth Festival, and Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetom.
Explore
A life in rhythm, colour & invention
Impact
Contributions
Significant contribution
- Four individual world records by giving magnificent performances for social cause and world peace.
- Rhythm Therapy — a 501 hours (21 days) nonstop performance at Nandavanam hospital, Ottapalam to experiment the effect of Rhythm as an alternative therapy. This created entry to Guinness World Records in two categories – Long Solo Concert and Hand Drum Marathon.
- After 8 years of research, he redesigned Mridangam called Mridu in 2013, a weightless percussion instrument that can be carried easily for fusion programs.
- Mridu Tharang, a fusion composition by himself using the new instrument, is highly appreciated by music lovers worldwide.
To the field
- Popularised the ancient instrument Mridangam by entering Guinness & Limca world records for performing 36 hours nonstop for a Cancer awareness campaign in July 2004.
- Rhythm for Peace — a 101 hour continuous playing spreading the message of anti-violence in Kannur, Kerala in May 2005.
- Solo concert of 301 hours in August 2008 at Coimbatore to popularize Indian Rhythm and Mridangam among the young generation.
- In August 2015, another version of Mridangam called Sadh Mridangam was made using stainless steel rails interconnecting two sides. Any sruti (pitch) can be adjusted — a big relief to artists globally.
To society
- Runs the YouTube channel Centre of Music and Arts, where free Mridangam classes were uploaded for students during the pandemic.
- His own creations of light music songs as SULALITHAM, sung by various upcoming and established artists, uploaded online.
- Made documentaries of his paintings and short films.
- Runs the music institution Centre of Music and Arts in Kuzhalmannam, teaching various art forms and music.
- Conducted many live sessions that uphold traditional culture and popularise Mridangam among the young generation.
Honours
Awards & recognition
State
- First Prize in Kerala State Youth Festival in 1984
- Vaadya Ratna by Kannur Sangeetha Sabha
- Human Wonder Award by Sangam Kala Group
- Naadha Rathna by Chembai Smriti Trust Ottapalam
- Mridanga Vaadhya Kalathilakam by Kerala Brahmana Sabha
- Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2013
- Mandadri Puraskar from Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Devaswom, Jan 2019
National
- Gold medal in National Youth Festival
- Deva Vadya Visharat by AVP Trust Coimbatore
- Vaadhya Samrat of Sreekrishna Seva Sangh, Pune
- Asthana Vidwan by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetom
- Patent for the unique design of Sadh Mridangam, Patent Office of the Central Govt., May 2018
International
- Outstanding Person of 2008 by Palpak, Kuwait
- Acharya of Ekta Navaratri Music Festival, Sharjah
- Guinness World Record — 36 hours nonstop, July 2004
- Limca Book of Records — 101 hours continuous playing, May 2005
- Guinness World Record — Solo concert of 301 hours, August 2008
- Guinness World Record — Rhythm Therapy, 501 hours (21 days) nonstop
- Honorary Doctor in Record Breaking, World Records University, London, 2015
Guinness World Record Fete
5 Guinness World Record certificates
- 2004 — 36 hours Mridangam Marathon
- 2005 — 101 hours Drumming marathon
- 2008 — 301 hours Hand drum Marathon
- 2009 — 501 hours marathon Hand drumming
- 2009 — 501 hours longest performance by a solo artist
At a glance
Highlights
- 01Leading artist in percussion — South Indian Instruments (Mridangam & Mridu).
- 02Guinness World Record for Longest performance in percussion instrument (5 Records since 2004).
- 03Guinness World Record Holder in longest solo concert — 501 hrs. Also holds record of longest hand drumming (21 days continuous performance in 2009).
- 04An innovative step forward — Introduced ‘Mridu’, a unique percussion instrument in 2013.
- 05Top grade Artist — All India Radio, Prasar Bharathi.
- 06‘Kalashree – 2013’ — Award from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
- 07In-charge of Percussion — Guruvayur Chembai Sangeetholsavam.
- 08Lead role in film — Neerajanam — 2012.
- 09Art & Mural Paintings, Exhibitions — Completed more than 50 works, theme based Indian Music.