Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambisan (1920–85) was a trend-setter Kathakali musician who played a crucial role in remoulding the aesthetics of singing for the classical dance-drama of Kerala, south India. Nambisan imbibed a set of fresh musical ideas from his epoch-making guru , developed them to sound even better and handed them over to a set of disciples, most of whom gained name and fame sooner or later. As a teacher, he joined Kerala Kalamandalam in 1946 and retired from his alma mater as its principal. He later served as a tutor in PSV Natyasangham, Kottakkal, as well.