Noted Musician and the first chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Manku Thampuran, died in Mysore early this morning. She was 97. She was an A Grade artist of All India Radio, and a disciple of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. She was also the senior most woman member (valiyamma thampuran) of the erstwhile Cochin royal family. A recipient of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi fellowship, Manku Thampuran was awarded Sangeetha Sampoorna by the Sreepoornathrayeesha Sangeetha Sabha. The funeral will take place at Thripunithura in Kochi this evening.