his initiation to kathakali arangu (stage) was accidental. when he was a child once he had gone with his paternal uncle for a kathakali show performed by his troupe. the show was on and at midnight suddenly uncle came to the sleeping boy and did some minimum make up to him to look like a maharshi – a hermit – and asked him to sit on a chair on the stage. he instructed him to hand over the bows and arrows when a man with glittering headgear comes and bestow him. he did exactly as told by uncle. that was guru gopinath's first appearance in a kathakali show.