Vayalar Ramavarma

Vayalar Ramavarma (28 March 1928 – 27 October 1975), often known as Vayalar, was a modern Malayalam language poet and lyricist from the southern Indian state of Kerala. His famous works include Sargasangeetham, Mulankaadu, Padamudrakal, Aayisha,Oru Judas janikkunnu.

Biography

Many of his poems contain romantic notions about "revolution" and about the triumph of science over religion. He was associated with the leftist political movement in Kerala.Vayalar wrote about 2000 songs for 223 Malayalam movies^[1] and for several plays. Decades past his death, the movie songs he wrote are still popular among Malayalis. Among his most popular songs is the one he wrote for theatre, the KPAC naatakagaanam, "Balikudeerangalae"Born in the village of Vayalar, in Alappuzha district,[Kerala]. His parents were Vellarappally Kerala Varma and Vayalar Raghavaparambil Ambalika Thamburatty. He was awarded Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (Kerala literary academy award) in 1961 for Sargasangeetham, the President's gold medal for best lyricist in 1974, and the Kerala state film award for best lyricist three times. The Vayalar award for Malayalam literature, given on 27 October (his death anniversary) each year, was instituted in his memory.

The "Vayalar-Devarajan" was a prolific lyricist-composer combination which lasted till the death of Vayalar.

Vayalar was married to Bharathy Amma. The couple has four children: Sarath Chandran, Indulekha, Yamuna and Sindhu. Vayalar's only son Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma is now a popular lyricist in Malayalam film industry. Recently, his wife Bharathy Thamburatty wrote a book about Vayalar, Indradhanussin Theerathu, which became controversial.

Published works

• Poetry collections:
  • Paadamudrakal (1948)
  • Konthayum Poonoolum
  • Enikku Maranamilla (1955)
  • Mulankaadu (1955)
  • Oru Judas Janikkunnu (1955)
  • Ente Maattolikkavithakal (1957)
  • Sargasangeetham (1961)
• Khandakaavyam:
  • Aayisha
• Collected songs:
  • Ente Chalachitragaanangal in 6 parts
• Stories collection:
  • Raktham Kalarnna Mannu
  • Vettum Thiruthum
• Essays:
  • Purushaantharangaliloode
• Collected works:
  • Vayalar Krithikal
  • Vayalar Kavithakal

                 VAYALAR-G.DEVARAJAN MOVIES LIST

 1. Chathurangam              1956  86. Chaayam                   1973
 2. Bharya                    1962  87. Mazhakkaar                1973
 3. Nithyakanyaka             1963  88. Gayathri                  1973
 4. Kadalamma                 1963  89. Darshanam                 1973 
 5. Anna                      1964  90. Enippatikal               1973
 6. School Master             1964  91. Ponnapuram Kotta          1973
 7. Manavatty                 1964  92. Kaliyugam                 1973 
 8. Omanakkuttan              1964  93. Chenda                    1973
 9. Kalanju Kittiya thangam   1964  94. Manushyaputhran           1973
10. Odayil Ninnu              1965  95. Thaniniram                1973 
11. Kaathirunna Nikkah        1965  96. Thenaruvi                 1973  
12. Daaham                    1965  97. Paavangal Pennungal       1973
13. Shakuntala                1965  98. Nakhangal                 1973  
14. Pattuthoovala             1965  99. Chukku                    1973
15. Rowdy                     1966  100.Masappadimathuppilla      1973                                                            
16. Jail                      1966  101. Angathattu               1974 
17. Kalyanarathriyil          1966  102. Thumbolarcha             1974
18. Thilothama                1966  103. Durga                    1974
19. Kanmanikal                1966  104. Neelakkannukal           1974 
20. Arakkillam                1967  105. Chattakkari              1974  
21. Aval                      1967  106. Devi Kanyakumari         1974
22. Ashwamedham               1967  107. Rajahamsam               1974  
23. Kavalam Chundan           1967  108. Vishnuvijayam            1974
24. Naadan Pennu              1967  109. Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi  1974 
25. Kasavuthattam             1967  110. Chalanam                 1975
26. Swapnabhoomi              1967  111. Maanishaada              1975 
27. Viplavakaarikal           1968  112. Muchittukalikarante Makal1975
28. Thokkukal Katha Parayunnu 1968  113. Chuvanna Sandhyakal      1975
29. Hotel Highrange           1968  114. Makkal                   1975
30. Yakshi                    1968  115. Atithi                   1975 
31. Thulabharam               1968  116. Kottaram Vilkkanundu     1975
32. Agnipareeksha             1968  117. Alibabayum 41 Kallanmarum1975 
33. Anachchadanam             1969  118. Swami Ayyappan           1975  
34. Patichcha Kallan          1969  119. Priyamulla Sophia        1975
35. Susy                      1969  120. Anaavaranam              1976 
36. Adimakal                  1969  121. Romeo                    1976  
37. Urangatha Sundari         1969  122. Colonellum Collectorum   1976
38. Nadi                      1969  123. Chakravarthini           1977 
39. Kadalppalam               1969  124. Paapathinu Maranamilla   1979  
40. Jwala                     1969  125. Lahari                   1982
41. Koottukudumbam            1969  126. Premalekhanam            1985
42. Kumarasambhavam           1969  127. Ente Ponnu Thampuran     1992  
43. Vaazhvemaayam             1970  128. Prathisandhi (unreleased)1968 
44. Nizhalattam               1970  129. Enikku Nee Mathram       1975 
45. Aranaazhikaneram          1970  130. Rajani
46. Pearlview                 1970
47. Dattuputhran              1970
48. Ningalenne Communistakki  1970
49. Othenante Makan           1970  
50. Thara                     1970
51. Vivahitha                 1970
52. Nilakkyatha Chalanangal   1970
53. Swapnangal                1970
54. Aa Chitrasalabham         1970
55. Thriveni                  1970
56. Kalithozhi                1971
57. Avalalppam Vaikippoyi     1971
58. Oru Penninte Katha        1971
59. Makane Ninakku Vendi      1971
60. Shiksha                   1971
61. Thettu                    1971
62. Navavadhu                 1971
63. Karinizhal                1971
64. Sarashayya                1971
65. Anubhavangal Palichakal   1971
66. Panchavankaad             1971
67. Karakaanaakkadal          1971
68. Inquilab Zindabad         1971
69. Vivahasammanam            1971
70. Line Bus                  1971
71. Agnimrigam                1971
72. Gangasangamam             1971
73. Thapaswini                1971
74. Devi                      1972
75. Punarjanmam               1972
76. Professor                 1972
77. Aaromalunni               1972
78. Mayiladumkunnu            1972
79. Omana                     1972
80. Chemparathy               1972
81. Achchanum Bappayum        1972
82. Oru Sundariyude Katha     1972
83. Gandharvakshethram        1972
84. Maravil Tiriv Sookshikuka 1972 
85. Postmane Kanmanilla       1972

Awards[edit]

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards

• 1961 – Sargasangeetham (poetry collection)

National Film Awards

• 1973 – Best Lyrics (Song: "Manushyan mathangale srishtichu"; Film: Achanum Bappayum)

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1969 – Best Lyricist
• 1972 – Best Lyricist
• 1974 – Best Lyricist
• 1975 – Best Lyricist – Chuvanna Sandhyakal, Swami Ayyappan (Posthumous)

മലയാളത്തിന്റെ പ്രിയ കവി വയലാര്‍ രാമവര്‍മ്മ മണ്‍മറഞ്ഞിട്ട് ഇന്നേക്ക് 37 വര്‍ഷം. ഒരു തലമുറയുടെ സ്വപ്നങ്ങളെയും നിരാശകളെയും അക്ഷരങ്ങളുടെ മഴവില്ലില്‍ കോര്‍ത്ത ആ അതുല്യപ്രതിഭ മലയാളിമനസ്സുകളില്‍ ഇന്നും ജീവിക്കുന്നു.

In this episode of Marikkatha Pranayam, Vayalar Ramavarma's former wife, Chandramathi Thampuratti, talks about the late poet and lyricist.

References

1. Jump uphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayalar_Ramavarma

Sreekumaran Thampi

Sreekumaran Thampi (Malayalam: ശ്രീകുമാരന്‍ തമ്പി,is born to Kalarikkal KrishnaPillai & Bhavanikutty Thankachi on 16 March 1940 in Haripad), Alleppey district. is a lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema.He completed his schooling from Haripad government school He is a civil engineer by education. He is having two elder brothers P.V.Thampi & P.G.Thampi.

Film career

Sreekumaran Thampi, was introduced to the Malayalam film industry by P. Subramaniam as a lyricist in the film Kaatumallika, has produced about 22 films, directed 29, and wrote scripts for 78 films in Malayalam besides writing thousands of songs. He came into the field in 1966, has so far written 3,000 lyrics and directed about 30 films, besides producing 22 films. He is also the author of the well-known literary work Prem nazir enna prema ganam. His work cinema-Kanakkum Kavitayum had won the national award while his films ganam and mohiniyattam bagged the state awards. His career graph is a testimony to his multifaceted talents. He has produced 22 films, directed 29 and penned 3,500 songs. He has scripted 78 films. Yet, this man continues to be a bugbear for many in the Malayalam film industry.

He is a Song-Writer, Screenplay Writer, Film Producer, Director and a Musician. But Mr.Thampi says he is more of a lyricist than a filmmaker. His evergreen songs such asChandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakaantham, Hridayasarasile pranayapushpame and Swonthamenna padathinendhartham. While his films such as Chandrakaantham, Gaanam,Mohiniyattom, Malika Paniyunnavor, Jeevitham Oru Gaanam, Ambalavilakku, etc. became artistic successes; Thampi also made movies such as Naayattu, Simhasanam,Akramanam, Idimuzhakkam, etc. that succeeded at the box office.

Sreekumaran Thampi is widely known as Hrudaya Ragangaluday Kavi (Poet of Love Songs) as majority of his songs invokes romantic moods. Sreekumaran Thampi is known for his obstinate and uncompromised attitude to alter his creations and stays guided with his principles. Sreekumaran Thampi is known for consciously strove to make his songs blend with the scene and also touch it with the muse's wand.

Sreekumaran Thampi has written thousands of film songs, seventy eight screenplays, published four Novels (Kakkathampuraatti, Kuttanad, Kadalum Karalum, Njanoru Kadha Parayam) and collection of poems Engineerayuday Veena, Neelathaamara, En Makan Karayumpol, Sheershakamillatha Kavithakal, Achante Chumbanam, and Ammakkoru Tharaattu). His collection of selected songs titled Hridaya Sarassu has gone to three editions in two years.

Visit his official website: http://sreekumaranthampi.net

Personal life

Sreekumaran Thampi was born in Harippad, Alappuzha District on 16 March 1940 to Kalarikkal Krishna Pillai (from Thonnackad near Mavelikara ) and Karimpalayathu Bhavaniamma Thangachi ( related to Haripattu Koikkal, the Royal House ). His siblings include the renowned novelist P. Vasudevan Thampi who wrote novels like "Sreekrishnaparinthu" ( late that became a hit Malayalam film ) and the former Director General of Prosecutions (Kerala), Advocate P. Gopalakrishnan Thampi. Thampi is married to Raji & is having a son Rajkumaran Thampi & a daughter Kavitha Thampi.His wife Raji and daughter Kavitha have also dabbled in arts. His son, Rajkumaran Thampi (also known as Raj Aditya) was an erstwhile associate of Priyadarshan and later directed a few movies in the Telugu film industry, until his untimely demise in Secundarabad in March 2009. Rajakumaran Thampi is married to Deepthi & is blessed with two daughters Tanmaya & Tanaya.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 2011 - Best Lyricist
• 1971 - Best Lyricist

Selected filmography

• Bandhukkal Shathrukkal (1993)
• Amme Bhagwathi (1987)
• Yuvajanotsavam (1986)
• Vilichu Vilikettu (1985)
• Ore Raktham (1985)
• Aadhipathyam (1983)
• Enikkum Oru Dhivasham (1982)
• Gaanam (1982)
• Munnettam (1981)
• Aakramanam (1981)
• Ammakkorumma (1981)
• Arikkari Ammu (1981)
• Irattimadhuram (1981)
• Ambalavilakku (1980)
• Naayattu (1980)
• Idi Muzhakkam (1980)
• Swantham Enna Padam (1980)
• Jeevitham Oru Gaanam (1979)
• Maalika Paniyunnavar (1979)
• Puthiya Velicham (1979)
• Venalil Oru Mazha (1979)
• Etho Oru Swapnam (1978)
• Mohiniyaattam (1976)
• Thiruvonam (1975)
• Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu (1974)
• Chandrakaantham (1974)

Sreekumaran Thampi, was introduced to the Malayalam film industry by P. Subramaniam as a lyricist in the film Kaatumallika, has produced about 22 films, directed 29, and wrote scripts for 78 films in Malayalam besides writing thousands of songs

References

1. Jump uphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sreekumaran_Thampi

Sara Joseph

Sarah Joseph (born 1946) is a novelist and short story writer in Malayalam. She won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal (Daughters of God the Father). She also received the Vayalar Award for the same novel. Sarah has been at the forefront of the feminist movement in Kerala and is the founder of Manushi (organisation of thinking women). She and Madhavikutty are considered among the leading women writers in Malayalam. She has recently joined the Aam Aadmi Party and is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Thrissur.

Early and personal life

Sarah Joseph was born into a conservative Christian family at Kuriachira in Thrissur city in 1946 to Louis and Kochumariam. She attended the teacher's training course and began her professional career as a school teacher. Later, she received her M.A. inMalayalam and joined the collegiate service in Kerala. She served as a Professor of Malayalam at Sanskrit College, Pattambi. She has since retired from government service and lives at Mulamkunnathukavu in Thrissur district.

Sarah Joseph is also a well-known social activist and was at the forefront of several agitations in Kerala. She was an ardent left-sympathiser but joined the Aam Aadmi Party in January 2014 and has been fielded by the party as a candidate from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 parliament elections.

Literary career

Sarah Joseph's literary career began very early, when she was in high school. Many of her poems appeared in Malayalam weeklies. She was also good at reciting her poems at poets' meets which was much appreciated by poets like Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon andEdasseri Govindan Nair. After a short period of uncertainty she took to fiction and began writing short stories. Her collection of short stories Paapathara is considered a milestone in feminist writing in Malayalam.

She has published a trilogy of novels which includes Aalahayude Penmakkal, Mattathi, and Othappu. Her works are essentially liberalistic and convey the sentiments of various oppressed groups. The novel Othappu is about a woman's yearning for a true understanding of spirituality and her own sexuality. Othappu has been translated into English by Valson Thampu under the title "Othappu: The Scent of the Other Side". Her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal won her three major awards – the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Vayalar Award. In 2011, Sarah won the Muttathu Varkey Award for her collection of short stories titled Papathara.

She has won much critical acclaim for her Ramayana Kathakal, a subversive reading of the Ramayana. An English translation of this work has been published by the Oxford University Press.

Selected works

Short stories

• Manassile Thee Matram (1973)
• Kadinte Sangeetham (1975, anthology of short stories)
• Paapathara
• Oduvilathe Suryakanthi
• Nilavu Nirayunnu
• Puthuramayanam
• Kaadithu Kandaayo Kaanthaa
• Nanmathinmakalude Vriksham (anthology of short stories)

Novels

• Thaikulam
• Aalahayude Penmakkal
• Maattaathi
• Othappu
• Aathi
• Ooru Kaval
• Aalohari Anandam

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (Malayalam: തകഴി ശിവശങ്കര പിള്ള) (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999)^[1] was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam language. He is popularly known as Thakazhi, after his place of birth. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to historic detail. He wrote several novels and over 600 short stories. His most famous works are Kayar (Coir, 1978) and Chemmeen(Prawns, 1956). He was awarded India's highest literary award, the Jnanpith in 1984 for the epic novel Kayar

Born in the village of Thakazhy, in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district of Kerala, he started to write stories when he was a schoolboy. His literary taste was nurtured by his high school headmaster Kainikkara Kumara Pillai (1900–1988) who exposed him to Indian literature. He met Kesari A Balakrishna Pillai (1889–1960) while pursuing his law studies inTiruvanantapuram. He introduced Thakazhi to modern European literature and thought.

His novels and short stories addressed various facets of society in Kerala in the mid-20th century. His novel Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947) is considered a pioneer work in Malayalam realistic novel. The novel portrays three generations of a working class family engaged in Alleppey as scavengers. The novel challenges the rationale of the caste system, that one's profession should depend on pedigree.

His political novel, Randidangazhi (Two Measures, 1948), projected the evils of the feudal system that prevailed in Kerala then, especially in Kuttanad. The film adaptation, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam from a screenplay by Thakazhi himself, received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards in 1958.^[3]

His love epic Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956), which was a departure from his earlier line of realism, met with immense popularity. It told a tragic love story against the backdrop of a fishing village in Alappuzha. The novel and its film adaptation, also titled Chemmeen (1965), earned him national and international fame. Chemmeenwas translated into 19 world languages and adapted into film in 15 countries. Chemmeen won for Thakazhi the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1958. The film adaptation, directed by Ramu Kariat, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1965.^[4]

Despite the popularity of Chemmeen, his novel Kayar (Coir, 1978) is quite widely considered his masterpiece. The novel extends to over 1000 densely printed pages and deals with hundreds of characters over four generations, bringing back to life an axial period (1885–1971) during which feudalism, matriliny, and bonded labour gave way to conjugal life and to universal access to land ownership, and later, to decolonisation and the industrial revolution of the 1960s.

Another famous novel, Enippadikal (Rungs of the Ladder, 1964), traces the careerism of an ambitious bureaucrat whose lust for power and position becomes his own undoing. The novel was adapted into a movie in 1973 by Thoppil Bhasi.^[5] He is also known as Kerala Mopasang.

Novels

• Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947; translation into English, New Delhi, 1975)
• Randidangazhi (Two Measures, 1948; film adaptation, 1958)
• Thendivargam (The Beggar Clan, 1950)
• Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956; film adaptation, 1965; transl. into English, London, 1962, into French, Paris, 1965, etc.)
• Ouseppinte Makkal (The Sons of Ouseph, 1959; transl. into English, New Delhi, 1984)
• Enippadikal (Footsteps, 1964; transl. into English sub titles. Rungs of the Ladder, New Delhi, 1976)
• Anubhavangal Palichakal (Experiences and Failures, 1967; film adaptation, 1971)
• Chukku (Chukku Film adaptation, 1973)
• Kayar (Coir, 1978; transl. into English, New Delhi, 1997)
• Erinhadangal (Extinguishing, 1990)

Short stories

• Teranjedutta Kathakal (Selected Short Stories, 1965)
• Inquilab (1952)
• Pativrata (Chaste Wife, 1946)
• Njan Piranna Nadu (The Land Where I was Born, 1958)
• Kure Kathapatrangal (A Number of Characters, 1980)

See the anthology by K.M. George ed. The Best of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, New Delhi, 1999, including English translations of in the Flood; The Tahsildar's Father; Under the Mango Tree; A Faithful Wife; The Soldier; An Orphan's Burial; The White Baby; The Story of Kalyani; From Karachi; Death of Gandhiji; The Boundary Dispute; the Farmer; The Story of Kettuthali; The Handbag.

Autobiographies

• Ente Balykala Katha (My Childhood Story, 1967)
• Ormayude Theerangalil (On the Shores of Memory, 1985)
• Oru Kuttanadan Katha (A Story of Kuttanad, 1992)
• Jeevitathinte Oru Edu (A Page of Life, 1993)

M. T. Vasudevan Nair

M. T. Vasudevan Nair, one of the most respected Indian writers today, was born on 15th july 1933 in Kudallur, a small village in Palakkad district, Kerala. He rose to eminence through his well-crafted novels and short stories in Malayalam whose romantic poignancy and tender portrayal of the human condition endeared the author to his readers. He captured in subtle detail the pain and anguish that marked the ebb of feudalism in Kerala in many of his novels. A master storyteller, M.T made his way up to be honored with the highest literary award the nation confers on a writer, the Jnanpith in 1995. Prior to that, he had received many awards and accolades like both state and center Sahitya Akademi Awards. He occupied and continues to occupy many important and powerful positions in various literary bodies including the presidentship of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the chairmanship of Tunchan Memorial Trust. The Library of Congress has in its collection sixty-two books, mostly by M.T and some on him. Also, some of them are translations of his works into English. 

Novelist and Film Maker M.T. Vasudevan Nair and journalist N.P. Damodaran during the shashtipoorthy celebrations of Edasseri in Ponani, in the year 1966. M.T. Vasudevan Nair has been the Editor of Mathrubhoomi Weekly for over two decades. 

The essence of his work is self-suffering and its emotional intensity and rhythms of love hold the readers sticking to him.The story of Koodalloor village and Bharathapuzha are the most repeated and favourite themes of M.T. Most of his stories show the wretched state of the Nair families 'Nalukettu', 'Kaalam', 'Asuravithu', 'Manju', 'Randamoozham', 'Vilapayathra', 'Arabipponnu'(written with N.P. Muhammed), 'Pathiravum Pakal Velichavum' are his novels. Around 18 short story collections are in his name of which the most important are 'Olavum Theeravum','Kutyedathi', 'Ninte Ormakku', 'Nashtapetta Dinangal', 'Iruttinte Aatmavu', 'Varikkuzhi', 'Dar-s-Salaam, 'Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam'. He acted as the Chief Editor of the weekly Mathrubhumi and as the editor of the Mathrubhumi periodicals. Won the Jnanapeedam award in 1996. On the 2nd of June 1996 he was bestowed with honourary D.Lit degree by the Calicut University. 'Randamoozham' bagged the Vayalar award in 1985. 'Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam' bagged the Kerala Sahithya Academy award in 1986. 'Kalam' gained the Kendra Sahithya Academy in 1970 and 'Nalukettu' the Kerala Sahithya Academy award. M.T. also gained the Padmarajan prize for short story. The films 'Nirmalyam', 'Bandhanam', 'Varikkuzhi', 'Manju' and 'Kadavu' were written and directed by him. Of these 'Nirmalyam' had gained the national award for best film. The other four movies bagged the state awards. Bagged the award for best screenplay writer several times. 

List of Creations

Novels Nalukettu Bandhanam Manju Kaalam Varikuzhi and Kadavu Screenplays Olavum Theeravum Nirmalyam Murappennu Nagarame Nandi Asuravithu Pakalkkinavu Iruttinte Atmavu Kuttiyedathi Oppol Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha Evideyo Oru Shatru Vellam Panchagni Nakhakshatangal Amritam Gamaya Aaroodam Allkottathil Thaniye Adiyozhukkukal Uyarangalil Rithubhedam Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. AWARDS v Iruttinde Atmavu - winner of President's Silver Medal v Literary Criticism v Parinayam - Best Film - J.C. Daniel Award - 1994 v Kadavu - Best Film - 1991 v Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha - Best Film - 1989 v Purushartham - Best Film - 1987 v Oridathu - Best Film - 1986 v Chithamparam - Best Film - 1985 v Ente Mamattikuttyammakku - Best Film - 1983 v Elippathayam - Best Film - 1981 v Oppol - Best Film 1980 v Nirmaalyam - Best Film - 1973 Olavum Theeravum - Best Film - 1970