Sreekumaran Thampi

Film career

Thampi was introduced to the Malayalam film industry in 1966 by P. Subramaniam as a lyricist in the film Kaattumallika. He has produced 25 films, directed 29, and written scripts for 85 films in Malayalam besides writing the lyrics for thousands of songs. He is also the author of the well-known literary work Prem Nazir Enna Prema Gaanam. He won the National Award for Best Book on Cinema film (Kanakkum Kavitayum) whilst his films Gaanam and Mohiniyattam won Kerala State Awards.

He is a songwriter, screenplay writer, film producer, director and musician, but says he is more of a lyricist than a filmmaker. His songs include "Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakaantham", "Hridayasarasile pranayapushpame" and "Swanthamenna padathinendhartham". His films Chandrakantham, Gaanam, Mohiniyattam, Maalika Paniyunnavar, Jeevitham Oru Gaanam and Ambalavilakku became artistic successes. His successful box office films include Naayattu, Aakramanam and Idi Muzhakkam.

Thampi has written four novels - Kakkathampuraatti, Kuttanad, Kadalum Karalum and Njanoru Kadha Parayam and collections of poems Engineerayuday Veena, Neelathaamara, En Makan Karayumpol, Sheershakamillatha Kavithakal, Achante Chumbanam, Ammakkoru Tharaattu, Puthralaabham and Avaseshippukal. His collection of 1001 selected songs, titled Hridaya Sarassu, had three editions in two years. Now going to its sixth edition. His selected poems have been published in Hindi with the title "Sreekumaran Thampi Ki Kavithayem". Thampi's autobiography is titled "Jeevitham Oru Pendulum" (ജീവിതം ഒരു പെൻഡുലം). The book has been recognized with the 47th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Award for literature. Thampi's book 'Karuppum Veluppum Mayavarnnangalum' (കറുപ്പും വെളുപ്പും മായാവർണ്ണങ്ങളും) details his life and experiences in the film industry.

Personal life

Sreekumaran Thampi was born in Haripad in Alleppey district on 16 March 1940 to Kalarikkal Krishna Pillai and Karimpalayathu Bhavaniamma Thangachi (related to Haripattu Koikkal, the Royal House). He is a graduate in mathematics from Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha and civil engineer, graduated from Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai and Govt. Engineering College, Thrissur.

His siblings are the late novelist P. Vasudevan Thampi who wrote Sreekrishnaparunthu (which became a hit Malayalam film), late Advocate P. Gopalakrishnan Thampi, the former director general of prosecutions (Kerala), and former chairman of Kerala Bar Council, Thulasibhai Thankachi and Prasannavadanan Thampi, former vice president of Oracle Financial Systems Software Ltd.

Thampi is married to Rajeswari, the daughter of Vaikom M. P.Mani, a popular drama actor and singer of the 1930s and 1940s, and they have a daughter (Kavitha). His wife and daughter have also dabbled in the arts. He also had a son, Rajkumaran Thampi (also known as Raj Aditya), who was an erstwhile associate of Priyadarshan and later directed some Telugu movies, until his sudden death in Secundarabad in March 2009.

Awards

National Film Awards

1989 - Best Book on Cinema – Cinema, Kannakkum Kavithayum

Kerala State Film Awards

1971 - Best Lyricist – Vilakku Vangiya Veena & Lankadahanam

1976 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – Mohiniyattam

1981 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – Gaanam

2011 - Best Lyricist – Naayika

2017 - J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala's highest award for contributions to Malayalam Cinema.

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award

2015 - Sreekumaran Thampi was honored with the Kalashree award, the highest civilian award given by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, for his lifetime contribution to light music and drama songs.

2022 - Best Lyricist Award (KPAC’s play ‘Aparajithar’)

Filmfare Award South

1976 - Best Director - Malayalam – Mohiniyattam

Other Film Awards

1974 - Kerala Film Goers Award (Film - Chandrakantham)

1976 - Kerala Film Fans Award (Film - Mohiniyattam)

1976 - Madras Film Fans Award (Film - Mohiniyattam)