Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for poet and lyricist S Ramesan Nair for his collection of poems Guru Pournami

S Ramesan Nair, the renowned poet and popular lyricist in the Malayalam film industry has bagged the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of poems, Guru Pournami, based on the life and thoughts of one of the stalwarts of social reforms in Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru. The Jury consisting of emminent writers in Malayalam such as M Mukundan, Dr MM Badheer and C Radhakrishnan selected Ramesan Nair’s work for the award. Guru Pournami is an extended collection of 25 Malayalam poems on the life and works of Sree Narayana Guru, published as audio album of poems, recited by Kavalam Sreekumar. The book is published by Sreebooks Kochi.

Born on May 3, 1948 in Kumarapuram in the present day Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu, Ramesan Nair is better known in Kerala for his lyrics he has written for well over 450 Malayalam films, though he had written several poems as well. After graduating in economics in 1966, Ramesan Nair completed his post graduation in Malayalam Literature in 1972. After that he briefly worked as Editor in All India Radio in 1975, later he quit the job and took to full time writing. Sooryahridayam brought him laurels before he ventured into the lyrics writing for the Malayalam movies. From 1985, Ramesan Nair started writing lyrics for Malayalam movies and ever since he has never looked back. Including Vennikulam Smaraka Award, instituted y the Thadiyoor Dakshia Samsarika Vedi, Ramesan Nair had bagged several accolades.

In 1985, Ramesan Nair arrived into the Malayalam song writing with a bang, where he penned as many as eleven songs for a slew of movies in a single year. Starting of with Paathamudyam, where he wrote lyrics for four songs such as Kalyaanapenninu, Poonkaavil Paadi, Mangalam Paadunna and Thumbikale Jeevanil Amruthavumaayi, rendered by KJ Yesudas and KS Chithra, were all instant hits. In Rangam, he wrote Vanashree Mukham, Swaathi Hridya, Sarggathapassilaakum Nimisham, Aaraarum Ariyaathe and Thamburaan Raatinu were also popular. In 1985, Ramesan Nair continued his writing spree adding one more film to his kitty, Idanilangal, where he wrote lyrics for two songs such as Indrachaapathin Nyaanahzhinju and Vayanadan manjalinu and both songs were received well. The following year saw Ramesan Nair penning as many as 15 songs in different films. Notable songs were for the film Hello my Dear Wrong Number, where he wrote lyrics for two songs such as Nee Nee Neeyente Jeevan and Neeyen Kinaavo and both were hit songs. In Sree Narayana Guru, he wrote lyrics for two songs, Udayakunkumam and Vaazhka Vaazhka rendered by M Balamuralikrisha and Dr P Dilip Kumar. There were several hits after that including Vallithiruman in Raakkuyilin Raagasadasil, Poomukhavaatilil also in the same film were popular songs. Team The Indian.News wishes the poet all success.