Sreekumaran Thampi (ശ്രീകുമാരന്‍ തമ്പി)

Sreekumaran Thampi (ശ്രീകുമാരന്‍ തമ്പി), born 16 March 1940 in Haripad), Alleppey district is a lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He is a civil engineer by education.

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 as Chandrikayilaliyunna 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
Sreekumaran Thampi's wife Raji and daughter Kavitha have also dabbled in arts. His son, Rajkumar 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.

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)