Rajeev Alunkal

Rajeev Alunkal is an Indian poet, lyricist, music director and orator. Now, He is the member of Central Film Censor Board. He is the former chairman of Kumaranashan Smarakam, Pallana, Govt of Kerala. He is best known for writing lyrics on romantic and philosophical themes. He has written poems and songs. He has penned lyrics for over 350 songs in about 130 movies, including Vettom, Mallu Singh, Kanaka Simhasanam, Oru Marubhoomikkadha, Romans, Sound Thoma, Chattakkari, Nadodimannan, Aamayum Muyalum, Happy Wedding, Kuttanadan Marpappa, and Aanakkallan. He has also written more than 1000 songs for 250 professional dramas and 2800 songs for 280 albums.

Life and career

Alunkal was born to the late Kandanatt S. Madhavan Nair and the late Karuvally R. Indira hailing from Kadakkarappally Village in the Cherthala Taluk of Alappuzha District, Kerala State on 17 August 1973 and settled in the same place.

Alunkal published his first poem in 1987 at the age of 14 in the Nair Service Society's (NSS) Service Weekly. The poem won the Mannam Trophy for best upcoming poet. He became a professional lyricist in 1994 in drama through Cherthala Shylaja Theatres. He made his debut in Malayalam film industry in the 2003 movie Hariharanpillai Happiyanu. The music was composed by Stephen Devassy and the song "Thinkal Nilavil" became iconic.

In 2016, Alunkal represented India at the South Asian Poet Meet held in Malaysia. On the occasion, he recited his poem that holds the principles of humanity as its core, titled "Verukalude Vedhantham".

For about a quarter of a century, he has been to many universities, colleges and schools in India, interacting with scholars and intellectuals. As a motivational speaker, he has delivered about 1000 speeches in and outside India, on topics such as cultural diversity and heritage of India, and advocating for the importance of languages and art.

Alunkal has written and tuned many patriotic songs, group songs, light music songs, nursery rhymes (kids' songs), and lullabies, which have crores of viewers on YouTube.

Another arena is devotional songs for village temples. Thousand of temple managements have used Alunkal's devotional song for their first song venture.

His poems are now part of the Kerala syllabus in the school college level classes.

The composition by Alunkal for Energy Management Center (EMC), an initiative that advocates conservation of energy and environment, is a widely accepted and celebrated song.

Filmography

Notable songs

  • "Thinkal Nilavil" (Hariharanpilla Happiyanu)
  • "Munthiri Vave" (Hariharanpilla Happiyanu)
  • "Priyathame Shakunthale" (Kanakasimhasanam)
  • "Sundarano Sooriyano" (Kanakasimhasanam)
  • "I Love You December" (Vettam)
  • "Iniyum Kothiyode" (Bharya Onn Makkal Moonu)
  • "Chembakavallikalil" (Arabeem Ottakavum)
  • "Kakka Malayile" (Mallu Singh)
  • "Oru Kinginikattu Vann" (Mallu Singhv)
  • "Arthunkale Palliyil" (Romans)
  • "Kanni Penne" (Sound Thoma)
  • "Machan Ente Mathramalle" (Nadodimannan)
  • "Eetho Priyaragam" (Aarya)
  • "En Premathin Kopam Kanum" (Aarya)
  • "I'm very sorry ഒരു നാലായിരം" (പ്രണയമായി)
  • "Samavedam Navilunarthiya" (album - Swami Ayyappan - MG Sreekumar)
  • "Ishtamanennadhyam Cholliyatharanu" (album - Ishtamanu)
  • "Pathirulla Nazhoori" (album - Chithravasantham - P Jayachandran)
  • "Nila Mazha" (album - Heart Beats)
  • "Pazhavangadi Ganeshan" (album - Ohm Gananadham - KJ Yesudas)

Published books

  • Nilavilitheyyam – collection of poems (2008) – Paridhi Publications, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Ente Priyageethangal – 1001 selected songs (2009) – H&C Publications, Thrissur
  • Verukalude Vedantham – collection of poems (2015) – DC Books, Kottayam
  • Pallotti Mittayi – collection of children's poems (2021) – Poorna Publications, Kozhikode.
  • Kanalpennu – collection of poems (2022) – Maani Books, Alappuzha
  • Iniyum Kothiyode – selected 130 film songs (2023) – Lipi Publications, Kozhikode

Poems

  • "Ekakikalude geetham"
  • "Achanum Njaanum"
  • "Theresamma"
  • "Naaniyamma"
  • "Aaro oral"
  • "Enik Ammayilla"
  • "Kannaki"
  • "Verukalude Vedantham"
  • "Anaghashayan"
  • "Iniyetranaal"
  • "Enikkammayilla"
  • "Kanalpennu"
  • "Gangashankaram"

Awards and recognition

He won an URF National Record in 2021 for writing 4200 songs in three lyrics areas (Drama, Album, and Cinema).

He received a Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 2012 for lifetime achievement as a lyricist.

Alunkal co-operated with music directors of three to four generations, including V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. K. Arjunan, A. R. Rahman, Raveendran, M. Jayachandran and Gopi Sundar. He has also worked with many Indian singers.

He won the Kerala State Award for Best Lyricist in 2004 (Drama), and he won the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards three times (in 2006, 2012 and 2018).

Alunkal worked with A R Rahman for the album One Love which acted to ensure the position of the Taj Mahal among the seven wonders of the world, on the behalf of the government of India.

During the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa at the Vatican, Pope Francis released the poem "Theresamma" written by Alunkal, and the Indian pop singer Usha Uthup rendered her voice for the same. This poem has also been translated into other languages including English, Bengali, Albanian, Latin and Tamil.

References

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