Bhaskaran Sivasankaran Nair, popularly known as Bichu Thirumala (13 February 1942 – 26 November 2021), was an Indian lyricist and poet.[1][2] He is known for creating the style of arranging beautiful words in Malayalam film songs. In Malayalam cinema, Bichu Thirumala led the group of lyricists who wrote songs for readymade tunes. He won the Kerala State Film Award for the best lyricist two times. His prolific Malayalam film repertoire includes work with eminent composers like Shyam, G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamurthy, M.S. Baburaj, K. Raghavan, M.S. Viswanathan, A.T. Ummer, K.J. Joy, Shankar–Ganesh, Jaya Vijaya, Raveendran, Jerry Amaldev, Johnson, Ouseppachan, Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman and the list goes on.

Bichu Thirumala
Born
B. Sivasankaran Nair

(1942-02-13)13 February 1942
Died26 November 2021(2021-11-26) (aged 79)
Occupations
  • Lyricist
  • poet
Years active1972–2021
SpousePrasanna Kumari
ChildrenSuman Bichu (Music Director)
Awards
  • Kerala State Film Award
  • Critics Award
  • Film Fans Award
  • Stallion International Award
  • Vamadevan Award
  • Sree Chithirathirunal Award
  • P.Bhaskaran Award

Life and career edit

Bichu Thirumala was born to C.G. Bhaskaran Nair and Sasthamangalam Pattanikkunnu Veettil Parukutty Amma in Thiruvananthapuram. He was the eldest child of his parents. His siblings are the late Balagopalan (who died at a young age, and on whose remembrance he wrote the all time people's favourite "Olathumbathirunnu" song from the movie Pappayude Swantham Appoos), Susheela Devi (singer), Vijayakumar, Dr. Chandra, Shyama, Darshan Raman (music director) and Jayalekshmi. He graduated with a BA from University College Thiruvananthapuram. He was married to Prasanna and they have a son named Suman Bichu (music director).[3]

Bichu Thirumala debuted with the Malayalam Movie Bhaja Govindam in 1972, which was directed by CRK Nair and with Jaya Vijaya as the music composer .After his modest beginning, Thirumala went on to become one of the most successful Malayalam lyricists and wrote songs for such notable music directors as Shyam, A. T. Ummer, Raveendran, G. Devarajan, and Ilaiyaraaja. In the 1970s he teamed up with music director A. T. Ummer to compose many sweet melodies. Bichu Thirumala penned the lines for AR Rahman's one and only Malayalam music for film, Yodha and the most popular TV Commercial Jingle "Manam Pole Mangalyam" for REMANIKA. His first song "Brahma Muhoorthathil" became popular as a "Lalitha ganam" or light song since the movie Bhaja Govindam did not see the light of the day. Radio Ceylon used to air the song in the early-1970s.

Death edit

Bichu Thirumala, whose career stalled after a massive accident at his home in 1994, was admitted to S. K. hospital in Thiruvananthapuram with breathing problems and had suffered a heart attack as well. He had been on ventilator support after his condition worsened, and died on 26 November 2021 at the age of 79.[4][5][6][7][8] His dead body was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam crematorium on the same day.[9] He was survived by his wife Prasanna (retired finance officer, KWA) and son Suman Bichu (music director).

Awards edit

Kerala State Film Award For Best Lyicist
Year Movie Song Composer
1981 Thrishna - Shyam
Thenum Vayampum - Raveendran
1991 Kadinjool Kalyanam

Other Awards

  • Critics Award
  • Film Fans Award
  • Stallion International Award
  • Vamadevan Award
  • Sree Chithirathirunal Award
  • P.Bhaskaran Award

References edit

  1. ^ ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (26 November 2021). "മെലഡികളുടെ തിരുമല | Madhyamam". Madhyamam (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Bichu Thiruamala: The writer of dreams". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  3. ^ "CiniDiary". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  4. ^ Praveen, S. R. (26 November 2021). "Malayalam lyricist Bichu Thirumala passes away". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ "ബിച്ചു തിരുമല അന്തരിച്ചു; ഈണമൂറും വരികളിൽ പാട്ടുനൂലിഴ കോർത്ത കവി". Malayala Manorama (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  6. ^ കാവ്, സ്വീറ്റി. "നീര്‍പ്പോളകളുടെ ലാളനയില്‍ നീലത്താമര വിരിയിച്ച അനശ്വരനായ കവി". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Noted Malayalam lyricist Bichu Thirumala no more". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Malayalam lyricist Bichu Thirumala passes away at 79 | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  9. ^ "ഭാവഗാനങ്ങളുടെ സ്രഷ്ടാവിന് വിട; ‌ശാന്തികവാടത്തിൽ അന്ത്യനിദ്ര". Manorama News. Retrieved 27 November 2021.

External links edit