S. Ramesan Nair (3 May 1948 – 18 June 2021) was an Indian lyricist and poet who worked predominantly in the Malayalam film industry. Over his career he wrote songs for over 170 films and over 3,000 devotional songs outside of the films. He debuted with the movie Pathamudhayam in 1985. He was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2010 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 for his collection of poems Gurupournami.
S. Ramesan Nair | |
|---|---|
 S. Ramesan Nair in 2014 | |
| Born | 3 May 1948 Kumarapuram, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Dominion of India |
| Died | 18 June 2021 (aged 73) Kerala, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Lyricist, author, poet, translator |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Poet and lyricist |
| Years active | 1985–2021 |
| Notable awards |
|
| Spouse | P. Rema |
| Children | Manu Ramesan |
Early life edit
S. Rameshan Nair was born on 3 May 1948 in a village named Kumarapuram in the present-day Kanyakumari district, in Tamil Nadu, as the son of late Shadananan Thampi and late Parvathi Amma.[1] Being born in an area with high Tamil influence, he was equally fluent in both Malayalam and Tamil. Due to the intense passion towards poetry, he dropped his admission for MBBS and graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1966 and later completed his post graduation in Malayalam Literature in 1972. He worked as a sub editor in Kerala Bhasha Institute and also worked with the All India Radio as a producer.[1]
Career edit
Nair was a playwright, lyricist, translator and commentator of classical Indian literature such as the Tamil works Chalappathikaram and Tirukkuṟaḷ. He achieved wide appreciations as a poet through works like Sooryahridayam, before starting his accomplished career as film lyricist in 1985 by penning songs for the movie Pathamudayam. He wrote songs for 170 films and 3,000 devotional tracks.[2]
Filmography edit
Nair made his entry into Malayalam films by writing songs for Rangam in 1985 for director I.V. Sasi. Through his career he went on to write songs for over 170 films working for composers including M. G. Radhakrishnan, Ouseppachan, Berny-Ignatius, Raveendran, Vidyasagar and Shyam.[3]
Some of the popular movies for which he wrote songs included Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom, Aadyathe Kanmani, Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava, 19 April, Aniyathipraavu, and Raakuyilin Raagasadassil.[3] His notable songs in these movies included Aavaniponnunjal, Mayilay Parannuva, Manju peyyana, Aniyathipravinu, Onnanam Kunninmel, Ambadi Payyukal Meyyum, Thei Oru Thenavayal and Oru Rajamalli.[3] His last film as lyricist was My dear Machans in 2021.
Awards and honours edit
He was awarded the sixth Vennikkulam Smaraka Award instituted by the Thadiyoor Dakshina Samskarika Vedhi.[4] Ramesan Nair was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 for the work Guru Pournami.[5][6] He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for lifetime achievement in 2010.[7] He also received Edasseri Award,Venmani literature award,Poonthanam Jnanappana Award and Mahakavi Ulloor Memorial Literary Award and Asan Memorial Poetry Prize.[8][9] He is also a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in Light Music category (2015).[10]
Personal life edit
Nair was married to his wife P. Rama, a school teacher. The couple had a son, Manu Ramesan, a music composer in the Malayalam movie industry. Nair died at the age of 73 on 18 June 2021, at Lakshmi hospital in Ernakulam, due to COVID-19[11][1][12][6] related complications. He was diagnosed earlier with cancer, and also suffered from many other illnesses.[3] He was cremated with full state honours on the next day. He is survived by his wife Rema, son Manu and granddaughter Mayika.
References edit
- ^ a b c "കവിയും ഗാനരചയിതാവുമായ എസ്.രമേശൻ നായർ അന്തരിച്ചു". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ Kolappan, B. (8 December 2018). "Tamil Nadu-born writer wins Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam work" Archived 8 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Veteran Malayalam poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair passes away at 73". The Indian Express. 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "Vennikkulam award for Ramesan Nair". The Hindu. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ Kolappan, B. (8 December 2018). "Tamil Nadu-born writer wins Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam work" Archived 8 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b "എസ്. രമേശന് നായര് അന്തരിച്ചു". DoolNews. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Poet Ramesan Nair dead". The Hindu. 18 June 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (18 June 2021). "ഗാനരചയിതാവ് എസ്. രമേശന് നായര് അന്തരിച്ചു | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Malayalam poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair no more - Times of India". The Times of India. 19 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowships and Awards". Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair passes away". Mathrubhumi. 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "കവിയും ഗാനരചയിതാവുമായ എസ് രമേശൻ നായർ അന്തരിച്ചു". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.