Bichu Thirumala was prolific as a lyricist in Malayalam mainstream cinema from the 1970s to the 1990s, penning around 3,000 film songs as well as several non-film and devotional songs.
Lyricist Bichu Thirumala, who penned several popular film songs known for his poetic quality, passed away on Friday. He was 80 years old.
He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital after a cardiac arrest a few days ago and was on ventilator support.
Bichu was prolific as a lyricist in Malayalam mainstream cinema from the 1970s to the 1990s, penning around 3,000 film songs as well as several non-film and devotional songs. However, despite dozens of people writing songs each month, he made sure that most of them stood out for their lyrical quality.
For Bichu, the song was not just something to go along with the tune. Words gave rise to a character and his existence, perhaps because many of his film songs would fit easily into poetry collections.
Born B. Sivasankaran Nair, he showed early signs of his literary leanings by writing a play as a student at the capital’s University College. In 1970, he worked as an assistant to M Krishnan Nair.
During this time one of his poems published in a magazine opened the doors of writing songs in films. bhaj govindam, the first film for which he wrote songs, was never released. However, by 1975, he started receiving many offers. Within a few years, he established himself as one of the most sought after songwriters.
unique imagery
Even his lines, with their simplicity, remained accessible to the common man, he displayed the talent to conjure up unique imaginations through his words, which is evident in the song ‘Neelajalashayathil’. adoptive (1977).
Through his words, Bichu used the same imagery to evoke different emotions and references to different songs. For example, the imagery of the eye was used in ‘Mizhyoram Nananjojukum’ (Manzil Virinja Pookal), ‘Kanum Kannum’ (Angadi), ‘Ayram Kannumai’ (Nokkathadurath Kannumanattu) And Mijiariyathe ,niramo,
He introduced a number of words that are not commonly used in mainstream film song terminology. His extensive reading habits enabled him to produce songs of excellent quality in no time. He wrote some film songs as well as memorable lullabies which are extremely popular among children, be it ‘Olathumbathirunnu’ (Pappayude Swantham Appu), ‘Unnikale Oru Kada Parayam’, ‘Kilukil Pambaram’ (Kilukkam), ‘Unni Arariro’ (avalude ravukali) or ‘Kannadu Kannoram Ni’ (Ente Mammattikuttiyamakku,
Throughout the decades, he constantly updated himself, so that he could appeal to the youth of different generations. In 1984, at the heights of the disco wave, he wrote ‘Oru Madhura Kinavin’.kanmarayathu), while in 1990, he did ‘Unnam Maranu’ (in Harihar Nagar) and in 1999, he did ‘Prayam Nammil’ (niramo), all of which became youth anthems in their time. Bichu also poignantly captured the feeling of longing and nostalgia through songs like ‘Avideyo Kalanju Poya Koumaram’.Power,
He has worked with many musicians from MS Baburaj to AR Rahman, but his longest partnership was probably with Shyam, with whom he worked in 75 films. Notably, his partnership with Ravindran produced some of the evergreen songs, including ‘Ottakambi Naadam’ (thanam vayambum) and ‘Ezhu Swarangalam Thazuki Varunanoru Ganam’ (chirio chirio,
Prize
In songs like ‘Padakali’, he clearly proved to be adept at adapting words to all kinds of situations.Warrior) and ‘Uttipatnam’ (kilukkam) In most such songs, the words also have a rhythm of their own, while remaining meaningful.
Bichu won the 1981 State Film Award for Best Lyricist thanam vayambum And craving and in 1991 Kadinjool Kalyanam, A collection of his poems was published under the title Kalathinte Kanakku Pushthakamo,
Some of his non-film albums, such as Vasant Geetangal In which he worked with KJ Yesudas and Ravindran, he had wide appeal, with songs like ‘Mamankam’ gaining immense popularity.