Rajeev Alunkal

Rajeev Alunkal (Malayalam: രാജീവ് ആലുങ്കൽ) is a poet and lyricist in Malayalam. He has written numerous poems and songs. He is the Chairman of Kumaranashan Smarakam, Pallana, Govt of Kerala.[1] Rajeev has penned lyrics for songs in about 130 movies which include Vettom, Mallu Singh, Kanaka Simhaasanam, Oru Marubhoomikkadha, Romans, Sound Thoma, Chattakkari, Angry babies, Aamayum Muyalum, Happy Wedding, Kuttanadan Marpappa and Aanakallan. He has received the Kalasree Award for 2012 from the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy for lifetime achievement as lyricist.[2][3] He won the award at the age of 39; nobody has received this award at so early an age so far in history..[4]

Rajeev Alunkal
Born (1973-08-17) 17 August 1973
Alappuzha, Kerala
OccupationPoet, Lyricist,

Orator,Social Activist,

Chairman Kumaranashan Smarakam, Pallana, Govt of kerela
Years active1997 to Present

Rajeev Alunkal co-operated with music directors of three to four generations, namely V.Dakshinamoorthy, M.K.Arjunan, Raveendran, M.Jayachandran and Gopi Sundar, and most Indian Singers.

During the canonisation ceremony of Mother Theresa at the Vatican, Pope His Holiness Francis released the poem "Theresamma" written by Rajeev 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.[5]

Life and career

Rajeev Alunkal was born to Kandanatt S. Madhavan Nair and Karuvally R. Indira at Kadakkarappally Village in the Cherthala Taluk, Alappuzha District on 17 August 1973 and settled with family in the same place. He lost both his parents and his only brother when he was young. Although he had a miserable childhood and underwent many bitter experiences in life, he achieved the present position in art and literature with God's Grace and hard work.

His first poem was published in 1987 at the age of 14 in the Nair Service Society's (NSS) Service Weekly. That poem won Mannam Trophy for best upcoming poet. He became a professional lyricist in 1994 in Drama through Cherthala Shylaja Theatres. Rajeev Alunkal made his entry into Malayalam cinema as a lyricist for the hit song 'Thinkal Nilavil' in the film Hariharanpillai Happiyanu.[6] Since then, he has written lyrics for 250 songs for more than 125 films, He also has written more than 1000 songs for 250 professional dramas and written 2500 songs for as many as 250 albums. He is a unique writer who has outshone the younger generation of his age.[7]

Rajeev Alunkal penned the Malayalam Song "Sneham Eegamayam" in Music Legend A.R.Rahman's Multi Lingual Album "One Love"[8][9]

Rajeev Alunkal has written 12 songs about O.Chandu Menon's Indhulekha for the dance performance of Dr. Chaithanya Unni at Surya Festival, Thiruvanthapuram. These songs were composed by Pandit Ramesh Narayan[10]

He co-operated with world famous musician and Titanic fame music director John Altman in the Malayalam film 'Aakashagopuram' directed by K.P.Kumaran in 2008[11]

Music Legend M.K.Arjunan Master's last film was "Vellaram Kunnile Vellimeenukal" for which the lyrics were written by Rajeev Alunkal [12]

He won the Kerela State Award (Drama) for Best Lyricist in 2004 and the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards three times 2006, 2012[13] and 2018[14]

He is also a noted orator. [15]

Wife - Deepa Rajeev

Sons - Abhinav Raj, Akash Raj

Noted Songs

Famous poems
  • Ekakikalude geetham
  • Achanum njaanum
  • Theresamma
  • Naaniyamma
  • Aaro oral
  • Yudasinu nandi
  • Kannaki
  • Verukalude Vedantham
  • Anaghashayan
  • Iniyetra naal
  • Enikkammayilla
  • Kunnikkuruvinte maruku etc

As a music director, Rajeev Alunkal has composed music for a few albums, namely Kanni Ayyappan, Sreedharma Shasthavu and the songs have been sung by P Jayachandran, Madhu Balakrishnan and Sujatha. His contributions also include "Kaazhcha" a musical venture for eye donation, Thrissur Pooram theme song 2014, and "Kunjava" a 3D animation film for children. He has also penned lyrics and composed music for the title song of Asianet Channel's mega serial "4 the people". His latest music direction was for the album named "Shakthi Ganapathy" and the songs have been sung by Vaikom Vijayalakshmi.

Rajeev Alunkal received the "Kavyasree Award" for the year 2016 from the Indo-Malaysian Cultural Forum for his outstanding works for the poems "Verukalude Vedantham"[16]

Rajeev Alunkal has been given the Sambashivan Memorial Award for his valuable 20 years of poetic contribution to films, arts & culture.[17]

On 18 June 2018, Rajeev Alunkal received the PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Award organized by the P N Panicker Foundation for his contribution to Malayalam literature overthe last 25 years and also for attracting the younger generation to the wide world of reading by giving speeches at various arts and cultural societies across the state.[18]

Published Books
  • Nilavilitheyyam- A collection of poems (2008)- Paridhi Publications, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Ente Priyageethangal - 1001 Selected songs (2009) - H&C Publications, Thrissur
  • Verukalude Vedantham - A collection of poems (2015) - DC Books, Kottayam

Selected filmography

selected Albums

Total 250 Albums - 2500 songs

Awards and recognitions
YearAwardsNotes
2019Gurusree AwardMumbai Sree Narayana Samithi for his 25 years of contribution to the Art & Cultural Society[20]
2019Kerala Film Critics Association AwardBest Lyricist - Aanakallan "Vettam Thattum"[21][22]
2018PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Awardfor his overall contribution to the writing industry[23]
2017JC Film Awardfor the song "Madhyana Sooryante" from the film "Aaradi"
2016Kaumudi Teacher Awardfor his contribution to Arts and Cultural society[24]
2016Kavyasree AwardBy Indo Malaysian Cultural Forum for "Verukalude Vedantham"
2015Sambashivan Memorial AwardFor 20 years of poetic contribution to Film, Arts & Cultural society
2015Thikkurissi AwardFor Best Lyricist Angry Babies in Love - mele chelode
2012Kerala Film Critics Association AwardsFor Best Lyricist Oru Marubhoomikkadha - Chempaka vallikalil[25]
2012Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy - "Kalasree Puraskaram"Lifetime Achievement Award[26]
2012Rajan P Dev AwardBest Lyricist for Drama
2012S L Puram Sadanandan AwardBest Lyricist for Drama
2012Lohithadas AwardBest Lyricist for Drama
2011Asianet Mini-screen AwardFor Best Lyricist - Serial 'Harichandanam'
2010Kaladarpanam AwardFrom Art & Cultural movement of India
2009Vayalar Ramavarma Film AwardsFor Best Lyricist - Film Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu, Song- 'Iniyum Kothiyode'
2007Jeevan TV AwardBest Lyricist - Album - Eakakikalude Geetham
2007Haripriya AwardBest collection of poems - Nilavili Theyyam
2006Kerala Film Critics Association AwardsFor Best Lyricist Kanaka Simhasanam - Priyathame Shakunthale
2004Kerala State Awards(Drama)For Best Lyricist
2002EMS AwardBest Lyricist for Drama
1997Nana Gala POL

Award

Best Lyrics in Drama
1988Mannam TrophyBest Upcoming poet

References
  1. "Chairman of Kumaranashan Cultural Institution, Kerala". Manorama Online. 18 March 2017.
  2. "Akademi awards announced". The Hindu. 21 February 2013.
  3. "Light Music, Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. "നാലുവരി കൊണ്ട് പാട്ട് ഹിറ്റാകില്ല". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. "Canonisation of Mother Theresa". Manoramaonline. 22 August 2016.
  6. "Short-lived happiness". The Hindu. 27 November 2003.
  7. "നാലുവരി കൊണ്ട് പാട്ട് ഹിറ്റാകില്ല". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  8. "One Love (A. R. Rahman song)", Wikipedia, 13 June 2020, retrieved 13 June 2020
  9. "നാലുവരി കൊണ്ട് പാട്ട് ഹിറ്റാകില്ല". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2018/jan/19/o-chandu-menons-scion-is-all-set-to-bring-alive-indulekha-on-stage-1758147.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "Aakasha Gopuram", Wikipedia, 25 May 2020, retrieved 15 June 2020
  12. "അവസാന അർജുന സംഗീതം രാജീവ് ആലുങ്കലിന്റെ വരികൾക്ക്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  13. "Kerala Film Critics Association Awards", Wikipedia, 1 June 2020, retrieved 15 June 2020
  14. "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  15. admin (16 September 2019). "ഗുരുവിനെ അറിഞ്ഞാൽ വിഭാഗീയ ചിന്തകളിൽ നിന്ന് മോചനം നേടാമെന്നു പ്രശസ്ത ഗാനരചയിതാവ് രാജീവ് ആലുങ്കൽ". Amchi Mumbai News Portal. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. "Kavyasree Award for Rajeev Alunkal". Manorama Online. 18 March 2016.
  17. "Sambashivan Award for Rajeev Alunkal". Manorama Online. 12 October 2015.
  18. "PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Award for Rajeev Alunkal". Manorama Online. 18 June 2018.
  19. "അവസാന അർജുന സംഗീതം രാജീവ് ആലുങ്കലിന്റെ വരികൾക്ക്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  20. "Gurusree Award for Rajiv Alunkal". Manoramaonline. 13 September 2019.
  21. "Kerala Film Critics Association Awards", Wikipedia, 1 June 2020, retrieved 15 June 2020
  22. "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  23. "PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Award". Manoramaonline. 18 June 2018.
  24. "Kaumudi Teacher Award". Manoramaonline. 18 June 2016.
  25. "Kerala Film Critics Association Awards", Wikipedia, 1 June 2020, retrieved 15 June 2020
  26. "Light Music, Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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