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 vice chairman of MACTA. 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 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, 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, an initiative that advocates conservation of energy and environment, is a widely accepted and celebrated song.

Filmography

Notable songs

  • "Thinkal Nilavil"
  • "Munthiri Vave"
  • "Priyathame Shakunthale"
  • "Sundarano Sooriyano"
  • "I Love You December"
  • "Iniyum Kothiyode"
  • "Chembakavallikalil"
  • "Kakka Malayile"
  • "Oru Kinginikattu Vann"
  • "Arthunkale Palliyil"
  • "Kanni Penne"
  • "Machan Ente Mathramalle"
  • "Eetho Priyaragam"
  • "En Premathin Kopam Kanum"
  • "I'm very sorry ഒരു നാലായിരം"
  • "Samavedam Navilunarthiya"
  • "Ishtamanennadhyam Cholliyatharanu"
  • "Pathirulla Nazhoori"
  • "Nila Mazha"
  • "Pazhavangadi Ganeshan"

Published books

Nilavilitheyyam – collection of poems – Paridhi Publications, ThiruvananthapuramEnte Priyageethangal – 1001 selected songs – H&C Publications, ThrissurVerukalude Vedantham – collection of poems – DC Books, KottayamPallotti Mittayi – collection of children's poems – Poorna Publications, Kozhikode.Kanalpennu – collection of poems – Maani Books, AlappuzhaIniyum Kothiyode – selected 130 film songs – 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.
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, and he won the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards three times.
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.
YearAwardsNotes
2025Ramayana Deshiya Puraskarfor his overall contribution to arts and cultural society
2023Poovachal Khader Film AwardBest Lyricist – "Kannil Aake Pookal"
2022Ashan Bharathi Deshiya Sahithya Puraskaramfor his contribution to arts and cultural society
2021URF National Recordfor 4200 songs in three lyrical areas
2020Kedamangalam Sadanandan Kalasagara Puraskaramfor his overall contribution to the writing industry
2019Gurusree AwardMumbai Sree Narayana Samithi for his 25 years of contribution
to art & cultural society
2019Kerala Film Critics Association AwardBest Lyricist – Aanakkallan "Vettam Thattum"
2018PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Awardfor his overall contribution to the writing industry
2017JC Film Awardfor the song "Madhyana Sooryante" from the film Aaradi
2016Kaumudi Teacher Awardfor his contribution to arts and cultural society
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"
2012Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award Lifetime Achievement Award
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 For Best Lyricist
2002EMS AwardBest Lyricist for Drama
1997Nana Gala POL AwardBest Lyrics in Drama
1988Mannam TrophyBest Upcoming Poet