Pulloottupadathu Bhaskaran alias as P. Bhaskaran (21 April 1924 – 25 February 2007), was an Indian

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

language poet, lyricist of

Malayalam film Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both the mainstream film industry ...

songs, and filmmaker. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed 44 Malayalam feature films and three documentaries, produced six feature films, and acted in several movies. For his overall contributions to Malayalam cinema, he was awarded J. C. Daniel Award by the

Government of Kerala The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...

. He was also a journalist and an

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

employee before becoming active in the film industry. He was well known for the simple use of language in his songs and poems.

Early life

P. Bhaskaran was born on 21 April 1924 in Kodungallur in the erstwhile

Kingdom of Cochin The kingdom of Cochin or the Cochin State, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was a kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It originated in the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until i ...

. His father, Nandyelathu Padmanabha Menon was a poet, lawyer, journalist, and Indian independence activist. His mother was Pulloottupadathu Ammalu Amma. Bhaskaran got his family name, ''Pulloottupadathu'', through matrilineal succession. Bhaskaran was the sixth among the nine children among his parents. His father died when he was studying in the fifth standard. He started to write poems when he was studying in 7th standard. He studied in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. He used to write poems in a local magazine. For taking part in the August Struggle, he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. After getting released, he went to

Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature. It is the nineteenth large ...

and joined '' Deshabhimani Weekly''.

Non-film career

P. Bhaskaran started to write songs for communist stage performers. His songs were banned in the (then) State of Travancore. His first collection of poems was released under the title ''Villali''. During the

Communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...

Rebellion in '' Punnapra-Vayalar'', he wrote a song titled ''Vayalar Garjikkunnu'' (Vayalar Roars) under the pen name ''Ravi''. The song, starting with the lines ''Uyarum Njan Nadake...'' rose to legendary stature in the days to come, during which the song was banned and he was expatriated from the (then) State of Travancore as per the orders of

Dewan ''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the el ...

C. P. Ramaswami Iyer. Then he went to

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

(then

Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

) to join the editorial board of the '' Jayakeralam''. He used to write songs for Akashavani, which helped him secure a job in

Akashvani. In the 1950s, he got associated with the film industry. He quit his job in Akashavani and went to Chennai to start a full-time film career. The lyrics for the theme song of the Malayalam channel Asianet, starting ''Shyama Sundara'' was also written by him.

Film career

P. Bhaskaran's debut as a lyricist was for a Tamil film. He wrote the Malayalam lines for a multi-lingual song in film Apoorva Sagodharargal (1949). The first Malayalam film song for which he wrote lyrics was "Madhumadhuri..." for the film ''Chandrika'' (1950). He worked with the director P. Venu in his films '' Viruthan Shanku'' (1968), '' Virunnukari'' (1969), and ''Ariyapedatha Rahasiyam'' (1981) and produced some evergreen songs. In 1954, Bhaskaran along with Ramu Kariat directed the film '' Neelakkuyil''. The movie is regarded as ushering in social realism in Malayalam cinema. It got the President's silver medal, the first-ever national recognition for a Malayalam film. Two years later, he did his first solo work, titled '' Rarichan Enna Pouran''. It failed at the box office. His films '' Adyakiranangal'' (1964), '' Iruttinte Athmavu'' (1969), and '' Thurakkatha Vathil'' (1971) went on to win

National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...

for various categories. He also acted in several films including ''Neelakkuyil''. He appeared in the film ''Manoradham'' (1978), as a strict family head who has deep faith in

astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that propose that information about human affairs and terrestrial events may be discerned by studying the apparent positions ...

. He also directed several documentaries including the award-winning ''Vallathol''.

Death

Bhaskaran suffered from

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

at the end of his life, and could not recognize anyone who worked with him, a notable example being that the noted singer S. Janaki, who sang many songs written by him. The incident goes like this, as told by Ravi Menon, a veteran journalist and music critic, who accompanied Janaki to Bhaskaran's home: When Janaki sang some of her songs written by Bhaskaran, he accompanied her, but could not remember that they were written by him. The last film for which he wrote lyrics was 'Soudamini', released in 2003. He died on 25 February 2007 at his home in

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...

aged 83. He was cremated with full state honors at Thycaud Santhikavadam crematorium. His biography ''Urangatha Thamburu'' by Perumpuzha Gopalakrishnan was published by Mathrubhumi Books. Bust of P

Awards

Literary awards

* 1980 – Odakkuzhal Award (''Ottakkambiyulla Thamburu'') * 1981 – Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry (''Ottakkambiyulla Thamburu'') * 1992 – Asan Poetry Prize * 1997 – Deviprasadam Trust Award * 2000 – Vallathol Award

Film awards

;

1954 Events January * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...

– President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam ('' Neelakuyil'') * 1958 – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Malayalam ('' Nayaru Pidicha Pulivalu'') ; Kerala State Film Awards * 1970 – Best Lyricist (''Sthree'') * 1978 – Best Documentary ('' Vallathol'') * 1985 – Best Lyricist ('' Kochu Themmadi'') * 1992 – Best Lyricist ('' Venkalam'') * 1994 – Award for Lifetime Achievement (J. C. Daniel Award) ; Asianet Film Awards * 1999 – Lifetime Achievement Award

Partial list of songs he wrote

* "Kayalarikathu..." (Film: '' Neelakkuyil'') * "Kuyiline Thedi..." (Film: '' Neelakkuyil'') * "Ellarum Chollanu..." (Film: '' Neelakkuyil'') * "Engane Nee Marakkum..." (Film: '' Neelakkuyil'') * "Thamasamenthe Varuvaan..." (Film: '' Bhargavi Nilayam'') * "Vannan Vannallo..." (Film: '' Viruthan Shanku'') * "Vaasantha Sadanathin..." (Film: '' Virunnukari'') * "Kanana Poikayil Kalabham..." (Film: ''Ariyapedatha Rahasiyam'') * "Hridayamuruki Nee Karayillenkil..." (Film: '' Karutha Pournami'') * "Innale Mayangumbol.." (Film: '' Anveshichu Kandethiyilla'') * "Kattile Pazhmulam.." (Film: ''Vilakku Vangiya Veena'') * "Alliyambal kadavil..." (Film: ''Rosi'') * "Anjanakkannezhuthi..." (Film: ''Thacholi Othenan'') * "Pranasakhi Nhan..." (Film: '' Pareeksha'') * "Karayunno Puzha Chirikkunno..." (Film: '' Murappennu'') * "Innenikku Pottu Kuthan..." (Film: ''Guruvayoor Kesavan'') * "Karimukilkkattile..." (Film: '' Kallichellamma'') * "Manjani Poonilavu..." (Film: ''Nagarame Nandi'') * "Pathuvelippinu......" (Film: ''Vengalam'') * "Dukhangalkkinnu Njaan..." (Film:''Ambalapravu'') * "Vakacharthu..." (Film: ''Iruttinte Athmavu'') * "Swargagayike Ithile"... (Film: ''Mooladhanam'') * "Nilaavinte Poonkaavil"... (Film: ''Sree Krishnaparunth'') * "Innale Nee Oru Sundara Raagamayen... (film: ''Stree'') * "Iru Kanneer Thullikal Oru Sundariyude" (film" ''Iruttinte Atmavu'') * "Kesadi Padam Thozhnnen Kesava"... (film: " Pakalkkinavu")

Filmography as director and producer

; Feature Films *'' Neelakkuyil'' (with Ramu Karyat) (1954) *'' Rarichan Enna Pauran'' (1956) *'' Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu'' (1958) *'' Bhagya Jathakom'' (1962) *'' Laila Majnu'' (1962) *'' Ammaye Kaanaan'' (1963) *'' Aadyakiranangal'' (1964) *'' Shyamala Chechi'' (1965) *'' Tharavattamma'' (1966) *'' Anweshichu Kandethiyilla'' (1967) *'' Iruttinte Athmavu'' (1967) *'' Pareeksha'' (1967) *'' Lakshaprabhu'' (1968) *'' Aparadhini'' (1968) *'' Manaswini'' (1968) *'' Kaattukurangu'' (1969) *'' Kallichellamma'' (1969) *'' Mooladhanam'' (1969) *'' Ambalapravu'' (1970) *'' Kakkathamburatti'' (1970) *''Sthree'' (1970) *'' Thurakkatha Vathil'' (1970) *'' Kurukshethram'' (1970) *'' Moonu Pookkal'' (1971) *'' Muthassi'' (1971) *'' Navavadhu'' (1971) *'' Ummachu'' (1971) *'' Vilakku Vangiya Veena'' (1971) (Producer & Director) *'' Vithukal'' (1971) *'' Aaradimanninte Janmi'' (1972) (Producer & Director) *'' Sneehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku'' (1972) *'' Raakuyil'' (1973) (Only as Producer) *'' Udayam'' (1973) (Producer & Director) *'' Veendum Prabhatham'' (1973) *'' Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan'' (1974) *'' Oru Pidi Ari'' (1974) *'' Thacholi Marumakan Chandu'' (1974) (Producer & Director) *'' Chumaduthangi'' (1975) *'' Mattoru Seetha'' (1975) *'' Appooppan'' (1976) *'' Vazhivilakku'' (1976) *'' Sreemad Bhagavad Geetha'' (1977) (Producer & Director) *'' Jagadguru Aadisankaran'' (1977) (Producer & Director) *'' Vilakkum Velichavum'' (1978) *'' Enikku Vishakunnu'' (1983) ; Documentaries *''Guruvayoor Mahatmyam'' (1984) *''History of Malayalam Cinema'' − 2 parts (1989) *'' Vallathol'' (Year?) ; Television *'' Vaiki Vanna Vazhi'' (1990) (T. V. Film) *'' Vaitharani'' (1991) (T.V. Serial)

As an actor

*'' Ezhamkadalinakkare'' (1979) *'' Pichipoo'' (1978) *'' Manoradham'' (1978) *'' Vilakkum Velichavum'' (1978) *'' Neelakuyil'' (1954) *'' Manasakshi'' (1954) *'' Thiramala'' (1953)

Notes

References

P Bhaskaran passes awayP Bhaskaran

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhaskaran, P. Film directors from Thrissur Malayalam film directors 1924 births 2007 deaths Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in India Male actors from Thrissur People from Thrissur district Screenwriters from Kochi Malayalam-language lyricists Malayalam poets Male actors in Malayalam cinema Indian male film actors Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala State Film Award winners All India Radio people 20th-century Indian composers 20th-century Indian male actors Indian male screenwriters Indian filmmakers 20th-century Indian poets Indian lyricists Indian male composers 20th-century Indian male writers Directors who won the Best Film on National Integration National Film Award 20th-century Indian male musicians Odia film directors 20th-century Indian screenwriters J. C. Daniel Award winners