Thampi was introduced to the Malayalam film industry in 1966 by P. Subramaniam as a lyricist in the film Kaattumallika. He has produced 25 films, directed 29, and written scripts for 85 films in Malayalam besides writing thousands of songs. He is also the author of the well-known literary work Prem Nazir Enna Prema Gaanam. He won the National Award for Best Book on Cinema film (Kanakkum Kavitayum) whilst his films Gaanam and Mohiniyattam won Kerala State Awards.[6]
He is a songwriter, screenplay writer, film producer, director and musician, but says he is more of a lyricist than a filmmaker.[7] His songs include "Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakaantham", "Hridayasarasile pranayapushpame" and "Swanthamenna padathinendhartham". His films Chandrakantham, Gaanam, Mohiniyattam, Maalika Paniyunnavar, Jeevitham Oru Gaanam and Ambalavilakku became artistic successes.[3] His successful box office films include Naayattu, Aakramanam and Idi Muzhakkam.[citation needed]
Thampi has written four novels - Kakkathampuraatti, Kuttanad, Kadalum Karalum and Njanoru Kadha Parayam and collections of poems Engineerayuday Veena, Neelathaamara, En Makan Karayumpol, Sheershakamillatha Kavithakal, Achante Chumbanam, Ammakkoru Tharaattu. Puthralaabham and Avaseshippukal. His collection of 1001 selected songs, titled Hridaya Sarassu, had three editions in two years. Now going to its sixth Edition. His selected Poems are published in Hindi with the title "Sreekumaran Thampi Ki Kavithayem".[citation needed]
Personal lifeedit
Sreekumaran Thampi was born in Haripad in Alleppey district on 16 March 1940 to Kalarikkal Krishna Pillai and Karimpalayathu Bhavaniamma Thangachi (related to Haripattu Koikkal, the Royal House).[8] He is a graduate in mathematics from Sanatana Dharma College,Alappuzha and civil engineer, graduated from Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai and Govt. Engineering College, Thrissur.[9]
His siblings are the novelist late P. Vasudevan Thampi[10] who wrote Sreekrishnaparinthu (which became a hit Malayalam film), late Advocate P. Gopalakrishnan Thampi, the former Director General of Prosecutions (Kerala), and former Chairman of Kerala Bar Council, Thulasibhai Thankachi and Prasannavadanan Thampi, former Vice President of Oracle Financial Systems Software Ltd.[11]
Thampi is married to Rajeswari, the daughter of Vaikom M. P.Mani, a popular drama actor and singer of 1930's and 1940's, and they have a daughter (Kavitha). His wife and daughter have also dabbled in the arts.[12] He also had a son, Rajkumaran Thampi (also known as Raj Aditya) was an erstwhile associate of Priyadarshan and later directed some movies in the Telugu film industry, until his sudden death in Secundarabad in March 2009.[13] According to Thampi, he could not sleep after his son's death without the help of sleeping pills.
^C. Nair, Radhika (10 December 2012). "ഹൃദയസരസ്സിലെ കാവ്യപുഷ്പം". Mangalam Publications (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 17 October 2014.
^ abVenkiteswaran, C. S. (17 May 2018). "Sreekumaran Thampi, the mark of a master". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
^"Entertainment Thiruvananthapuram / Interview : Guided by principles". The Hindu. 23 December 2005. Retrieved 14 July 2019.[dead link]
^Bureau, Kerala (29 March 2018). "J.C. Daniel Award for Sreekumaran Thampi". The Hindu.
^"Sreekumaran Thampi gets Prem Nazir award". The Times of India. 1 January 2002. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
^ abcdef"Sreekumaran Thampi wins this year's Padmaprabha Literary Award". English.mathrubhumi.com. 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
^Kadha Ithu Vare. Retrieved 25 September 2023 – via YouTube.
^"Guided by principles". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 23 December 2005. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
^"P. V. Thampi - Renowned Malayalam novelist". haripad.in. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
^"P. G. Thampi - Renowned Advocate and novelist". haripad.in. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
^"Sreekumaran Thampi - Film Director, Lyricist, Film Producer, Script Writer". January 2018.
^"Telugu Film Director Raj Aditya Thambi Found Dead in Hotel Room | TopNews".
^"Veteran Malayalam film personality Sreekumaran Thampi honoured with JC Daniel award". The Economic Times. Indo-Asian News Service. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
^"Arjunan Master award for Sreekumaran Thampi". The New Indian Express. 7 February 2021. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021.