Thampi was introduced to the Malayalam film industry in 1966 byP. Subramaniam as a lyricist in the filmKaattumallika. 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 workPrem Nazir Enna Prema Gaanam. He won the National Award for Best Book on Cinema film (Kanakkum Kavitayum) whilst his filmsGaanam andMohiniyattam won Kerala State Awards.[6]
Thampi has written four novels -Kakkathampuraatti,Kuttanad,Kadalum Karalum andNjanoru Kadha Parayam and collections of poemsEngineerayuday Veena,Neelathaamara,En Makan Karayumpol,Sheershakamillatha Kavithakal,Achante Chumbanam,Ammakkoru Tharaattu,Puthralaabham andAvaseshippukal. His collection of 1001 selected songs, titledHridaya 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]. Sreekumaran Thampi's autobiography is titled "Jeevitham Oru Pendulum" (ജീവിതം ഒരു പെൻഡുലം). The book has been recognized with the 47th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Award for literature. Srekumaran Thampi's book 'Karuppum Veluppum Mayavarnnangalum' (കറുപ്പും വെളുപ്പും മായാവർണ്ണങ്ങളും) details his life and experiences in the film industry.
Sreekumaran Thampi was born inHaripad inAlleppey 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 fromSanatana 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 wroteSreekrishnaparunthu (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 the 1930s and 1940s, 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 ofPriyadarshan and later directed some movies in the Telugu film industry, until his sudden death inSecundarabad in March 2009.[13]
2015 - Sreekumaran Thampi was honored with the Kalashree award, the highest civilian award given by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, for his lifetime contribution to light music and drama songs.
2025 - Janananma Mahathma Gandhi Cultural Forum Puraskaram
2025 - Narasimha Jyothi Puraskaram instituted by the Anayadi Temple Bharana Samithi.
2025 - Prathibha Sreshta Award by Rotary Calicut City.
2025 - V. Sambasivan Memorial Award instituted by the V. Sambasivan Samskarika Samithy.
2025 - All India Malayalee Association (AIMA)Akshara Mudra Award 2025, in recognition of the outstanding and comprehensive contributions to Malayalam Literature and Cinema.
Literary Awards
2003 - Revathi Pattathanam Krishnageethi Award for the book of Poems - Achante Chumbanam
2004 - Pravasa Kairali Literary Award ( Baharin) for the book of poems - Achante Chumbanam
2005 - Mahakavi Muloor Poetry Award for the book of poems - Sheershakamillaatha Kavithakal
2008 - Mahakavi Ulloor Award for the book - Achante Chumbanam
2009 - Sree Padmanabha Swami Balasahithya Award - Omanayude Oru Divasam
2019 - Sahitya Kalanidhi Award, the highest honor given by the Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha for the overall contribution in the field of literature and culture.
2022 - Puthoor Award instituted by Unnikrishnan Puthoor Memorial Trust and Foundation.
2022 - Mahakavi Akkitham Puraskaram instituted by Thapasya Kala Sahithya Vedhi in memory of the late poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri.
2023 - Thekkanappan Puraskaram .
2023 - Harivarasanam Award jointly instituted by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the government of Kerala.
2023 - FirstA. R. Raja Raja Varma Puraskaram instituted by the AR Raja Raja Varma Public Library, Prayar.
2023 - Vayalar Award for Sreekumaran Thampi's autobiography,'Jeevitham Oru Pendulum'[17]
2023 - Basheer Balyakalasakhi literary Award instituted by the Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Smaraka Samithi (Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Memorial Committee), Thalayolaparambu.
2024 - Poonthanam Award
2024 - Honored with 2024 Nalapadan Award by Nalappadan Smaraka Samskarika Samithi in memory ofNalapat Narayana Menon for Literary Contributions to Malayalam.
2024 - 'Durga Bharat Samman' award presented by the Governor of West Bengal, C V Ananda Bose.
2025 - Malliyoor Puraskaram presented by the Akhila Bharatha Srimad Bhagavatha Satra Samiti, Guruvayur, in memory of the late Sanskrit scholar and Bhagavatham exponent, Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri.
2025 - Akshara Sooryan Puraskaram
2025 - Shankara Padmam Puraskaram instituted by the Thekke Madhom, which is one of the four ancient South Indian madhoms that propagate the Adwaita philosophy ofAdi Shankara
2025 - Vaishnavam Award for literature instituted by Vaishnavam Trust in memory of popular poet Professor Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri.
2025 - Devarajan Master Award for contributions to Malayalam film music instituted by CETAAT (College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni Association Trivandrum Chapter).[18]
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