Sreekumaran Thampi (born 16 March 1940) is an Indian lyricist, music director, director, producer and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He also writes poetry and is a recipient of the Vallathol Award. In 2017, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.
Film career 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 the lyrics for 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.
He is a songwriter, screenplay writer, film producer, director and musician, but says he is more of a lyricist than a filmmaker. 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. His successful box office films include Naayattu, Aakramanam and Idi Muzhakkam.
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 have been published in Hindi with the title "Sreekumaran Thampi Ki Kavithayem". 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. Thampi's book 'Karuppum Veluppum Mayavarnnangalum' (കറുപ്പും വെളുപ്പും മായാവർണ്ണങ്ങളും) details his life and experiences in the film industry.
Personal life 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). 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.
His siblings are the late novelist P. Vasudevan Thampi who wrote Sreekrishnaparunthu (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.
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. He also had a son, Rajkumaran Thampi (also known as Raj Aditya), who was an erstwhile associate of Priyadarshan and later directed some Telugu movies, until his sudden death in Secundarabad in March 2009.
Awards
National Film Awards 1989 - Best Book on Cinema – Cinema, Kannakkum Kavithayum
Kerala State Film Awards
1971 - Best Lyricist – Vilakku Vangiya Veena & Lankadahanam 1976 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – Mohiniyattam 1981 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – Gaanam 2011 - Best Lyricist – Naayika 2017 - J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala's highest award for contributions to Malayalam Cinema.
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 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. 2022 - Best Lyricist Award (KPAC’s play ‘Aparajithar’) Filmfare Award South 1976 - Best Director - Malayalam – Mohiniyattam
Other Film Awards
1974 - Kerala Film Goers Award (Film - Chandrakantham) 1976 - Kerala Film Fans Award (Film - Mohiniyattam) 1976 - Madras Film Fans Award (Film - Mohiniyattam) 1976 - Cinema Masika Trophy (Film - Mohiniyattam) 1981 - Madras Film Fans Special Award (Film - Gaanam) 1996 - Government of Kerala Veteran Cine Artists Award Other Lifetime Achievement Awards 2002 - Prem Nazir Foundation Award - Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 - Dubai Priyadarshini's Lifetime Achievement Award 2007 - Ragalaya (Mumbai) Lifetime Achievement in Film Music 2009 - PC Sukumaran Nair Smaraka Samithi Puraskaram 2009 - Swathi Lifetime Achievement Award 2010 - Sangam Kala Group, New Delhi Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 - G. Devarajan Master Puraskaaram (Devadaru) 2012 - U.A.E Devarajan Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 - Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema 2012 - A. P. Udhayabhanu Memorial Award (VARADA Award) for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema, Television and Literature 2012 - Surya TV (SUN NETWORK) Living Legend Award in Indian Cinema 2012 - Parvathi Padmam Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema and Literature 2013 - Amrita TV Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema 2014 - Radio Mirchi (Times Of India) Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film Music 2014 - ACV (Asianet Cable Vision) Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema 2014 - Vayalar Rama Varma Sangeetha Puraskaram instituted by Vayalar Samskaarika Vedi - Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 - Thilakan Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema 2014 - Parabrahma Chaithanya Award for Lifetime Achievement In Cinema and Literature 2015 - V. Dakshinamoorthy Sangeetha Sumeru Award instituted by Voice Foundation, Vaikkom 2015 - Kuwait KALA (Kerala Arts Lovers Association) V Sambasivan Award 2015 - Samoothiri Raja's Mekkottu Devi Award 2015 - Mannam Prathibha Puraskaaram - Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 - Souparnika Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 - Mayooram Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 - Visharad Dakshinamoorthy Puraskaaram - Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 - Sarath Chandra Marate Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film Music 2015 - FOMA Award ( Forum of Media People of Mumbai ) Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema and Literature. 2016 - Bharathan Trust's Bharathamudra Award - Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 - Samoothiri Raja's Kodikkunnu Devi Award for Lifetime Achievement 2016 - Devarajan Skakthigadha Award - Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 - Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award - Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 - Thiruvallam Parashurama Swami Temple Award 2017 - Sangeetha Saparya Award instituted by Sangeethika, Thiruvananthapuram - Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 - Payyannur Thapasya School of Music Award 2017 - Bheeshmacharya Puraskaaram instituted by J.C.I. Kodungalloor 2017 - G. Devarajan Master Navathi Award - Lifetime Achievement in Film Music 2017 - Rakendu Sangeetha Puraskaram - Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 - Act Award 2018 - Swathi Thirunal Sangeethavedi Gurusreshta Puraskaaram - Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 - Janmabhumi Award - Legends of India - Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 - Sathyan National Award instituted by Sathyan Foundation - Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 - Asianet Film Awards - Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 - Thiruvairurappan Puraskaram 2020 - Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Amba Puraskaram 2020 - First K. Raghavan Master Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievenment in Cinema 2021 - First Arjunan Master Award – Arjunopaharam for his contributions to Malayalam film industry. 2021 - Sathkarma Puraskaram by Sathkarma Charitable Organisation, Kollam. 2022 - Ravindra Puraskaram instituted by Ravindran Master Memorial Trust. 2024 - Shiva Pathmam Puraskaram 2024 - The Legend of Honour Award instituted by the Malayalam Cine Technicians' Association (MACTA). 2024 - Panchami Devi Puraskaram. 2024 - P Bhaskaran Smaraka Puraskaram by Navabhavana Charitable Trust. 2025 - Bharathiya Vidya Keerthi Puraskaram instituted by Bharathiya Vidhya Peedam School, Parassala, Thiruvananthapuram. 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 2010 - Odakkuzhal Award for the book of poems - Ammakkoru Tharattu 2012 - Kozhissheri Balaraman Award for Literature 2012 - Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram instituted by Asan Memorial Association, Chennai 2015 - Naimisharanym Shobhaneeyam Puraskaram for value based poetry 2015 - Ettumanoor Somadasan Smaraka Award 2016 - Vallathol Award: 2016 - Mayilpeeli Award for Literature 2016 - Thathvamasi Award in memory of Dr. Sukumar Azhikode 2016 - EV Krishna Pillai Memorial Award 2017 - Sukumar Azhikode Memorial Award instituted by 'Kannur Waves', an art and culture lovers association 2017 - Karyvattam Dharma Shastha Kshethra Shastha Puraskaram 2018 - Balamani Amma Award instituted by Kochi International Book Festival Committee in the name of poet Balamani Amma 2018 - Kottarathil Shankunni Memorial Award instituted by Kottarathil Shankunni Smaraka Trust . 2019 - Thakazhi Literary Award 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. 2019 - Ochira Sankaran Kutty Sahithya Puraskaram 2020 - Padmaprabha Literary Award 2021 - Pandalam Kerala Varma Literary Award. 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 - First A. 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''' 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 of Nalapat 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 of Adi Shankara'' 2025 - Vaishnavam Award for literature instituted by Vaishnavam Trust in memory of popular poet Professor Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri.