Remembering the master of arts: Kavalam Narayana Panicker

Kavalam Narayana Panicker was a legend, whose genius pervaded various fields that include theatre, poetry, and folk. A few individuals, who had close links with him, share their memories. I had the chance to witness the composing and discussing sessions of many hit songs composed by my husband. Majority of those tracks, including  famous light music songs, were written by Panicker chettan.

Radhakrishnan chettan and Panicker chettan entered the film industry almost at the same time. Even before becoming popular in the film industry, tracks they have done for All India Radio (AIR) had shot them to fame. Both of them had many  traits in common — they had roots in Alappuzha, and were very much interested in folk songs.

As I hail from Kannur, my parents were aware of many folk art forms there. Both Panicker chettan and Radhakrishnan chettan used to meet my mother to know more about those art forms. It was from one such track they made Jigi jigi jakkam thai thai for Kummatti. Yesterday was Radhakrishnan chettan’s sixth death anniversary. Kavalam chettan too left us the same day.

- Padmaja Radhakrishnan  (Wife of late music director M.G. Radhakrishnan)

To be precise, Kavalam Narayana Panicker sir was the Master of Arts in Kerala. He is the one who brought many novel ideas to the Malayalam theatre field. It was in 1988 that I got a chance to meet Kavalam sir for the first time in connection with the production of a play. Later, I used to visit him regularly whenever I went to Thiruvanathapuram. The main reason behind his affection for me was not just because I am a theatre person, but also because I used to mimic Bharath Gopi, who is a product of Kavalam sir’s theatre camp.

He could incorporate folk and classic arts into theatre. He was the eternal treasure of these art forms and melas. In fact, his dramas influenced me to watch other art forms like Chakyar koothu.  More than his plays, I am a fan of his songs. He could contribute many film songs along with pure folk songs. His demise is not a loss for us alone. It is the end of an era which showed us the importance of plays and music. There is no substitute for him.

 - Jayaraj Warrier (actor, comedian)

It was through newspapers and television programmes that I first came to know about Kavalam sir. He stood amid the paddy fields of Kuttanad. I thought he was another paddy stalk; slender, tall and weighed down by grains but hardly headstrong. When I went to Kuttanad to meet him last year, the same image swirled in my mind....

Photo Manju posted on her facebook account

Sopanam became a stepping stone for me to a world of new knowledge in acting. It was with the blessings of Kavalam sir that I entered the stage which had witnessed the performances of many legendary artistes. He was there with me during the two week theatre workshop... One of his last wishes was to stage Abhijnana Shakuntalam. Before he became hospitalised, he had even booked stages in Ujjain and Delhi. But he bid goodbye without the first performance could be enacted.

(Excerpts from the Facebook post of Manju Warrier)

Kavalam sir was a person who could easily play with words. He was that  fluent in using folk words while penning lyrics. The only film I could work with him was Amen, which was noted for its sound tracks. In fact, I approached him to write just one song — the kallu shaap song. But when we (crew) sat with him to discuss about the sound track, I couldn’t help but ask him to write the rest of the songs too. (The track Ee Solamanum Shoshannayum was written by screenwriter P.S. Refeeque).

He could easily find apt words for the tune. His lyrics for the song in the climax sequence helped us a lot to place the film at a different level. Even his lyrics had a music of its own. He was always very energetic. That energy level never gave away his ‘real’ age. Though most of us became tired while working, he continued to work tirelessly. I haven’t seen such a working style before or after Amen. He was such a legend.

- Lijo Jose Pellissery  (filmmaker)