Prabha Varma

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Prabha Varma (born 2 August 1959) is a poet, lyricist, journalist and television presenter.^[1]

Biography[]

PRABHA VARMA Poet, littérateur, lyricist and editor who works with traditional as well as electronic media, cultural activist – Prabha Varma has been all of these. He has a master's degree and a degree in law. As a poet, Gyanpith award winner Prof. O.N.V. Kurup complimented him saying "He has inherited the subtle poetic richness of the eminent poet Vyloppilly Sreedhara Menon, who himself picked up the quality from Kumaranasan'. The late Prof. M. Krishnan Nair, an eminent critic, wrote 'Prabha Varma is a born poet'. His poems are composed of a confluence of tradition and modernity. They have soft romantic emotions, a plethora of poetic images, original and innovative narrative skill, philosophical insights, and a deep understanding of the meaning of life.

Prabha Varma is an Academy award-winning Indian poet in Malayalam. The multi-faceted littérateur has published ten collections of poems, three novels in verse, six books on the contemporary socio-political milieu and literature, six collections of essays in criticism, a study on media, a travelogue and a novel in english.

Prabha Varma is a noted lyricist, who bagged 'the national film award for the best lyricist (2019). He also won the best film lyricist award' of the State Government three times (2006, 2013, 2012)Nadan, Sheelabathi, Saayahnam, Sthithi, Kalaapam, Gramapanchayath, Nagravadhu, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Varsha, Hareendran oru Nishkalankan, Odiyan, Thakkol, Thelivu, Clint, Kolambi, Kunhalimarikkar etc. are some of the films for which he has written lyrics. He has won the 'Film Critics Awards' for the best lyrics for the songs of 'Nagaravadhu' in 2008 and "Nadan" in 2013, the State Government Awards for the best lyrics for professional dramas in the years 2009 and 2017. His song "Oru chempaneer pooviruthu" that figures in the film 'Sthithi' was a spontaneous success. It crossed a record viewer ship of more than ten million in You Tube and Face Book and spread into hundreds of different versions.

He was born in 1959 at Kadapra, Thiruvalla as the youngest son of T.K. Narayanan Namboothiri and N. Pankajakshi Thampuratty. Before he became a poet of eminence, he was a student activist and was elected to executive of the Kerala University Union during the academic year of 1979–80.

His first collection of poems was Sourparnika, published in 1990. It won for him the prestigious Vyloppilli Award and also the Ankanam Award. His second anthology Arkkapoornima came out soon afterwards, and at the age of 37, he won the Kerala Sahitya Academy award for it. This was followed by poetical collections like Chandananazhi, Aaardram, Kalaprayaga, Avicharitham, Manjinotu Veyil Enna Poleyum, Aparigraham and Ponnin kolus,. His collected works in the field of poetry too has come out. His film songs Oru Chembaneer Pooviruthu (2003), Poonthen nermozhi etc.. became instantaneous hits.

His magnum - opus SHYAMA MADHAVAM a novel in verse, is a 15 chapter kaavyakhyayika. It revolves around Lord Krishna and the lives of those who came across him during his earthly sojourn, which the poet says is not a series of ecstasies as many believe, but agonies. It is the touching portrayal of the travails of a solitary soul and the rare courage with which Krishna deals with life. The work begins in a dramatically poignant and pensive mood and culminates in his swargaarohana, between which he lapses into a series of confessions and repentance. Shyama Madhavam offers a wide spectrum of Chhandas, Alankaaras and metric patterns such as Dandakas on the one hand and brings out the genuine concern of the lonely inner voice of the legendary hero against the backdrop of changing times. Vayalar Award (2013) was conferred on him for this work, which bagged for him the National Sahitya Academy Award too. Shyama madhavam won the prestigious Malayattoor Award (2013) too. Shyama Madhavam has been adjudged as the best book of the decade by The Kerala State Library Council in the year 2020. "Shyama Madhavam" has been published in english with the title "Lament of the Dusky Lord"

KANAL CHILAMBU is a novella in verse. The story, told in seven chapters of around five thousand words, is about love, lust, intrigue, power, revenge and incest. In short all the elements that go into the making of tragedies are at full play here. Most importantly this poignant story of love and revenge answers an age old riddle which posits the question: "why did the milkmaid laugh when her earthen pot of milk fell to doom?" This is the second narrative poem written by Prabha Varma after Shyama madhavam. The professional drama based on Kanalchilambu was staged in more than 500 stages all over Kerala. Shyama madhavam was also repeatedly staged as a musical drama which attracted hundreds of thousands of people. . The english version of "KANAL CHILAMPU " has been published with the title "ANKLET OF FIRE" The third novel in verse is "ROUDRA SATHWIKAM" which deals with the perennial conflict that exists béween art and power. It is placed against the backdrop of the erstwhile Soviet Union and in it the poet addresses the binary opposites such as violence/non violence, Poetry / power, environt/development, etc.

Prabha Varma has written many padams for Mohiniyattam, which is a classical dance form of Kerala. Mr. Pranab Mukharjee, the former President honoured him at Rashtrapathi Bhavan with a citation and shawl for his lyrical contribution towards performing arts in the year 2016. He has composed more than a dozen classical Kritis which are set to ragas and sung profusely in Karnatic music concerts, 

He has been the honoured recipient of numerous awards. They include the Vayalar Award, which is fondly considered in the state as Kerala's Gyan peeth, Asan Prize, Ulloor Award, Vallathol Award, Vyloppilli Award (1990), Kunchupillai Award (1993), Krishnageethi Puraskar (1994), Mooloor Award (1995), Changampuzha Award (1997), Mahakavi P Puraskaram (1997), Kadavanad Award (1999), Abudhabi Shakthi Award (1988), Vennikulam Award (2003), A.P. Kalakkad Award (2006), Kannassa Puraskaram (2011), Kadathanad Udayavarma Puraskaram (2006), Mullanezhi Award (2012) Premji puraskaram(2012), Mahakavi Pandalam Keralavarma Kavitha Puraskaram (2016), Edassery Award (2020), P. Kesava Dev Award. JKV Award and Mar Gregorious Award,Padma Prabha Puraskaram,Madhava Mudra, Behrain Keraleeya Samajam award, and Malayattoor Puraskaram.

   When prabha Varma bagged the 67th National Film Award for the best lyrics in 2019 for his song - Aarodum Parayuka vayya " it was widely noted as he was instrumental in bringing  the national award for lyrics  to Malayalam after a gap of two decades.

Another facet of the poet is that of a journalist. He has been a media personality for the last 40 years. All these years, he has been contributing articles to various journals, both in Malayalam and English.

He had excelled himself as a journalist too having won the State Government Award for the best general reporting in 1996. In 1988–90, the Trivandrum Press Club conferred on him the K.C. Sabastian Award, the K. Madhavan Kutty Award for the best feature in English and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Award. He also won the coveted media trust award and the prestigious K C. Daniel Award.

As a journalist, he has presented a paper on 'Emerging Democracies', at the Doha International Meet, held under the auspices of the United Nations. He attended the world youth festival held in Pyongyang, North Korea in 80s and addressed the North American journalist's conference held in New York in 2009.

He has covered both the houses of Indian Parliament, Non- aligned Summit, Commonwealth Meet etc. for more than a decade.

Awards have gone to him for his work as a journalist in the electronic audio-visual media too. He was the Director (News) of People TV, Kairali TV from 2001– 2010, and has won the State Government award, Drishya TV Award etc. The weekly programme 'India Inside,' presented by him was an in depth analysis of the socio political labyrinth of the present day world. He has also published a book on the social influence of electronic media, titled Drishyamadhyamangalum Samskaravum. Prabha Varma's novels in verse and other collections have been translated in to various Indian languages and foreign languages too. Prabha varma's "AFTER THE AFTERMATH" a novel in English has been brought out by INDUS, recently.

Other works he has penned include a travelogue titled Diary of Malaysia, Paarayanathinte Reethibhedangal (essays in criticism), Kevalathwavum Bhavukathwavum (Poetics), Rethiyude Kaavyapadangal Thanthree Laya Samanvitham (Analytical Study of Poems), Innilekku Oru Jaalekam' (Political Essays), Electronic Media and Culture (Media Study), and Sandehiyude Ekanthayaathra, Dala marmaram (Reminiscences).

He worked as the Press Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala for a period of five years from 1996 to 2001 and as the Resident Editor of Deshabhimani, the third largest circulated daily of Kerala. Other public offices he has held are as a member of the General Council of the Kendra Sahitya Academy Delhi between 2007 and 2012, and as the Vice-President of the Kerala Sahitya Academy between 2008 and 2010.

Presently he is the Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Executive member of the Sahithya Academy, Delhi (National Academy of Letters) convener of the South Indian board of Kendra Sahithya Academy, member of Kerala Sahithya Academy and the convener of Malayalam advisory council of Kendra Sahithya Academy. He is a member of the final jury of Gyanpeeth Award.

He had been to a number .of Countries including The US, Great Britain, Russia, North Korea, Malaysia, UAE etc.

His family comprises Manorema (wife), Jyotsna (daughter), Col. K.V Mahendra (son-in-law) and Jahnavi (Grand Daughter).

Works[]

Poetry[]

• Souparnika
• Arkkapoornima
• Chandana nazhi
• Aardram
• Kalaprayaga
• Avicharitham
• Manjinodu Veyil Ennapoleyum
• Shyama Madhavam (Novel in Verse )
• Aparigraham
• Kanal chilambu (Novel in verse)
• Roudra Satwikam (Novel in verse)
• Ponninkoluss

Others[]

• Rethiyude Kaavyapadam (Study)
• Kevalathwavum Bhavukathwavum (Study)
• Drishya Maadhyamangalum Samskaaravum (Study)
• Enthukondu Fascism? (Study)
• Innilekku Oru Jaalakam (Essays)
• Sandehiyude Ekantha Yaathra (Reminiscences)
• Parayanathinte Reethibhedangal (Essays)
• Malaysian Diary Kurippukal (Travelogue)
• Thanthree Laya Samanvitham

English Novel

After the Aftermath.

Awards[]

Poetry

• Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Shyama Madhavam (2016)^[2]
• Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Arkkapoornima (1995)
• Vayalar Award for Shyama Madhavam (2013)^[3]
• P. Kunhiraman Nair Award
• Asan Poetry Prize (2014)

State Library Council's Best Book of the decade Award 2020 for shyamamadhavam

• Vallathol Award (2017)^[4]
• P. Kesavadev Literary Award (2018)^[5]
• Ulloor Award
• Malayattoor Award
• Vyloppilli Puraskaram
• Changampuzha Puraskaram
• Mahakavi P Puraskaram
• Mar Gregorius Award
• Krishnageethi Puraskaram
• Kannassa Puraskaram
• Vennikkulam Award
• Premji Puraskaram
• mooloor Award
• Kadavanad Award
• T S Thirumumpu Puraskaram
• Kadathanadu Udayavarmma Puraskaram
• Mullanezhi Puraskaram
• Venmani Award
• Abudhabi Sakthi Award
• Sreekanteswaram Puraskaram
• Ankanam Award
• Kunjupilla Award
• Ezhumangalam Puraskaram
• Kuwait Kala Puraskaram
• Kerala University Youth Festival Prize
• Mahakavi Pandalam Keralavarma Poetry Award (2016)
• Bahrain Kerala Samajam Award (2007)
• P. Kesava Dev Award
• PadmaPrabha Puraskaram

Journalism

• Kerala State Journalism Award for Best General Reporting
• K. Madhavankutty Award for the Best English Feature
• Media Trust Award For Journalism
• K. C. Sebastian Puraskaram
• Special Mention in State TV Awards

Kunchan Nambiar Award- 2020.

Dr. N A Karim Award-2020

J K V Literary Award Sidhartha Sahitya Puraskaram...

J C Daniel literary award-2020 Film

• National Film Award For Best Lyrics 201967th National Film Awards for the song "Arodum Parayuka Vayya" of the film: Kolambi
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics(Thrice) – "Ethu Sundara Swapna Yavanika" from Nadan (2013), Poovin Ithalcheppil from Out of Syllabus (2008) and Olathin Melathal from Clint (2017)
• Filmfare Nomination for the song "Oru Chempaneer poo iruthu..." from Sthithi
• Film Critics Award for best Lyrics (Twice)

Prem Nazeer Award for the best film lyrics. 2018

Adoor Bhasi Literary Excellence Award.2018

Upasana Malayattoor Award 2021 for Total literary Contribution.

• Sangeetha Nataka Academy Awards for the Best Lyrics of Drama (twice)

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prabha Varma.

• Shyama Madhavam reviewed by N. Radhakrishnan Nair
• Prabha Varma's interview in Deshabhimani Weekly