Vayalar Ramavarma: The Lyricist Who Gave Malayalam Songs a Lasting Voice

October 27 marks 51 years since the death of the celebrated poet and lyricist

Some songs outlive the films they were written for. Their melodies become part of family memories, their words accompany moments of love and loss, and their meaning deepens with time. For generations of Malayalis, the songs of Vayalar Ramavarma have held that special place.

Vayalar died on October 27, 1975, aged just 47. More than five decades later, his lyrics remain an enduring part of Kerala’s cultural identity. He brought the sensitivity of poetry into popular cinema, giving memorable expression to romance, heartbreak, human struggles and questions about society.

A Poet Who Reached Beyond Books

Born on March 25, 1928, in Vayalar village in Alappuzha district, Kerala, Ramavarma established himself as both a poet and a film lyricist. His writing combined literary depth with language that ordinary readers and listeners could connect with. That ability helped take poetry beyond the printed page and into everyday life.

His literary works include Paadamudrakal, Konthayum Poonoolum, Enikku Maranamilla, Mulankaadu, Oru Judas Janikkunnu and Sargasangeetham. Together, they reflect a writer interested not only in personal emotions but also in human experience and the wider world around him.

When Poetry Found Its Way into Cinema

Vayalar’s entry into Malayalam cinema in the 1950s brought his words to an audience far larger than the readership of poetry collections. His first widely recognised film song was “Thumbi Thumbi Vaa Vaa”, from the 1956 film Koodappirappu, with music by K. Raghavan.

Over the following two decades, he wrote more than a thousand songs for Malayalam films. His lyrics gave songs a distinctive literary quality without making them distant or difficult for audiences. Love, separation, hope and sorrow found expression in words that were easy to remember and powerful enough to stay with listeners.

The Vayalar–Devarajan Partnership

One of the defining creative partnerships in Malayalam film music was the collaboration between Vayalar and composer G. Devarajan. Their work helped shape an era in which lyrics and melody complemented each other to create songs that became classics.

Vayalar also worked with composers including V. Dakshinamurthy, M. S. Baburaj and K. Raghavan. Songs such as “Aayiram Paadasarangal Kilungi”, “Chandrakalabham Charthiyurangum Theeram” and “Shankhupushpam Kannezhuthumbol” continue to evoke powerful memories among Malayalam music lovers.

For many Malayalis living abroad, these songs are more than musical favourites. They are reminders of home, family, familiar landscapes and a language that connects generations, even across continents.

Lyrics That Asked Bigger Questions

Vayalar’s contribution extended beyond romantic songs. He also used film music to explore social questions, human dignity, religion and injustice. His lyrics could entertain, but they could also challenge listeners to think.

One of his best-known lines, “Manushyan Mathangale Srishtichu, Mathangal Daivangale Srishtichu”, translates roughly as “Man created religions, and religions created gods.” Featured in the film Achanum Bappayum, the song remains widely remembered for its provocative reflection on humanity and religion.

His association with socially conscious writing is also evident in “Balikudeerangale”, a song remembered for its powerful emotional and political resonance. Such works reveal another dimension of Vayalar: a lyricist who saw popular music as a means of expressing ideas about the world.

Awards and a Literary Legacy

Vayalar received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry for Sargasangeetham. He also won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for Achanum Bappayum. The Vayalar Award, established in his memory, has become one of Malayalam literature’s prominent annual honours.

Yet awards alone cannot explain his continuing influence. His greater achievement lies in the way his words became part of everyday Malayalam life. His songs continue to be heard at home, on the radio, at cultural gatherings and through the music collections passed from one generation to the next.

A Voice That Still Belongs to Kerala

The passage of time has not diminished Vayalar Ramavarma’s place in Malayalam culture. His songs continue to connect people with the language, emotions and shared memories of Kerala. For Malayalis living far from home, they can also offer a familiar link to their cultural roots.

On the 51st anniversary of his death, Vayalar is remembered not simply as a poet who wrote beautiful lines, but as a writer who helped shape how generations of Malayalis expressed love, grief, hope and social conscience.

His life was short, but the reach of his words has proved remarkably long. That is the enduring power of Vayalar Ramavarma: his songs continue to live wherever Malayalis carry their language and memories.