Malayalam poet and lyricist Anil Panachooran passed away Sunday night at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Panachooran (55), who has penned many hit Malayalam songs and poems, was reportedly undergoing treatment for Covid-19 and was hospitalised in Kayamkulam and Karunagapally before he was shifted to Thiruvanathapuram.
A lawyer, Panachooran shot to fame through poems such as Anadhan, Kaneerkanalugal, Pranayakalam, Oru Mazha Peythengil and Valayil veena kilikal. Anadhan was used by filmmaker Jayaraj in his Makalkku (To My Daughter).
Panachooran entered the film industry through Lal Jose’s Arabikkatha for which he had penned a few songs. While Chora Veena Mannil... sung with revolutionary fervour by the poet himself is played regularly in Left cultural events, Thirike Njan, which had lines bringing out the pain of expatriates living away from their family members was extremely popular amongst the non-resident Keralites. He went on to pen several songs in the Malayalam industry that touched on a variety of subjects.
In a lyrical career mainly between 2007 and 2020 in the Malayalam film industry, he had written over 220 songs in the short span of time. He also dabbled in acting and acted in Arabikkatha (2007), Manikyakkallu (2011), Chila Neram Chila Manushyar (2011) and Yathra Chodikkathe (2015)
Panachooran, who penned his last lyrics for Ranjin Raj’s Within Seconds was reportedly working on his directorial debut film Kaadu.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and others condoled the demise of Panachooran.
“His lyrics for the movies Arabikadha, and Kadha Parayumbol will remain in the hearts of Keralites forever. His untimely demise is a loss to the cultural and the film fraternity of the state,” Vijayan said in his condolence message. Chennithala said, “we lost a talented poet and lyricist.”
Director Lal Jose, remembering the poet, has posted of Panachooran singing Pookkatha Mullaku Poovile Kaathenthe on his social media handle.
Ranjin on Facebook wrote how the news is “unbearable” and that Panachooran gave his last song to him.
Celebrities from the Malayalam film industry took to social media to express their disbelief and dismay too. Prithviraj Sukumaran shared a picture of Panachooran and wished for his soul to rest in peace. Tovino Thomas and Unni Mukundan have expressed their condolences on their social media.
The Malayalam film industry lost several of its members such as Kalinga Sasi, Anil Murali and Ravi Vallothal due to various ailments last year. Just last week, the Mollywood fraternity lost Anil Nedumangad who is best known for his performances in Ayaappanum Koshiyum, Kammati Paadam and Njaan Steve Lopez. The actor drowned while taking a bath at Malankara Dam.
