# Rajeev Alunkal

Rajeev Alunkal is an Indian poet, lyricist, music director and orator. Now, He is the member of Central Film Censor Board. He is the former chairman of Kumaranashan Smarakam, Pallana, Govt of Kerala. He is best known for writing lyrics on romantic and philosophical themes. He has written poems and songs. He has penned lyrics for over 350 songs in about 130 movies, including Vettom, Mallu Singh, Kanaka Simhasanam, Oru Marubhoomikkadha, Romans, Sound Thoma, Chattakkari, Nadodimannan, Aamayum Muyalum, Happy Wedding, Kuttanadan Marpappa, and Aanakkallan. He has also written more than 1000 songs for 250 professional dramas and 2800 songs for 280 albums.

## Life and career

Alunkal was born to the late Kandanatt S. Madhavan Nair and the late Karuvally R. Indira hailing from Kadakkarappally Village in the Cherthala Taluk of Alappuzha District, Kerala State on 17 August 1973 and settled in the same place.
Alunkal published his first poem in 1987 at the age of 14 in the Nair Service Society's (NSS) Service Weekly. The poem won the Mannam Trophy for best upcoming poet. He became a professional lyricist in 1994 in drama through Cherthala Shylaja Theatres. He made his debut in Malayalam film industry in the 2003 movie Hariharanpillai Happiyanu. The music was composed by Stephen Devassy and the song "Thinkal Nilavil" became iconic.
In 2016, Alunkal represented India at the South Asian Poet Meet held in Malaysia. On the occasion, he recited his poem that holds the principles of humanity as its core, titled "Verukalude Vedhantham".
For about a quarter of a century, he has been to many universities, colleges and schools in India, interacting with scholars and intellectuals. As a motivational speaker, he has delivered about 1000 speeches in and outside India, on topics such as cultural diversity and heritage of India, and advocating for the importance of languages and art.
Alunkal has written and tuned many patriotic songs, group songs, light music songs, nursery rhymes (kids' songs), and lullabies, which have crores of viewers on YouTube.
Another arena is devotional songs for village temples. Thousand of temple managements have used Alunkal's devotional song for their first song venture.
His poems are now part of the Kerala syllabus in the school college level classes.
The composition by Alunkal for Energy Management Center (EMC), an initiative that advocates conservation of energy and environment, is a widely accepted and celebrated song.

## Filmography

* Shukran (2025)
* Maharani (2023)
* Mister Hacker (2023)
* Police Day (2023)
* Power Star (2023)
* Nalla Samayam (2022)
* Udumbu (2021)
* Vidhi (The Verdict) (2021)
* Vellaaramaram Kunnile Vellimeenukal (2021)
* Oru Vadakan Pennu (2020)
* An International Local Story (2019)
* Aanakkallan (2018)
* Chilappol Penkutty (2018)
* Mere Pyara Desh Vasioum (2018)
* Vaasavam (2018)
* Shirkers (2018)
* Theetta Rappayi (2018))
* Devayanam (2017)
* Shirk (2017)
* Anna (2017)
* Melle (2017)
* Marubhoomikal (2017)
* Vedam (2016)
* Cell Phone (2016)
* Aaradi (2016)
* Happy Wedding (2016)
* Kaatu Maakkan (2016)
* Girls (2016)
* One Day (2015)
* She Taxi (2015)
* Thousand (2015)
* Swantham Ilanjikkavu P O (2015)
* Ashamsakalode Anna (2015)
* ATM (2015)
* Thakkali (2015)
* I Phone (2015)
* Aamayum Muyalum (2014)
* Kaasu Panam Thuttu (2014)
* Masala Republic (2014)
* Study Tour (2014)
* Medulla Oblongata (2014)
* Flat No. 4B (2014)
* Angry Babies in Love (2014)
* Good, Bad & Ugly (2014)
* Mithram (2014)
* Nadodimannan (2013)
* India Today (2013)
* Silence (2013)
* KQ (2013)
* Sound Thoma (2013)
* BuntyChor (2013)
* Mercury (2013)
* Sadharanakkaran (2013)
* Black Butterfly (2013)
* Bangles (2013)
* Lillies of March (2013)
* My Fan Ramu (2013)
* Mallu Singh (2012)
* Chattakkari (2012)
* Husbands in Goa (2012)
* Romans (2012)
* Isaac Newton S/O Philipose (2012)
* Ponnu kondoru Alroopam (2012)
* Njanum Ente Familiyum (2012)
* No. 66 Madhura Bus (2012)
* Ardhanaari (2012)
* Oru Marubhoomikkadha (2011)
* Father's Day (2011)
* Mrs Husbands (2011)
* Jockie (2011)
* Killadi Raman (2011)
* My Dear Kuttichathan (2011)
* Lucky Jokers (2011)
* Sarkar Colony (2011)
* Uppukandam Brothers (Part 2) (2011)
* Kottarathil Kutty Bhootham (2011)
* Ulakam Chuttum Valiban (2011)
* Pachuvum Kovalanum (2011)
* Oru Small Family (2010)
* The Metro (2010)
* Perumal (2009)
* Sketch (2009)
* Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu (2009)
* Kancheepurathe Kalyanam (2009)
* Love in Singapore (2009)
* Hailesa (2009)
* Akasha Gopuram (2009)
* Bhagavan (2009)
* Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan (2008)
* Anasuya (2008)
* Homam (2008)
* Rakshakan (2007)
* Akasam (2007)
* Black Cat (2007)
* Indrajith (2007)
* Malliswari the Prince (2007)
* Anjiloral Arjunan (2007)
* Bada Dosth (2006)
* Kanaka Simhasanam (2006)
* Colourful (2006)
* Chathrapathi (2006)
* Dubai Seenu (2006)
* Kanal (2006)
* Nilavupole (2006)
* Arya (2005)
* Monalisa (2005)
* Students (2004)
* Vettom (2004)
* Pranayamayi (2004)
* Komban (2003)
* Wanted (2003)
* Mampazhakkalam (2003)
* Hariharanpillai Happiyanu (2002)

## Notable songs

* "Thinkal Nilavil" (Hariharanpilla Happiyanu)
* "Munthiri Vave" (Hariharanpilla Happiyanu)
* "Priyathame Shakunthale" (Kanakasimhasanam)
* "Sundarano Sooriyano" (Kanakasimhasanam)
* "I Love You December" (Vettam)
* "Iniyum Kothiyode" (Bharya Onn Makkal Moonu)
* "Chembakavallikalil" (Arabeem Ottakavum)
* "Kakka Malayile" (Mallu Singh)
* "Oru Kinginikattu Vann" (Mallu Singhv)
* "Arthunkale Palliyil" (Romans)
* "Kanni Penne" (Sound Thoma)
* "Machan Ente Mathramalle" (Nadodimannan)
* "Eetho Priyaragam" (Aarya)
* "En Premathin Kopam Kanum" (Aarya)
* "I'm very sorry ഒരു നാലായിരം" (പ്രണയമായി)
* "Samavedam Navilunarthiya" (album - Swami Ayyappan - MG Sreekumar)
* "Ishtamanennadhyam Cholliyatharanu" (album - Ishtamanu)
* "Pathirulla Nazhoori" (album - Chithravasantham - P Jayachandran)
* "Nila Mazha" (album - Heart Beats)
* "Pazhavangadi Ganeshan" (album - Ohm Gananadham - KJ Yesudas)

## Published books

* Nilavilitheyyam – collection of poems (2008) – Paridhi Publications, Thiruvananthapuram
* Ente Priyageethangal – 1001 selected songs (2009) – H&C Publications, Thrissur
* Verukalude Vedantham – collection of poems (2015) – DC Books, Kottayam
* Pallotti Mittayi – collection of children's poems (2021) – Poorna Publications, Kozhikode.
* Kanalpennu – collection of poems (2022) – Maani Books, Alappuzha
* Iniyum Kothiyode – selected 130 film songs (2023) – Lipi Publications, Kozhikode

### Poems

* "Ekakikalude geetham"
* "Achanum Njaanum"
* "Theresamma"
* "Naaniyamma"
* "Aaro oral"
* "Enik Ammayilla"
* "Kannaki"
* "Verukalude Vedantham"
* "Anaghashayan"
* "Iniyetranaal"
* "Enikkammayilla"
* "Kanalpennu"
* "Gangashankaram"

## Awards and recognition

He won an URF National Record in 2021 for writing 4200 songs in three lyrics areas (Drama, Album, and Cinema).
He received a Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 2012 for lifetime achievement as a lyricist.
Alunkal co-operated with music directors of three to four generations, including V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. K. Arjunan, A. R. Rahman, Raveendran, M. Jayachandran and Gopi Sundar. He has also worked with many Indian singers.
He won the Kerala State Award for Best Lyricist in 2004 (Drama), and he won the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards three times (in 2006, 2012 and 2018).
Alunkal worked with A R Rahman for the album One Love which acted to ensure the position of the Taj Mahal among the seven wonders of the world, on the behalf of the government of India.
During the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa at the Vatican, Pope Francis released the poem "Theresamma" written by Alunkal, and the Indian pop singer Usha Uthup rendered her voice for the same. This poem has also been translated into other languages including English, Bengali, Albanian, Latin and Tamil.
| Year | Awards | Notes |
| 2023 | Poovachal Khader Film Award | Best Lyricist – "Kannil Aake Pookal" (Nalla Samayam) |
| 2022 | Ashan Bharathi Deshiya Sahithya Puraskaram | for his contribution to arts and cultural society |
| 2021 | URF National Record | for 4200 songs in three lyrical areas (Drama, Album, Cinema) |
| 2020 | Kedamangalam Sadanandan Kalasagara Puraskaram | for his overall contribution to the writing industry |
| 2019 | Gurusree Award | Mumbai Sree Narayana Samithi for his 25 years of contribution to art & cultural society |
| 2019 | Kerala Film Critics Association Award | Best Lyricist – Aanakkallan "Vettam Thattum" |
| 2018 | PN Panicker Memorial Yuva Prathibha Award | for his overall contribution to the writing industry |
| 2017 | JC Film Award | for the song "Madhyana Sooryante" from the film Aaradi |
| 2016 | Kaumudi Teacher Award | for his contribution to arts and cultural society |
| 2016 | Kavyasree Award | By Indo Malaysian Cultural Forum for "Verukalude Vedantham" |
| 2015 | Sambashivan Memorial Award | For 20 years of poetic contribution to Film, Arts & Cultural society |
| 2015 | Thikkurissi Award | For Best Lyricist Angry Babies in Love – "Mele Chelode" |
| 2012 | Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | For Best Lyricist Oru Marubhoomikkadha – "Chempaka Vallikalil" |
| 2012 | Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (Kalasree) | Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2012 | Rajan P Dev Award | Best Lyricist for Drama |
| 2012 | S L Puram Sadanandan Award | Best Lyricist for Drama |
| 2012 | Lohithadas Award | Best Lyricist for Drama |
| 2011 | Asianet Mini-screen Award | For Best Lyricist – serial Harichandanam |
| 2010 | Kaladarpanam Award | From Art & Cultural movement of India |
| 2009 | Vayalar Ramavarma Film Awards | For Best Lyricist – film Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu, song "Iniyum Kothiyode" |
| 2007 | Jeevan TV Award | Best Lyricist – album – Eakakikalude Geetham |
| 2007 | Haripriya Award | Best collection of poems – Nilavili Theyyam |
| 2006 | Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | For Best Lyricist Kanaka Simhasanam – "Priyathame Shakunthale" |
| 2004 | Kerala State Awards (Drama) | For Best Lyricist |
| 2002 | EMS Award | Best Lyricist for Drama |
| 1997 | Nana Gala POL Award | Best Lyrics in Drama |
| 1988 | Mannam Trophy | Best Upcoming Poet |