Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Kunjunni Mash

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Nationality
  
Indian

Spouse(s)
  
None

Movies
  
Occupation
  
Poet and lyricist


Citizenship
  
India

Role
  
Poet

Ethnicity
  
Malayali

Name
  
Kunjunni Mash

Residence
  
Valapad, Thrissur

Kunjunni, popularly known as "Kunjunni Mash", an Indian poet of Malayalam literature wearing eyeglasses with a white mustache and beard.

Born
  
10 May 1927 (age 78) (
1927-05-10
)
Awards
  
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1974, 1984)

Parents
  
Njayapilly Illathu Neelakantan Moosath, Athiyarathu Narayani Amma

Similar
  
Kunchan Nambiar , Sugathakumari , Kamal (director)

Died
  
March 26, 2006 (aged 78), Thrissur

Kunjunni mash malayalam poet


Kunjunni, popularly known as Kunjunni Mash (Mash is the Malayalam equivalent of teacher/master), was a noted Indian Malayalam poet (10 May 1927 - 26 March 2006). He was considered as a children's poet and his poems were short like him. He always led a humble life.

Contents

Poster of Kunjunni Mash with white mustache and beard, wearing eyeglasses and orange shirt.

Facts

He was a famous Indian Malayalam poet.

He was born in the village of Valapad in Thrissur on 10 May 1927. 

He started his career as a teacher.

He joined Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama High School in Kozhikode in 1953.

He was famously known for writing short poems. 

Kunjunni kavithakal kalkkandam kunjunni mash


Early life and career

Poster of Kunjunni Mash with white mustache and beard and wearing eyeglasses.

Kunjunni was born in the village of Valapad in Thrissur to Njayapilly Illathu Neelakantan Moosath and Athiyarathu Narayani Amma on 10 May 1927. Kunjunni started his career as a teacher at the Chelari school. He joined Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama High School in Kozhikode in 1953. He was an inmate of the Ashrama and taught, looked after and interacted with the hostel boys there. He retired from teaching in 1982 but continued to live in the Ashrama, which he had found to be most suitable for his unostentatious life and writings known for their simplicity, till he retired to his district for health reasons. Kunjunni died in his ancestral house at Valapad on 26 March 2006.

Poems

Kunjunni Mash with white mustache and beard, wearing eyeglasses and white shirt.

He was known for writing short poems which appeared to be childlike in form, but conveyed a message. Kunjunni handled the column for children in the Mathrubhumi weekly under the pseudonym "Kuttettan". He initiated three or four generations of aspiring writers into writing. Kunjunni returned to his native village in 1987 and became involved in social and cultural activities in the Thrissur area. He appeared in Bhoomigeetham, a film directed by Kamal. His autobiography, Enniloode, is noted for its candour, humour and simplicity.

Kunjunni Mash with mustache and beard, wearing eyeglasses and white shirt.

One of his two line poems in Malayalam when translated would be like this.

  • In Cross my Belief, In Purse my Relief.........
  • One of his famous lines in Malayalam:

  • Kaakka Paari Vannu, Paara Melirunnu
      Kaakka Paari Poyi, Paara Baakkiyaayi
  • His major works include:

  • Oonu Thotturakkam Vare
  • Pazhamozhi Pathayam
  • Kunjunniyude Kavithakal
  • Kadankathal
  • Vithum Muthum
  • Kutti Pencil
  • Namboodiri Phalithangal
  • Raashthriyam
  • Kuttikal Padunnu
  • Undanum Undiyum
  • Kutti Kavithakal
  • Kalikoppu
  • Pazhanchollukal
  • Pathinanchum Pathinanchum
  • Aksharathettu
  • Nonsense Kavithakal
  • Muthumani
  • Chakkarappava
  • Kadalippazham
  • Kalikkalam
  • Kunjunni Ramayanam
  • Awards

  • Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1974, 1984).
  • State Institute of Children's Literature Award (1982).
  • Kerala Sahitya Akademi Lifetime Achievement Award (1988).
  • State Institute of Children's Literature lifetime achievement award (2002).
  • Vazhakunnuam Award (2002).
  • V.A. Kesavan Nair Award (2003).
  • Tomyas Award
  • Feature and short films

  • 2014: 'Mayilpeeli thundum vala pottukalum': a docufiction. Kunjunni Mash is portrayed by Krishnan Namboothiri.
  • References

    Kunjunni Mash Wikipedia