K. C. Kesava Pillai

K. C. Kesava Pillai

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K. C. Kesava Pillai Profile

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K. C. Kesava Pillai Biography

K. C. Kesava Pillai was a poet and composer of Carnatic music of Travancore kingdom. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers of Malayalam. Kesaviyam – A Mahakavyam is regarded as his masterpiece work. His major works of kirthans and bhajans include - Sangeetha manjari, Sthavaratnavali, Sangeethamaalika, Sthavaratnamalika and Eswarasthothranga. Prahlaada Charitham (Hiranyasuravadham), Soorapadmasuravadham and Sreekrishnavijayam are his aattakatha (Kathakali) works. He has also written numerous poetry works, which he has composed as well. Pillai composed over 100 keerthanas in praise of God and also penned a few plays. He was a close associate of Kerala Varma and Rajaraja Varma. He translated Narayaneeyam to Malayalam titled - Kerala Bhashaa Narayaneeyam.

 

K. C. Kesava Pillai was born in Paravur in Kollam District of Kerala in the year 1868. He studied up to the 5th grade and gained proficiency in music. He watched Kathakali from an early age and observed its costumes, songs and gestures. He wrote Hiranyasuravadham aattakada when he was only 15. He was encouraged to learn Sanskrit so that he could correct his work himself. He learnt Sanskrit from Paravoor V. Kesavan Asan and grammar from Ennakkattu Rajaraja Varma. Towards the end of his life, he worked as a teacher and was promoted to the position of Sanskrit Munshi.

 

He has composed many of his poetry works. ‘Adimalarina’' is a ragamalika in four languages, Malayalam, Tamil, English and Sanskrit. Asanna Marana Chinta Satakam is a touching lyrical monologue, similar to Kumaran Asan’s popular poetry work – Veena poovu. He wrote a Tamil musical play – Sadarama. Satya Swaroopavibho, Bhajikka Nee Ramane, Koti Divakara, Nana Jaathikal, Vande, Kamalanatha, Sree vasudeva, Sreemoolarajavijayam, Aasannamaranachintasatakam, Subhashitha Ratnakaram and Abhinayamalika are other noted works.

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Updated: February 28, 2014

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