Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon

Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon Biography

Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon was a renowned poet from Malayalam known for the famous poem, Maampazham with words, ‘Angana thaimaavilninnadyathe …..’. He was the first President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, an organization of progressive writers led by leftist artists. Vailoppilli is regarded as one of the greatest poets of modern Malayalam literature who marked the transition from the romantic to the modern era. His noted works include – Kannikoyithu, Kudiyozhikal, Vida, Maanpazham, Minnaminni, Makarakoiyuthu and Kaipavallari. His autobiography is titled Kavyalokasmaranakal. Critics regard his work, Kudiyozhikal as his magnum opus.  

Vailoppilli was born on May 11, 1911 in Kaloor in the Ernakulam district. He completed BSc and took teaching as his profession. He joined government service in the year 1931. He started writing under the pen name 'Sree'. His first published poem collection was ‘Kanni koiyuthu’, that came out in the year 1947. This single work placed him amongst progressive Malayalam writers of the time. His writing style free from romantic style brought him huge loud applause from readers as well as critics. He was associated with Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishath and Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham during tha time. He has also represented Kerala in the national poets' meetings held at Delhi (1951 and 1969) and Bangalore (1965).

In 1965, he received Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for Kaippavallari and in 1972, Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for his work Vida. In 1981, he received Vayalar award for Makarakoythu. Sovietland Nehru Award (1964), Odakkuzhal Award, Madras Government Award and M. P. Paul prize. A few selected works of Vailoppilli include Sreerekha, Vithum Kaikkottum, Anthi Chayunnu, Onappatukar, Mukulamala, Kudiyozhikkal, Kuruvikal, Yugaparivarthanam, Kunnimanikal, Risyasringanum Alexandarum, Charithrathile Charudrisyam and Pachakuthira. He died on December 22, 1985 and his body was cremated on the banks of river Bharathappuzha as his wished.

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Updated: January 27, 2014