Balamani Amma

Balamani Amma Biography

Balamani Amma was a famous poetess of Malayalam literature who has given significant contributions to Malayalam poetry. The gifted writer of Malayalam and English literature, Kamala Surayya, also known as Kamala Das and Madhavikutty is the daughter of Balamani Amma who has been nominated for Nobel Prize in literature.  She has received Padma Bhushan, Saraswati Samman, Asan Prize, Vallathol award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Award and Ezhuthachan Award for her significant contributions to Malayalam literature. Her most popular works include - Mazhuvinte Katha, Amma and Muthassi. She received Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Academy award for Muthassi.

Balamani Amma was born on 19 July 1909 to Chittanjoor Kunhunni Raja and Nalappat Kochukuttiamma at Nalappat at Thrissur. Her uncle, Nalappat Narayana Menon was also a popular poet of Malayalam. Balamani haven’t received formal learning and she learnt through her uncle’s works. Apart from her uncle, she was also influenced by the literary pieces of great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon. Balamani Amma got married at the age of 19 to V. M. Nair who later became Managing Director and Managing Editor of Mathrubhumi newspaper. She moved to Kolkata after marriage.

She has started writing poems at a younger age and the first one was published in 1930 – Kooppu kai. Balamani has published more than 20 works which include poems, prose and translations. Her daughter Kamala Das has translated one of her mother's poems, The Pen, which describes the loneliness of a mother. Balamani lost her husband in 1977. Balamani’s most popular collection of poems include - Amma (1934), Kudumbini (1936), Dharmamargathil (1938), Sthree Hridayam (1939), Prabhankuram (1942), Bhavanayil (1942), Oonjalinmel (1946), Kalikkotta (1949), Velichathil (1951), Avar Paadunnu (1952), Pranamam (1954), Lokantharangalil (1955), Sopanam (1958), Muthassi (1962), Mazhuvinte Katha (1966), Ambalathilekku (1967), Nagarathil (1968), Veyilaarumbol (1971), Amruthamgamaya (1978), Sandhya (1982), Nivedyam (1987) and Mathruhridayam (1988). Balamani was suffering from Alzheimer's disease for nearly five years and she died on 29 September 2004.

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Updated: October 17, 2013