Olappamanna

Olappamanna Biography

Olappamanna was a famous poet of Malayalam. His full name is Olappamanna manakkal Subramanian Namboothirippad and he was born on January 10, 1923 in Vellinezhi in Palakkad district. He was born in a priesty Brahmin family (Namboothiri) and his ‘illam’ (house of Brahmins) is known as Olappamanna mana/illam. Olappamanna Mana, one of the centuries old feudal Namboothiri homes that have a cultural heritage in the field of Kathakali, Melam, Carnatic Music and Thayampaka and Literature. Olappamanna Mana has given birth to this famous Malayalam poet who is fondly called Olappamanna. After leaving his ancestral house Olappamanna Mana, near Cherpulassery Olappamanna had lived at Jainamedu since 1964. It’s from his home at Jainamedu where he wrote majority of his peoms. This place is also famous for a Jain temple.

Olappamanna has won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967 for the collection of Kathakavithakal. He has also won Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989 for Nizhalana. He has been awarded life time achievement award by Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his valuable contributions to Malayalam literature. Not only that, he has also won Odakuzhal award started by Great poet G.Shankara Kurup and he won it in the year 1988.  He has also won N. V. Puraskaram in the year 1992. He has been the chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam.

He has been associated with Yogakshema Sabha and Purogamana Sahithya Samkhadana for some time during his college days and after his college days he was busy in timber industry. He was an active politician too during middle 50s and early 60s. In the long phase of years, 1950-1964, he was the president of the Ezhakkad and Kotteppadam panchayaths of Palakkad district. He was a successful farmer and also an industrialist.

His important works include – Suphala, Dukhamavuka Sukham, Rubberwifum Mattu Kavithakalum, Veena, Kalpana, Kilungunna Kaiyamam, Aanamuthu, Amba, Kulampadi, Asareerkal, Ehisoonari, Olichupokunna Njan, Panchali, Elathalam, Nagemakkutty, Nizhalana, Jalakappakshi, Kadhakavithakal and Varinellu.   

Olappamanna passed away in the year 2000, April 10. On January 12^th, 90th birth anniversary of poet Olappamanna Subramaniyan Namboodiri was celebrated at his house ‘Harishree’ near Jainamedu, Palakkad. It was attended by politicians and celebrities, thus making it grand.

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Updated: August 01, 2013