Standards of Malayalam songs going down: Sreekumaran Thampi

Top Stories

Standards of Malayalam songs going down: Sreekumaran Thampi
Sreekumaran Thampi with LuLu Abu Dhabi regional director TP Aboobakker during the function on Thursday night.

Abu Dhabi - Thampi was in the Capital for LuLu-DC Books' celebration of the Year of Reading

by

Ashwani Kumar

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Fri 9 Dec 2016, 4:35 PM

Last updated: Fri 9 Dec 2016, 9:37 PM

The New Age Malayalam songs are no match for the evergreen old classics, Sreekumaran Thampi said on Thursday night.
One of the finest lyricists in Malayalam cinema was in the Capital for LuLu-DC Books' celebration of the Year of Reading titled Readers World.
Thampi, who completed 50 years in Malayalam cinema, criticised the current crop of singers during an interactive session held in the premises of Madinat Zayed LuLu Hypermarket.
Not a great fan of New Generation cinema, he said the golden days are way past and now script and songs are all half-baked ones.
"The songs reflect the standards of the new cinemas. Those (golden) days are gone. Now the singers too are not given any importance. Earlier you will find our names being mentioned in posters but now none are getting any space," said the song and screenplay writer, producer, director and musician.
Thampi has written thousands of songs including Hridayasarassile. (Paadunna Puzha), Megham Poothu Thudangi. (Thoovanathumbikal) and Kasthoori Manakkunnallo. (Picnic). He has proved his mettle in the age of lyricists P. Bhaskaran, Vayalar Rama Varma and ONV Kurup.
Malayali expats in the Capital were blessed to see this living legend croon few of his hit numbers. Many of his chartbusters were sung during the event by local singers.
When asked about his thoughts on remixes, he said: "It kills the soul of the original song. Something like Chettikulangara. from Chotta Mumbai is unbearable."
Thampi has written four novels and collections of poems too. He was awarded the prestigious Vallathol Award but national recognition has eluded him. "Yes, it's true but I have penned songs that have won lot of National Awards. I am happy for the winners."
He was on his first visit to Abu Dhabi and said: "I never had to come here to catch film producers. This is for a reading year initiative."
LuLu Big Tent was jam-packed, which LuLu Abu Dhabi regional director TP Aboobakker said was a first. "Even actors didn't get such reception. We will hold more such book fairs in near future."
The 15-day book fair came to a close on Friday and it was a successful one, said Madinat Zayed LuLu general manager Reji.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com


More news from