A profound and transformative musical experience that uplifts the spirit and nourishes the soul. That is what makes Chowallur Krishnankutty’s songs different and divine. Over a career spanning five decades, he has written nearly 3,500 songs across movies, light music, stage plays, albums and the biggest category of them all – devotional.

Among Malayali music lovers, his song in praise of Lord Guruvayurappan, “Oru Neramenkilum Kaanaathe Vayyente..’ might always top the list of favourites. Still, all the songs he penned, whether it be for movies, the All India Radio or various recording albums, have found a place of their own in listeners’ heart because of the tranquility and simplicity of the lyrics that transcended boundaries.

Many Malayalis still cherish those melodies floating from the radio in that pre-television era, and ”written by Chowallur Krishnankutty” was a familiar accompaniment to some of the most beautiful songs produced by AIR, incuding the nostalgic ”Oru vishu pattinte chirakil….”

From writing songs for plays staged by his friends to creating lyrics under the guidance of famed musician K. Raghavan master for All India Radio, and later for movies and albums, what Chowallur crafted were in fact poems of extraordinary beauty. They fluttered gently, unfolding a tapestry of emotions, and unraveling tales. His songs seemed to possess the power to heal, to mend and restore, weaving magic to the very core.

In 1976, ‘Thulavarsham’ became his debut movie and it came as a surprise as he was to write a composition for the veteran music director Salil Chowdhury. Nervous he was, but what emerged from his blank mind turned out to be a hit song that captured the essence of the whole movie – “Swapnaatanam njaan thudarum..” sung by S. Janaki. “Ushamalarikalute naduvil..” which was sung by P. Jayachandran for ‘Kalopasana’ was also a hit with the audience.

The song he wrote for ‘Agraharam’ fetched him the Kerala State Government Award for Best Song in Drama in 1991.

He went on to write many more songs for dramas and movies but what made him a household name was his lyrics in praise of the Almighty. An ardent devotee of Sree Guruvayurappan, his deep and unwavering faith found expression through his heartfelt verses that celebrated Lord Krishna. For devotional albums, sung by almost all major singers of Malayalam, he crafted lyrics that resonated with simplicity and a profound reverence for the divine. He captured a vivid picture of the divine presence in everyday life, making listeners, even those unfamiliar with the language, bask in the awe-inspiring beauty of creation.

But Chowallur would attribute his talent to the blessing of Guruvayurappan. “He dictates, I write” was how he humbly accepted all the accolades that were bestowed on him. Eminent musicians including Eminent Carnatic music maestro V. Dakshinamoorthy, K. Raghavan, Jayan (Jaya Vijaya), T.S Radhakrishnana, Vidyadharan Master, M. Jayachandran, Sarath, Perumbavoor G. Ravindranath and Gangai Amaran have lent music to his lyrics.

Chowallur’s devotional songs are a testament to his deep connection with the Almighty which became a source of solace and inspiration for many, guiding them towards a deeper understanding of God, and fostering a sense of unity and reverence for all humanity.