He was a poet who brought the beauty of poetry to lyrics of Malayalam cinema. He was a lyricist who gifted many sweet and simple songs to Malayalam. This much is more than enough to describe Yusufali Kechery, the wordsmith born on the banks of Kechery River, who became the source of lingering Malayalam diction.
Kechery’s songs evoke sweet memories in a mind brimming with love. He was only the third Malayali poet, after Vayalar and ONV, to win a national award for lyrics. He was Malayalam’s dear poet who gave a bunch of sweet songs, starting with “Mylanchithoppil mayangi nilkunna monchathi”, for the film “Moodupadam”. He has penned meaningful songs through very simple verses immersed in love.
It is said that a film lyricist has to write love songs the most. There is an immortal love song in the 1968 movie “Anchu Sundarikal”, penned by Yusufali and composed by Baburaj. He wrote that love was “Mayajalacheppinullile manikyakallanu”.
Yusufali Kechery
He described love simply for the new generation in the 1998 movie “Sneham” as “Perariyathoru nombaram”, and the song turned out to be a super hit. Any ordinary person could understand his verses.
There is one song that has a place at the front among Kechery’s masterpieces, which made him a notable presence in Malayalam cinema: “Surumayezhuthiya mizhikale, pranayamadhurathen thulumbum suryakanthipookkale”.
The song he wrote in 1979 for the film “Itha Oru Theeram”, “Akkareikkare ninnal engane aasa theerum”, is still sung by lovers. “Hridayam ente hridayam ninakku vendi, ninakku mathram vendi”, the title song which he wrote in 1980 for the film “Hridayam Padunnu”, is still dear to young lovers. The same year, he penned a megahit love song for the film “Meen”: “Ullasapoothirikal kannilaninjavale”.
Yusufali Kechery
1981 saw the birth of another one of his songs dripping with love: “Thaliraninju malaraninju pranayamandaram thazhuki neeyen kavililunarthi madanasindooram” for the film “Sanchari”.
All the songs he wrote in 1987 for the film “Dhwani” were outstanding. Among them were two super-hit love songs: “Anuragalolarathri varavayi neelarathri” and “Rathisughasaramayi devi ninmei varthora daivam kalakaran”.
Another masterpiece was penned in 1987 by Yusufali: “Vaisakha sandhye nin chundil enthe”, the hit song from the film “Nadodikattu”. Sargam, the super-hit film, was released in 1992, and all the songs in it were equally popular. Though all of them were worthy of a place in people’s hearts, there was one song that got more admirers: “Kannadi aadyamayen”.
It was in 1993 that he created three beautiful songs for the film “Ghazal”: “Vadakkuninnu paarivanna vanambadi koodorukki kathirippu ninneyum thedi”, “Isalthen kanam konduva thennale nee ghazalpookkalale chirichu vasantham”, and “Iniyumundoru janmamenkil”.
His song for the 1994 film “Parinayam”, “Anchusarangalum porathe manmadhan nin chiri sayakamakki, nin punchiri sayakamakki”, is hummed by young lovers even today. But much before that Kechery’s hero had sung this about his lonely and delicate heroine: “Omalale kandu njan poonkinavil tharakangal punchiricha neelaravil”. Though it was a dream, it was beautiful!
For the film “Five-Star Hospital”, he wrote the sweet song “Ithra madhurikkumo premam ithra kulirekumo”, giving the impression that he delved deep into the feeling of love.
The song “Thenanu nin swaram pattukari” from the 1999 film “Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum” is one that melts into love. These were only a few of his beautiful love songs.