Kechery is a river, one that flows freely, gurgling melodies and giving meaning to the word poet. Eight decades have passed since that river has started flowing, covering the banks with silken songs. If a poet can be described as one who knows everything and composes sound, then how else can the sultan of songs, Yusufali Kechery, be qualified other than a river of poetry?
Yusufali, who was born in the midst of melodious Mappila songs, grew up imbibing the simplicity of poetry by immersing in the pristine source of Sanskrit verses. At Sooraj Mahal in Kechery, Thrissur, surrounded by a wall of honours, the poet is still alive amidst papers and pens that have not dried up yet. This is a journey into the poetic life of the nightingale of Malayalam film lyrics.
Influence of Mappila songs
He was born on May 16, 1934, in Kechery village, which echoed with Mappila songs. Inside his ancestral house, it was his mother, Najmakutty, who carved the fountain of poetry in Yusufali through her beautiful Mappila songs.
Najmakutty, the daughter of Eramkulam Ahmad Vaidyar, the creator of good Mappila songs, passed the artistic tradition to her son through lullabies. At that time, Kechery was a hamlet unknown to the outside world. The songs sung by men travelling on the country road outside his home in bullock carts and verses recited by children sitting below glass lamps woke up poetic imagination in Yusufali.
Hallucinatory world
Yusufali was only 10 years old when songs began to take shape inside him. It was his Malayalam teacher in class five, E.P. Bharatha Pisharody, who advised him to study Sanskrit, astounded by his pupil’s hallucinatory world. Thus Yusufali went to Kerala Varma College for higher studies. The fame of a hamlet called Kechery began to grow with the name of a youth called Yusufali from there.
He studied under the tutelage of Dr K.P. Narayana Pisharody, a Sanskrit pundit. Pisharody took Yusufali as his student when learning Sanskrit was the domain of only a section of the society. Thus, along with the Prophet, Krishna and Christ too became an experience beyond explanation for Yusufali, who was realising the depth of the Prophet’s statement: “O Abu Hurairah, you learn Syriac well, and then you can study Bible well.”
Though he started his literary career writing Mappila songs, he shifted to the world of poetry when he was learning law. That is how Kechery River came to be known outside through verse. While he was practising as an advocate, Yusufali published poems in weeklies. It was at that time that he became the friend of a person who used to write poems for a Malayalam weekly magazine published in Madras. It was none other than Ramu Kariat!
Kariat, a renowned director, decided to make a film titled 'Moodupadam' in 1962. The songs were written by P. Bhaskaran. However, because of some unexpected changes during shooting, a song in a Muslim background was needed for the film. When the question of who should pen that song came up, Kariat thought of Yusufali. Thus, the song, 'Mylanchithoppil mayangi nilkunna monchathi', was born, and Yusufali became a lyricist.
From law to lyrics
Once his first song got noticed, Yusufali became active in writing lyrics for films. Beautiful and melodious songs flowed from his pen. Since there used to be up to 10 songs in one film at that time, writing lyrics became a source of income for him. Thus he stopped practising as an advocate and concentrated on writing songs. His deep knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindi, English and Malayalam and the breadth of his reading increased the depth of his creations.
Since he had read Mahabharatham, Bhagavatham and Ramayanam in Sanskrit, his songs laced with love of Krishna always brought tears to the eyes of Malayalis. Songs such as “Chanchala, chanchala nayanam” in the film “Kalyanapanthal”, “Janaki jane” in “Dhwani” and “Geyam harinamadheyam” in “Mazha” were all written completely in Sanskrit. Thus, he has the honour of being a lyricist who has written film songs completely in Sanskrit.
The bard's muse
It was when Yusufali’s songs became more famous than Kechery River that Khadija came as the life partner of the poet. Yusufali has said that 'Surumayezhuthiya mizhikale' was written with his wife in mind. When Baburaj tuned that song on his harmonium and sang it, Yusufali cried. This could also have been a reason why there was a lot of understanding between them.
Though there was an unusual chemistry between them, they have worked together only in nine films. On that count, Yusufali remembers that Devarajan was his long-term partner. They composed songs in 42 films. He has also written songs for most of the music directors in Malayalam, such as K. Raghavan, M.K. Arjunan, Bombay Ravi, S.P. Venkatesh, Ilayaraja, Shyam, K.J. Ummar and Jerry Amaldev.
A pristine flow
Yusufali always believed that poetry was a pristine flow from the soul. That is why he never went after any director with his poems. But he gave generously to those who went to him. Whether the lyrics were written after the music was composed or before that, he did not mind. His only condition was that the verses should be lyrical. Because of that he seldom altered his lines unnecessarily.
Once he wrote a song starting 'Mankidave va' for a film. The music director insisted that the first line should be changed. Yusufali said that, if he was so insistent, remove him as the lyricist, but not the line.
Honours galore
The ocean of literary work created by Yusufali in his 80 years can be summarised as 63 years of poetry and 54 years of film songs. During this period he wrote 15 poetry collections that touched the heart of Malayalis and about 400 film songs. He directed the films 'Maram', 'Vanadevatha' and 'Neelathamara'.
And his living room has a long line of honours that have been bestowed upon him, such as the National Film Award, the State Film Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Prize, Changampuzha Award, Mooloor Award, Olappamanna Award, Ulloor Award, Lumiere Award, Film Critics Award and the Kavanakauthukam Award.