Bichu Thirumala


B. Sivasankaran Nair, popularly known as Bichu Thirumala is an Indian lyricist and poet from Kerala, who works in the Malayalam film industry. He, along with O. N. V. Kurup, is known for creating the style of arranging beautiful words in Malayalam film songs. In Malayalam cinema, Bichu Thirumala led the group of lyricists who wrote songs for readymade tunes. In 1981, he won the Kerala State Film Award for the best lyricist for the films Thrishna and Thenum Vayambum. Thirumala won the same award for the second time in 1991, for the Rajasenan directed film Kadinjool Kalyanam.
His prolific Malayalam film repertoire includes work with eminent composers like G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamurthy, M.S. Baburaj, K. Raghavan, M.S. Viswanathan, A.T. Ummer, Shyam, K.J. Joy, Shankar Ganesh, Jaya Vijaya, Raveendran, Jerry Amaldev, Johnson, Ouseppachan, Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman and the list goes on.

Career

Bichu Thirumala started his lyricist career in the 1972 Malayalam film Bhaja Govindam. After his modest beginning, Thirumala went on to become one of the most successful Malayalam lyricists and wrote songs for such notable music directors as Shyam, A. T. Ummer, Raveendran, G. Devarajan, and Ilaiyaraaja. In the 1970s he teamed up with music director A. T. Ummer to compose many sweet melodies. Bichu Thirumala penned the lines for AR Rahman's one and only Malayalam music for film, Yodha. His first song "Brahma Muhoorthathil" became popular as a "lalitha gaanam" or light song since the movie Bhaja Govindam did not see the light of the day. Radio Ceylon used to air the song in the early-1970s.

Family

Bichu Thirumala was born to C. G. Bhaskaran Nair and Sasthamangalam Pattanikkunnu Veettil Parukutty Amma on February 13, 1941. Originally named Sivasankaran Nair, he is the eldest child of his parents. His siblings are late Balagopalan, popular singer P. Susheela Devi and music director Darsan Raman. He is married to Prasanna and they have a son named Suman Bichu.

Awards

- 1981 for Thrishna and Thenum Vayampum
Kerala State Film Award For Best Lyricist - 1991 for Kadinjool Kalyanam
Critics Award - 1981
Film Fans Award - 1978
Stallion International Award
Vamadevan Award
Sree Chithirathirunal Award
P.Bhaskaran Award