Vyloppilli
Sreedhara Menon (11 May 1911 – 22 December 1985) was a renowned Indian poet of
Kerala. He was born on 11 May 1911 in Kaloor in the Ernakulum district .After
taking his bachelor’s degree in science he took B.T. and joined as teacher in
government service in 1931.He started writing under the pen name 'Sree' and his
very first collection 'Kannikkoythu' (Maiden Harvest), which came out in 1947,
attracted the attention of critics by its innovative style freefrom the
clutches of the Romantic tradition. He was associated with Samastha Kerala
Sahithya Parishath the biggest forum for Malayalamwriters at that time, for
more than 10 years. He represented Kerala in the national poets'meetings held
at Delhi (1951 and 1969) and Bangalore (1965). In 1970 he toured the Soviet
Union. He was the first President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham,a forum of
progressive writers led by leftist intellectuals and artists.He is considered
by literary historians as one of the major voices in Malayalam poetry who
marked the transition from the Romantic to the modern era. A scientific insight
into the historical roots of social evolution and a deeper understanding of the
psychological undercurrents of the human mind characterise his poetry. His
mastery of the medium is evident in all his poems both lyrical and narrative.
He died on December 22, 1985 and his body was cremated on the banks of river
Bharathappuzha
Mambazham in Malayalam language translates to “ripe mango”. The poet
depicts memories of an unfortunate mother who just lost her child. “Mambazham”
begins with a mother weeping when she notices a ripe mango fruit falling from
the tree in her courtyard. She regretfully remembers an incident, when she
scolded her child for plucking the mango flowers. She warned him that, if he
plucked the flowers it would never yield fruits. The child felt disheartened
and sad. He threw away the mango flowers, which he plucked from the tree and
arrogantly declared that he would never go near the tree again, even for
picking the mangoes. The poet reminds us that children are like GOD and their
words could come true.
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His major works
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Kannikoythu
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Sreerekha
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Onappatukar
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Makarakoythu
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Vithum Kaikkottum
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Vida
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Kaipavallari
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kadalkkakkakal
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Kuruvikal
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Kudiyozhikkal
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Minnaminni
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Pachakkuthira
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Mukulamala
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Krishnamrigangal
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Charithrathile Charudrisyam
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Anthi Chayunnu
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Kunnimanikal
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Risyasringanum Alexandarum (Play)
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Kavyalokasmaranakal (Autobiography)
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Mambazham
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Awards
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Madras Government Award
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M. P. Paul prize
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Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1965) for Kaipavallari
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Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (1972) for Vida
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Vayalar Award (1981) for Makarakoythu
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Sovietland Nehru Award (1964)
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Odakkuzhal Award
More about him in
Malayalam click here
