S. Ramesan Nair

{{Short description|Indian lyricist and poet (1948–2021)}} {{for|the Malayalam language poet and orator|S. Ramesan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox writer  | image = S. Ramesan Nair BNC.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = S. Ramesan Nair in 2014 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|05|03|df=y}} | birth_place = Kumarapuram, Travancore<br />present-day Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2021|06|18|1948|05|03}} | death_place = Ernakulam, Kerala, Kerala, India | resting_place = | occupation = Lyricist, author, poet, translator | language = Malayalam | genre = Poet and lyricist | subject = | spouse = P. Rema | children = Manu Ramesan | influences = | influenced = | awards = * Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 * Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 2018 | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | honorific_prefix = | years_active = 1985–2021 }}

'''S. Ramesan Nair''' (3 May 1948 – 18 June 2021) was an Indian lyricist and poet who worked predominantly in the Malayalam film industry. Over his career he wrote songs for over 170 films and over 3,000 devotional songs outside of the films. He debuted with the movie ''Pathamudhayam'' in 1985. He was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2010 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 for his collection of poems ''Gurupournami''.

==Early life== S. Ramesan Nair was born on 3 May 1948 in a village named Kumarapuram in the present-day Kanyakumari district, in Tamil Nadu, as the son of Shadananan Thampi and Parvathi Amma.<ref name=":0" /> Being born in an area with high Tamil influence, he was equally fluent in both Malayalam and Tamil. Due to the intense passion towards poetry, he dropped his admission for MBBS and graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1966 and later completed his post graduation in Malayalam Literature in 1972. He worked as a sub editor in Kerala Bhasha Institute and also worked with the All India Radio as a producer.<ref name=":0" />

==Career== Nair was a playwright, lyricist, translator and commentator of classical Indian literature such as the Tamil works ''Chalappathikaram'' and ''Tirukkuṟaḷ''. He achieved wide appreciations as a poet through works like ''Sooryahridayam,'' before starting his accomplished career as film lyricist in 1985 by penning songs for the movie ''Pathamudayam''. He wrote songs for 170 films and 3,000 devotional tracks.<ref name=":1">Kolappan, B. (8 December 2018). [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-born-writer-wins-sahitya-akademi-award-for-malayalam-work/article25693691.ece "Tamil Nadu-born writer wins Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam work"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108142826/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-born-writer-wins-sahitya-akademi-award-for-malayalam-work/article25693691.ece |date=8 November 2020 }}. Chennai: ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 1 April 2019.</ref>

== Filmography == {{Main| S. Ramesan Nair filmography}}Nair made his entry into Malayalam films by writing songs for ''Rangam'' in 1985 for director I.V. Sasi. Through his career he went on to write songs for over 170 films working for composers including M. G. Radhakrishnan, Ouseppachan, Berny-Ignatius, Raveendran, Vidyasagar and Shyam.<ref name=":5" />

Some of the popular movies for which he wrote songs included ''Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom, Aadyathe Kanmani, Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava, 19 April, Aniyathipraavu, and Raakuyilin Raagasadassil.''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=18 June 2021 |title=Veteran Malayalam poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair passes away at 73 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/veteran-malayalam-poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-at-73-7365283/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618152413/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/veteran-malayalam-poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-at-73-7365283/ |url-status=live}}</ref> His notable songs in these movies included ''Aavaniponnunjal, Mayilay Parannuva, Manju peyyana, Aniyathipravinu, Onnanam Kunninmel, Ambadi Payyukal Meyyum, Thei Oru Thenavayal'' and ''Oru Rajamalli''.<ref name=":5" /> His last film as lyricist was My dear Machans in 2021.

==Awards and honours== S. Ramesan Nair received several accolades including

* Edasseri Award in 1983 for his poem ''Soorya Hrudayam''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Names of winners of Edasseri Award since its inception |url=https://www.edasseri.org/English/memorial_awards.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=edasseri.org}}</ref> * Vennikkulam Smaraka Award instituted by the Thadiyoor Dakshina Samskarika Vedhi in 2007.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Vennikkulam-award-for-Ramesan-Nair/article14848856.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |title=Vennikkulam award for Ramesan Nair |date=2 October 2007 |accessdate=6 September 2019 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625175840/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Vennikkulam-award-for-Ramesan-Nair/article14848856.ece |url-status=live}}</ref> * Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for lifetime achievement in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 June 2021 |title=Poet Ramesan Nair dead |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/poet-ramesan-nair-dead/article34851519.ece |access-date=18 June 2021 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618142412/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/poet-ramesan-nair-dead/article34851519.ece |url-status=live}}</ref> * Asan Memorial Poetry Prize in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Malayalam poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair no more - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/malayalam-poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-no-more/articleshow/83658974.cms |access-date=19 June 2021 |website=The Times of India |date=19 June 2021 |language=en |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621022409/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/malayalam-poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-no-more/articleshow/83658974.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> * Amrita Keerthi Puraskar in 2014<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-24 |title=Amrita Keerthi Puraskar for S Ramesan Nair |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/Sep/24/amrita-keerthi-puraskar-for-s-ramesan-nair-664458.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> * Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award under Light Music category in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasangeethanatakaakademi.in/fa.php |title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowships and Awards |publisher=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813144417/http://www.keralasangeethanatakaakademi.in/fa.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Balamani Amma Award in 2016 for lifetime achievement in language and literature instituted by Antharashtra Pusthakotsava Samithy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balamani Amma Award Section |url=https://bookfestkochi.org/awards/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=bookfestkochi.org}}</ref> * Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 for the work ''Guru Pournami''.<ref name=":2">Kolappan, B. (8 December 2018). [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-born-writer-wins-sahitya-akademi-award-for-malayalam-work/article25693691.ece "Tamil Nadu-born writer wins Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam work"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108142826/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-born-writer-wins-sahitya-akademi-award-for-malayalam-work/article25693691.ece |date=8 November 2020 }}. Chennai: ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 1 April 2019.</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=എസ്. രമേശന്‍ നായര്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.doolnews.com/s-ramesan-nair-passed-away-666.html |access-date=19 June 2021 |website=DoolNews |language=en |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200942/https://www.doolnews.com/s-ramesan-nair-passed-away-666.html |url-status=live}}</ref> * Ramapurathu Warrier award in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-15 |title=Thousands witness Aranmula Uthrittathi water fest |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/Sep/15/thousands-witness-aranmula-uthrittathi-water-fest-2034165.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> * Venmani literature award * Jnanappana Award * Ulloor Award<ref>{{Cite web |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=മാധ്യമം |date=18 June 2021 |title=ഗാനരചയിതാവ് എസ്. രമേശന്‍ നായര്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു {{!}} Madhyamam|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/s-ramesan-nair-passed-away-812285|access-date=19 June 2021|website=www.madhyamam.com|language=en|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202012/https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/s-ramesan-nair-passed-away-812285|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life== Nair was married to his wife P. Rama, a school teacher. The couple had a son, Manu Ramesan, a music composer in the Malayalam movie industry. Nair died at the age of 73 on 18 June 2021, at Lakshmi hospital in Ernakulam, due to COVID-19<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2021 |title=Poet-lyricist S Ramesan Nair passes away |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-1.5760303 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=18 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195903/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/poet-lyricist-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-1.5760303 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=കവിയും ഗാനരചയിതാവുമായ എസ്.രമേശൻ നായർ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/06/18/poet-and-songwriter-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away.html |access-date=18 June 2021 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618131304/https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/06/18/poet-and-songwriter-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=കവിയും ഗാനരചയിതാവുമായ എസ് രമേശൻ നായർ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/kerala-news/poet-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-quwf04 |access-date=18 June 2021 |website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |language=ml |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200410/https://www.asianetnews.com/kerala-news/poet-s-ramesan-nair-passes-away-quwf04 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> related complications. He was diagnosed earlier with cancer, and also suffered from many other illnesses.<ref name=":5" /> He was cremated with full state honours on the next day. He is survived by his wife Rema, son Manu and granddaughter Mayika.

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, S. Ramesan}} Category:1948 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century Indian male writers Category:20th-century Indian poets Category:21st-century Indian male writers Category:21st-century Indian poets Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India Category:Indian male poets Category:Malayalam-language lyricists Category:Malayalam poets Category:People from Kanyakumari district Category:Poets from Tamil Nadu Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award