Veteran Malayalam songwriter and poet Bichu Thirumala passes away aged 80

Veteran Malayalam lyricist Bichu Thirumala passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram today, at the age of 80. The popular Malayalam poet had been hospitalised on Wednesday following a heart attack.

Thirumala, who was born B. Sivasankaran Nair, had started his musical career penning lyrics of the song Brahma Muhoorthathil, for the soundtrack of the 1972 film Bhaja Govindam.

The poet and songwriter rose to prominence after being a lyricist on several mainstream Mollywood films in the 1970s to the 1990s. He has penned over 3000 songs in over 400 movies during the span of his career. In addition to film songs he has also written the lyrics to popular devotional songs as well.

The veteran lyricist is the recipient of two Kerala State Film Awards for best lyricist. In 1981 he bagged the award for his work on Thenum Vayambum and Thrishna. He won the title again in 1991 for Kadinjool Kalyanam.

Thirumala has also collaborated with well known composers such as Johnson, Ouseppachan, Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman,G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamurthy and M.S. Baburaj, among others.

The lyricist has penned lyrics for the songs of films helmed by popular directors such as Fazil, IV Sasi, Sibi Malayil and Siddique Lal.

Some of the lyricists' other popular works include the songs Aayiram Kannumayi from Nokkethadhoorath Kannum Nattu, Ottakkambi Naadam from Thenum Vayambum, Padakaali from Yoddha. Thirumala had collaborated with Rahman in the latter.

Thirumala is survived by his wife and son. The latter, Suman Bichu, is a music director.