It is all in the lines
R. MADHAVAN NAIR
|
Sreedharanunni's verses draw images from myths and classics to address contemporary issues.
|
POETIC BEND: Sreedharanunni's new collection of poems, `Aduppu,' will be shortly released. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
Sreedharanunni's poems radiate a charm that is difficult to define, like the fragrance of a flower, remarked poet Vishnunarayanan Namboodiri.
Sreedharanunni, who had made his reputation as a poet long before the Kerala Sahithya Akademi honoured him with its Award for poetry this year, says it was by sheer chance that he came to recognise his poetic talent.
"I was in the sixth standard. It was my duty to water a banana plant in the courtyard daily. I saw it grow day by day and finally it bore a bunch of bananas. I was overjoyed. And one day it disappeared. I was heartbroken. I did not know it would have to go one day... like everything else.. I thought writing down what I felt would ease my distress. It came to just four lines. Through my lines, I tried to convey that expectations and aspirations also bring disappointment and distress," reminisces Sreedharanunni.
Craft of writing
Soon, he realised that he had a firm grip over the craft of writing poetry. His Headmaster, who came to know of his interest in versification, asked him to write a poem for the Independence Day function at his school.
Later, he was asked to write and read a poem on the Indian national flag.
"These assignments strengthened myy confidence," recalls Sreedharanunni.
His big break came when his poem was published in the children's section of the Mathrubhumi weekly. And on a Children's Day, All India Radio invited him to read a poem at the poetry reading session on the campus of Zamorin's High School.
"It was my first public performance. Suvarna Nalappat and Mankamppu Gopalakrishnan also read their poems at the function," recalls Sreedharanunni. He was then in Class Nine.
He took pains to hone his poetic skills. "Particularly helpful were the training programmes conducted by Kerala Sahithya Samiti those days. [Joseph] Mundasserry master, Vayalar Rama Varma, G. Sankara Kurup, N.V. Krishna Varier and Kuttipuzha were among the eminent poets who spoke to the participants."
Meeting with Kakkad
But it was his meeting with poet Kakkad that led to the flowering of his poetic talent.
"I am deeply indebted to Kakkad for what I am today. He was my guru in life and my poetry," admits Sreedharanunni.
Sukumar Azhikode and C.A. Shepherd, who taught him English at St. Joseph's College, Devagiri-Kozhikode, and talked to him about John Donne and T.S. Eliot were also major influences in his early poetic life.
Born in 1944 in Pannikkottoor village in Narikuni in Kozhikode district, Sreedharanunni studied in Nanmanda High School and later graduated in Botany from St Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode. He joined All India Radio as a sub editor and retired as programme executive in 2004.
Over the years, Sreedharanunni's poems have gained a sociological relevance.
"Initially, I was content using concrete images. Now I find myself going back to classical literature and myths to address contemporary issues confronting modern man.
`Kshenapatram' (`Invitation' - a collection of poems for which he has been honoured by Kerala Sahithya Akademi) is considered a faithful reflection of Sreedharanunni's poetic personality. "This poem is an attempt to present a cross section of our times, a mix of the romantic past and sordid realities of the present," says the poet.
Last year, Sreedharanunni represented Kerala at a poetry-reading programme at Santiniketan, Kolkota. There he had read out an English translation of his poem `How came this well into being?'
Sreedharanunni finds the poetic scene in Kerala quite vibrant. Pavithran Theekkunni, who sells fish when he is not writing poetry, stands high in his rating of young Malayalam poets.
Vigour and punch
He believes there is a lot of vigour and punch in what the new poets write. But he is disappointed that contemporary Malayalam poets have almost totally rejected the metre and embraced free verse though the language has enough metrical possibilities to accommodate the most intense of emotions and philosophical thoughts. "This was also Kakkad's view," he adds.
In addition to the Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, he is also the recipient of Kakkad Prize, Edassery Award, Kuttamath Award and the State Government award for songs in drama in 1985. He has written more than 1,000 songs for programmes broadcast by All India Radio. Some of Sreedharanunni's books are `Uyarthezhunelppu,' `Vazhy,' `Kattu Varunnu,' and `Kavakarante pattu,' all collections of poems. `Aduppu,' another collection of his poems, will be shortly released.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
