Poet Ettumanoor Somadasan passes away

KOTTAYAM:  Poet and lyricist Ettumanoor Somadasan, 75, died at a private hospital in Changanassery on Monday. Somadasan, who was suffering age-related illness, was undergoing treatment.He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including Kerala Sahitya Academy award, Mahakavi P Kunjiraman Nair Memorial award, Mahakavi Ulloor award, Kannasha Smaraka award, Krishna Geethi award and Vamadevan award.Somadasan had penned four novels and 30 poems. He wrote his first song for P R Chandran’s drama ‘Pukayunna Theemalakal’ in 1958. He penned four songs for Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s film ‘Kamuki’ in 1967. He had also written lyrics for films including, ‘Makam Pirana Manga’ and ‘Kanthavalayam’. Born to Madhavan Pillai and Parukuttiamma in 1936, Somadasan completed his intermediate from CMS Colege, Kottayam. After taking a degree in science from Trivandrum University college, he took a law degree from Trivandrum law college. He worked in Post and Telegraph from 1959 to 1964. Later, he did his Master’s degree in Malayalam from SB college changanassery in 1966. He taught Malayalam in different colleges. He is survived by wife Tulasibhai children S Kavitha and Dr S Prathibha.