Damodaran Kaithapram

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, singer, screenwriter and Carnatic vocalist. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of art, from Kerala ^[1].

Learning music at home

He was born on 2 June 1950 into a poor Brahmin family ^[2]. His father, Kesavan Namboothiri, known as Kannadi Bhagavathar, was a devoted student of the Carnatic master Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, and Damodaran inherited his gift for music, later studying under teachers such as S. V. S. Narayanan ^[2].

From newspaper to film

He started out as a journalist with the Mathrubhumi newspaper, where he came to know writers such as M. T. Vasudevan Nair ^[2]. Work with the theatre groups of Kavalam Narayana Panicker and Narendra Prasad gave him his first chances as a lyricist and composer ^[2].

He then entered Malayalam cinema as a lyricist, and over 30 years wrote more than 1,500 film songs with composers such as A. R. Rahman, Johnson, Ilaiyaraaja, Bombay Ravi and M. M. Keeravani ^[2]. In one year alone he wrote lyrics for about 30 films with Johnson ^[2]. As a Carnatic singer he has given more than 2,000 concerts in India and abroad ^[2].

Music in hospitals and peace work

With the Swathi Thirunal Kalakendram Trust, of which he is managing trustee, he has held free music sessions for patients in government hospitals across Kerala ^[2]. After the communal violence at Marad in 2003 he went to the area himself and held gatherings for reconciliation and harmony ^[2].

He won the Kerala State Film Award for best lyricist in 1993 and 1996 and for best music director in 1997, along with Filmfare and Kerala film critics’ awards ^[2].