Manoj Kuroor

Manoj Kuroor (born 31 May 1971) is an Indian poet, novelist and lyricist who writes in Malayalam.

Personal life Manoj Kuroor was born at Kottayam, to chenda exponent Kuroor Cheriya Vasudevan Namboothiri and Sreedevi Andarjanam. He is the grandson of Kathakali artist Kuroor Vasudevan Namboothiri. Manoj learnt Thayambaka and Kathakali melam from his father and then from Aayamkudi Kuttappa Marar. and they have a daughter and a son.

Career Manoj is the author of three novels: Nilam Poothu Malarnna Naal , Murinavu , and Manalppava , which are based on various periods of Kerala's cultural history.

The first two novels were translated into Tamil by K. V. Jeyasri, and the translation of Nilam Poothu Malarnna Naal won the Sahitya Akademi Award (2020).

Nilam Poothu Malarnna Naal has also been translated into English by Dr. J. Devika and published by Bloomsbury Books.

Manoj composed two Kathakali librettos Panchali Dhananjayam and Bhagavad Geetha during his college days. For this book, Manoj won the S. B. T. Poetry Award in 2005.

In October 2005, he published a fiction poem named Coma in Bhashaposhini, which was later published as an independent book in 2006. For this book, he won the Kanakasree Award of Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2007.

Manoj has published more than 50 articles on various topics such as western classical music, classical art forms, popular music, folklore art forms, cinema, literature, and cyber culture. He also writes poems and literary criticism in contemporary publications.

Manoj has written songs for several movies, including a three-scene aattakatha for the film Vanaprastham. He composed music for two of P. Balachandran's dramas Maya Seethangam: Oru Punyapuranaprasna Nadakam

Awards and recognitions Padmarajan Award, 2021 (Murinavu)

Published works

Manoj's published works are listed below:

Murinavu, D. C. Books, 2020 Nilam Poothu Malarnna Naal, D. C. Books, 2015, Uthamapurushan Katha Parayumpol (When the First-Person Narrates), Rainbow Books, Chengannur, 2004. Nathonnatha Nadivazhi 44: Poems on Rivers, Rainbow Books, Chengannur, 2003. Anchati Jnanappana Onappattu, D. C. Books, Kottayam, 1996 Coma, D. C. Books, Kottayam, 2006 Shanmugha Vijayam Attakatha, 1989 Rahmania: Indian Sangeethathinte Aagola Sancharam, Rainbow Books, Chengannur Nirappakittulla Nrithasangeetham, D. C. Books, Kottayam, Keralathile Thaalangalum Kalakalum, Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, 2014,

His poems are included in the following anthologies: Yuvakavithakkoottam, D. C. Books, Kottayam, 1999. Kavithayude Noottandu (The Century of Poems), Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative society, Kottayam, 2001. Kavithavarsham (The Rain of Poetry), Green Books, Thrissur, 2003. Paristhithikkavithakal (Poems on Environment), S. P. C. S., Kottayam, 2006. Disakal (The Directions), National Book Trust, Delhi, 2007.

As lyricist

The following table contains the list of songs Manoj has written for movies. Track Song title Movie 1 Kaaminee Mama Manorathagaaminee Vanaprastham, 1999 2 Arjuna Vallabhayallao Njan Vanaprastham, 1999 3 Kandu Njan Thozhee Vanaprastham, 1999 4 Kaliyay Nee Swapaanam, 2014 5 Andarangameevidham Swapaanam, 2014 6 Mazhaville Swapaanam, 2014 7 Paalazhi Thedum Swapaanam, 2014 8 Oru Vela Raavinnakam Swapaanam, 2014 9 Maadhava Maasamo Swapaanam, 2014 10 Irul Mazhayil Angels, 2014 11 Ethippoyi Loham 12 Ranam (Title Track) Ranam (2018 film)