Kavalam Narayana Panicker Passes Away

Kavalam Narayana Panicker, the veteran dramatist-poet-lyricist passed away. The 88-year-old breathed his last on June 26th night at his Trivandrum residence, due to age-related issues. The funeral will take place on June 28th, Tuesday.

Narayana Panicker is survived by wife Sharadamani and younger son Kavalam Sreekumar, the popular theatre director cum classical-playback singer. His elder son Kavalam Harikrishnan passed away in 2009.

Kavalam started his career as a lawyer, in Thrissur. He developed a special interest towards literature and theatre during his life in Thrissur. Narayana Panicker has written about 26 plays and directed 2 films.

As a lyricist, he has worked for several films including Ulsavapittennu, Sarvakalaashala, Manjadikkuru, Amen, etc. He won the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Lyricist, in the years, 1978 and 1982.

Narayana Panicker was the director of Mohanlal's highly appreciated Sanskrit drama, Karnabharam. He was planning to launch a new a play adapted from the epic Shakuntala, with Manju Warrier in the lead role, soon.

Kavalam was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2007. He has also won several prestigious awards, including the Kalidas Samman of 1994 and Sangeet Natak Academy Award of 1983.