Kutty Kunju Thankachi

Lakshmy Pilla (14 February 1820 – 13 February 1904), better identified as Kutti Kunju Thankachi, was an Indian composer and writer of Malayalam literature, known to be the first female poet and composer of Kerala. The daughter of Irayimman Thampi, the noted composer of Omanathinkal Kidavo and a musician at the court of Swathi Thirunal, she was the author of a number of attakathas such as Parvathiswayamvaram and Mithrasahamoksham. Sreemathy Swayamvaram and a play, Ajnathavasam.

Kutti Kunju Thankachi
Born
Lakshmy Pilla

(1820-02-14)14 February 1820
Vilavancode taluk, Travancore, India
Died13 February 1904(1904-02-13) (aged 83)
Travancore
OccupationPoet, playwright, composer
Spouse(s)Kunjan Thamban, Kunjunni Thamban
ChildrenEight children
Parent(s)

Biography

Kutti Kunju Thankachi, née Lakshmy Pilla, was born on 14 February 1820 at Vilavancode taluk of the Travancore state, presently in Kanyakumari district of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, to Irayimman Thampi and Kalipilla Thankachi.[1] Her early education was under her father;[note 1] she studied under Harippadu Kochuppilla Varrier, simultaneously learning Thiruvathira dance from her father.[3] Her first marriage was in 1834 to Kunjan Thampan of Cherthala Varanadu Naduvilel Kovilakam but after the death of Thampan in 1851, she married again in 1861; the marriage with Kunjunni Thampan lasting a decade until his death in 1871. She had eight children, from her two marriages. She was afflicted with eye disease from her childhood, lost her eye sight completely by 1902 and died on 13 February 1904, at the age of 83.[1]

Legacy

Thankachi, known to be the first woman poet[4] and composer of Kerala,[3] wrote eighteen books comprising three attakathas, Parvathiswayamvaram, Mithrasahamoksham and Sreemathy Swayamvaram,[5] several poems, two kurathi songs, a thullal and a play, Ajnathavasam.[6] Noted critic, S. Gupthan Nair, has stated that Thankachi had gained popularity as a poet during her time itself and people used to visit her to read their poems to listen to her opinions.[7] She was known to have good knowledge of Sanskrit and she composed songs in several ragas such as Kambhoji, Kalyaani, Naatta, Khamas and Surutti.[8][9]

Literary contributions
No. Work Genre
1Shivaraari MahatmyamThiruvathira songs
2Seetha Swayamvaram'Thiruvathira songs
3Narada MohanamThiruvathira songs
4Thiruvananthapuram SthalapuranamKilippattu
5Vaikom SthalapuranamKilippattu
6KirathamKurathipattu (folk song)
7NalacharithamKurathipattu (folk song)
8Ganga SnanamTullal
9ParvathiswayamvaramAttakatha
10MithrasahamokshamAttakatha
11Sreemathy SwayamvaramAttakatha
12Anchita Saubhagya Lakshmi (for Princess Vanchi)Tharattu (lullaby)
13AjnathavasamPlay
14Asharavamsha Dinesha VibhoKummi (folk song)

Musical compositions
Work Language Raga Tala Remarks
Katyayan mam palayaMalayalamKambhojiAdi talaon Palkulangara Devi
Saamaja hara haraMalayalamKalyaniAdi talaon Thiruvattar Keshava Swami
Sooryakoti sama prabha makuteSanskritNataAdi talaon Mookambika
Paahi mohana kruteSanskritKhamasAdi talaon Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami
Anandaroopa hareMalayalamPantuvaraliChapuon Malayinkeezhu Sree Krishna Swami
Shri pavanapurushaMalayalamSurutiAdi talaon Lord Krishna
Bandurangi Kintu cheyvu njanMalayalamHuseniAdi talaPadam
Balike, pokarudanethoMalayalamShankarabharanamAdi talaPadam
Indal valarunnitayyayyoMalayalamBilahariAdi talaPadam
Ha ramananayi marannoMalayalamKambhojiAdi talaPadam
Kulasekhara maharaja bhupatheSanskritDarbarRoopakaTillana
Dayithe thurakkoo vathilMalayalamTodiAdi talaVathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)
Yahi yahi mohanakarteMalayalamMadhyamavathiAdi talaVathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)
Kaama komalaakaaraMalayalamRagamalikaAdi talaVathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)

See also

Notes
  1. She was known to be his only student of Irayimman Thampi[2]

References
  1. "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. "Composers - Irayimman Thampi ( 1782–1856)". ramyasspace. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. "KUTTIKUNJU THANGACHI The First Woman Composer in (the present day) kaRNATik tradition". carnatica.net. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. "Brehath Sangeetha Kendram - Kerala Composers". brehathsangeet.com. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. Santhosh, K. (21 April 2015). "Breathing life into Kutti Kunju Thankachi's play". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  6. "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. "Women Writers of Kerala - Kuttykunju Thankachi". womenwritersofkerala.com. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  8. "Composers and Musicians Kutti Kunju Thankachi (1820-1904)". www.swathithirunal.in. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  9. "Carnatic Music in Kerala". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 7 April 2019.

Further reading
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