Appan Thachethu

Neelakanta Menon, also known as Appan Thachethu was born in 1937. He was the eldest son of Ernakulam Elamkulam Thachethu Vettil Achyuthan Pillai and Nanikutty Amma. After his primary education at the Kaloor Muslim Munavvirul School, he went on to do his Pre-university and Malayalam Vidhwan courses at the Maharaja’s College. He secured a degree in Civil Engineering from the Madras Maithili University and also a Diploma in Business Management. He worked as a civil engineer in Larsen and Toubro at Chennai.

Thachethu Appan who started writing from his school days was known for his works of poetry and children’s literature. His collections of poetry include Pooppaalika, Apsarassukal, Udayasthamayangal, Nirangal Nizhalukal, Ekakiyude Veena, Ninnekkurichu Veendum, Gopurathile Kuruvi and Kaliveedu.

Thachethu Appan who has written songs for 10 movies, entered the field of cinema through his song for the movie ‘Sindooram’. ‘Devi… Nin Chiriyil… Kuliro Paaloliyo… from Rajaparampara is one of his most popular hits. He has to his credit about a hundred devotional albums, songs for about 120 dramas, 10 Lalitha Ganam albums and five audio compilations of poetry. His family published his memoires titled ‘Snehatheerangal’ on his 70th birthday.

Thachethu Appan who was undergoing treatment for kidney related complications, died on the morning of July 2nd, 2011, in a private hospital in Ernakulam.

Courtesy: Mathrubhoomi

Prepared by: Remitha Satheesh