“Each one of us may feel that any moment that man could walk into this auditorium, with a cloth bag on his shoulder. Such is the presence of Gireesh Puthencheri in our lives,” said lyricist-musician Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
For a second, most of the audience had a wistful look on their faces, which faded away immediately as Kaithapram started recalling his association with the late lyricist who passed away five years ago.
The release of the book Gireesh Puthencheri – Novinte Ororma, edited by K.A. Nazir and published by Granma Books, added to the memories of the lyricist that are kept alive through his songs.
Unsual rise
Writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, who released the book, termed Gireesh’s rise in the Malayalam film industry as the unusual rise of a star.
In his inaugural address, MT said that even much-learned people had a kind of disgust for lyricists, compared to poets, which was unfounded. “I liked Gireesh’s songs before I met him. I advised him to keep his poetry alive and he did,” MT said and added that it was the unconventional nature of Gireesh’s lyrics that endeared him.
Writer-politician M.P. Veerendrakumar said that Gireesh did not need to be alone to be lonely, so that he could write.
“He could be lonely amidst a crowd and engage in his creative work,” he said.
Vande Mukunda Hare
Writer V.R. Sudheesh, who introduced the book, revealed that it was Gireesh who penned the classical number ‘Vande Mukunda Hare…’ in the film Devasuram , which came as a surprise to most people.
“I have heard many people sing it, thinking that it was written by one of the ancient poets such as Cherusseri, Poonthanam or Ramapurathu Warrier,” Mr. Sudheesh said and added that the song was the best one out of Gireesh’s pen.
Purushan Kadalundy, MLA, presided over the function. Writers K.E.N. Kunhahammad and K.P. Sudheera were present.
