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{{short description|Indian composer and poet (1868–1914)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
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{{Infobox writer
{{Unreferenced|date=March 2008}}
⚫
| name = K. C. Kesava Pillai
⚫
{{Infobox person
| image =
⚫
|name = K. C. Kesava Pillai
| caption =
|image = K.c.kesavapillai.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1868|2|4}}
| birth_place = [[Travancore]] (present-day [[Paravur, Kollam|Paravur]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1914|9|2|1868|2|4}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VpvjAAAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Music Academy|page=180}}</ref>
| death_place = Kerala, India
| nationality = [[India]]n
| genre =
| occupation = Teacher, poet, musician
| notableworks = {{ubl|''Kesaviyam''|''Adimalarina''|''Asanna Marana Chitha Sathakam''|''Sadarama''|''Bhashanarayaniyam''}}
| spouse = Kalyani Amma<br>Nanikutty Amma
| children =
| relatives = Valiyavelichathu Veettil Raman Pillai (father)<br> Desathu Lakshmy Amma (mother)<br>[[R. Narayana Panickar]]
| awards =
| signature =
}}
}}
'''K. C. Kesava Pillai''' (1868–1914) was a composer of [[Carnatic music]], Poet Laureate of [[Travancore]] and made contributions to [[Malayalam literature]]
'''Kanakku Chembakaraman Kesava Pillai''' (1868–1914) was an Indian composer of [[Carnatic music]] and a poet of [[Malayalam literature]]. He was the Poet Laureate of [[Travancore]] and was known for ''Kesaveeyam'', a [[mahakavya]] in Malayalam, two [[Attakatha (performance)|attakathas]] and several [[bhajans]] and [[kirtans]]. He also translated the [[Sanskrit]] text, [[Narayaniyam]], into Malayalam under the title, ''Bhashanarayaniyam''.


== Biography ==
==Life and Education in Kerala==
K. C. Kesava Pillai{{Refn|group=note|K. C. stands for ''Kanakku Chembakaraman'', a title given to Pillai's maternal family by the [[Maharajah of Travancore]]}} was born on February 4, 1868, in [[Travancore|Travancore kingdom]] to Valiyavelichathu Veettil Raman Pillai and Desathu Lakshmy Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/KCKesavapillai/Html/KCKPillaigraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-03-07 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> His early schooling was at Paravur Malayalam School where he studied up to 5th standard and followed it up with Sanskrit studies under the tutelage of Paravur Kesavan Asan and grammar studies under Enakkattu Rajaraja Varma.<ref name="K. C. Kesava Pillai - Veethi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/k._c._kesava_pillai-profile-4517-25.htm |title=K. C. Kesava Pillai - Veethi profile |date=2019-03-07 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> As a boy, Pillai regularly watched [[Kathakali]] and learnt the basics of [[Kathakali]] literature, costumes and [[mudra]]s, besides gaining proficiency in music. Aged 15, he wrote his first [[aattakatha (performance)|attakadha]], ''Prahladacharitham''.<ref name="A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.swathithirunal.in/articles/kcbhagyalekshmi.htm |title=A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal |date=2019-03-07 |website=www.swathithirunal.in |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> Simultaneously, he studied English with the help of a few friends while working as a Sanskrit teacher at a Vaidya School. In 1897, he joined as a Sanskrit teacher at a Malayalam school in Kollam but shifted to an English school in 1901 before moving to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1901 as the teacher of Velayudhan Thampi, the son of [[Sree Moolam Thirunal]], the then [[Maharajah of Travancore]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />
''''''K. C. Kesava Pillai'''''' was born in [[Paravur, Kollam|Paravur]] in [[Kollam]] (Quilon) District of [[Kerala]] in [[India]] in 1868. He had a school education up to the 5th grade and gained a proficiency in music. He watched [[Kathakali]] learnt the basics of [[Kathakali]] literature, costumes and [[mudra]]s. Aged 15, he wrote his first [[aattakatha (performance)|attakadha]], but was encouraged to learn [[Sanskrit]] so that he could correct his work himself and was subsequently taught it by [[Paravoor V. Kesavan Asan]]. and [[grammar]] by his co-brother [[Ennakkattu Rajaraja Varma]]. Later in his life, in 1896, he had become a teacher in [[Kollam Malayalam school]]; within a few years was promoted to the position of [[Sanskrit Munshi]], or the A close associate of [[Pandalam Kerala Varma|Kerala Varma]] and [[Rajaraja Varma]], K. C. Kesava Pillai died in 1914, aged 46 years. On account of his musical and poetical achievements, he was awarded the title of ''Sarasa Gayaka Kavimani'' by [[Sangeethasahityakovda Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thampuran]].


Pillai married Kalyani Amma in 1890 but she died after two years. He married again in 1894; Nanikutty Amma, his father's niece, was the bride. A close associate of [[Pandalam Kerala Varma]] and [[A. R. Raja Raja Varma]], Pillai died on September 4, 1913, at the age of 45 years.<ref name="A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal" /> On account of his musical and poetical achievements, he was awarded the title of ''Sarasa Gayaka Kavimani'' by [[Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran]].<ref name="Sarasa gayaka kavimani K C Kesava Pillai">{{Cite book |url=http://opac.ssus.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=40658 |title=Sarasa gayaka kavimani K C Kesava Pillai |last=Jayakumar Vijayalayam |date=1987 |publisher=National |location=Kottayam}}</ref> Noted writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner, [[R. Narayana Panickar]], was his son-in-law.<ref name="Biography of R. Narayana Panikkar">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/RNarayanaPanikkar/Html/RNPanikkargraphy.htm |title=Biography of R. Narayana Panikkar |date=2019-04-09 |website=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>
==Work==

⚫
*''Sangeetha manjari'' and ''Sthavaratnavali'': both contain [[kriti]]s and [[bhajan]] songs
== Legacy ==
⚫
*''Sangeethamaalika'' and
=== Literary work ===
⚫
*''Eswarasthothranga''
Kesava Pillai's body of literary work, written in Sanskrit and Malayalam languages, comprises an epic, three [[Attakatha (performance)|attakathas]] for [[Kathakali]], two [[Ottan Thullal|Thullal]] songs, eleven short poems, six [[Khanta Kavyam|khandakavyas]], four plays, two stories and four commentaries.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/KCKesavapillai/Html/KCKesavapillaibooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-03-07 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> He wrote ''Prahlaada Charitham'', later renamed, ''Hiranyasuravadham'', the first of this three attakathas, when he was only 15. It was reported that Pillai, with his advice, assisted [[A. R. Rajaraja Varma]] in writing ''Vritha Manjari''.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> His plays, such as ''Lakshmikalyanam'', were reported to portray the social life of the Nair community of his times.<ref name="George1972">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZqqyxVkufQC&pg=PA147|year=1972|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-0413-3|pages=147–}}</ref> ''Kesaviyam'', a [[mahakavya]] and ''Kerala Varma Vilasam'', a poem on the life of [[Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran]] are two of his major works.<ref name="Menon1990">{{cite book|author=T. K. Krishna Menon|title=A Primer of Malayalam Literature|url=https://archive.org/details/primerofmalayala0000kris|year=1990|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0603-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/primerofmalayala0000kris/page/63 63]–}}</ref> ''Kesaviyam'' has been written without observing the ''[[Rhyme#Sanskrit|dvitīyākṣara prāsa]]'' (second syllable rhyming), which was in vogue during those times.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA238|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|pages=238–}}</ref>
⚫
*''Sthavaratnamalika''

=== Music ===
Pillai composed six compositions, including ''Ganamalika'', which has two volumes, besides over 100 songs.<ref name="List of works" /> ''Sadarama'', one of his compositions,<ref name="Das2005">{{cite book|author=Sisir Kumar Das|title=History of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHklK65TKQ0C&pg=PA274|year=2005|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-006-5|pages=274–}}</ref><ref name="Datta1988">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1083|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|pages=1083–}}</ref> is composed in the form of a ''Geya nataka'', while ''Sangitamalika'' is an ensemble of 42 songs. The majority of his songs are devotional and are composed in ragas such as [[Todi (raga)|Todi]], [[Sankarabharanam (ragam)|Sankarabharanam]], [[Mohanam]], [[Kapi (raga)|Kapi]], [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyani]] and [[Pantuvarali]].<ref name="A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal" /><ref name="Madhavan2011">{{cite book|author=A D Madhavan|title=Core of Karnatic Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ce6vDQAAQBAJ&pg=RA4-PA405|date=25 January 2011|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-93-81699-00-3|pages=4–}}</ref> One of his songs, 'Omanappennallayo...'' has been reworked by the Malayalam music director, [[M. Jayachandran]], for the 2010 film, [[Kadaksham]].<ref name="Omanappennallayo ... (Kadaaksham - 2010)">{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/song.php?i=17258 |title=Omanappennallayo ... (Kadaaksham - 2010) |date=2019-03-08 |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref>


== Bibliography ==
===Attakadha (Gesture Stories)===
=== Attakadha ===
⚫
*''Prahlaada Charitham'', later renamed, ''Hiranyasuravadham'' Written aged 15
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
⚫
*''Prahlaada Charitham'', later renamed, ''Hiranyasuravadham''
*''Soorapadmasuravadham''
*''Soorapadmasuravadham''
*''Sreekrishnavijayam''
*''Sreekrishnavijayam''
{{div col end}}


===Poetry===
=== Poetry ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
*''Asanna Marana Chinta Satakam'' (Reflections of a Dying Man)although written for a competition, is a touching lyrical monologue with a predominant elegiac tone and anticipates the Khandakavyas or shorter poems of the poets of the renaissance. It has an underground connection with C.S.Subramanian Potti's Oruvilapam (A Lament: 1903), V.C.Balakrishna Panikkar's Oruvilapam (A Lament:1908) and even Kumaran Asan's Oru Veena Poovu (A Fallen Flower:1907) which may be thought of an elegy in disguise.
*''Asanna Marana Chinta Satakam'' (Reflections of a Dying Man) although written for a competition, is a touching lyrical monologue with a predominant elegiac tone and anticipates the Khandakavyas or shorter poems of the poets of the renaissance. It has an underground connection with C. S. Subramanian Potti's Oruvilapam (A Lament: 1903), [[V. C. Balakrishna Panicker]]'s Oruvilapam (A Lament:1908) and even [[Kumaran Asan]]'s ''[[Veena Poovu (poem)|Veena Poovu]]'' (A Fallen Flower:1907) which may be thought of an elegy in disguise.
*'‘Adimalarina’': A ragamalika in four languages: [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]] and [[Sanskrit]].
*''Adimalarina'': A ragamalika in four languages: [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]] and [[Sanskrit]].
*''Satya Swaroopavibho'' in [[raga]] ''[[Dheerasankarabharanam|Sankarabharana]]''
*''Satya Swaroopavibho'' in [[raga]] ''[[Dheerasankarabharanam|Sankarabharana]]''
*''Bhajikka Nee Ramane'' in ''[[Mohanam]]''
*''Bhajikka Nee Ramane'' in ''[[Mohanam]]''
Line 38: Line 59:
*''Subhashitha Ratnakaram''
*''Subhashitha Ratnakaram''
*''Abhinayamalika''
*''Abhinayamalika''
*''Kesaviyam'': A mahakavya modeled on the Sanskrit pattern, adhering to the rules of structure and style of the classical rhetorician, Dandi.
*''Kesaviyam'': A mahakavya modeled on the Sanskrit pattern, adhering to the rules of structure and style of the classical rhetorician, Dandi.<ref name="kesaveeyam">{{Cite web |url=http://keralaliterature.com/old/book.php?bukid=1702 |title=kesaveeyam |website=keralaliterature.com |access-date=2019-03-08 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*''Sadarama'' (A popular [[Tamil language|Tamil]] musical play)
*''Sadarama'' (A popular [[Tamil language|Tamil]] musical play)
*A selection of attakkathas.
*A selection of attakkathas.
{{div col end}}


===Plays===
=== Plays ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
*''Lekshmi Kalyanam''
*''Lekshmi Kalyanam''
*''Raghava Madhavam''
*''Raghava Madhavam''
*''Vikramorvaseeyam''
*''Vikramorvaseeyam''
*''Sadaarama''
*''Sadaarama''
{{div col end}}


===Prayers===
=== Other works===
* {{Cite book |url=https://buybooks.mathrubhumi.com/product/jyothisha-gurubhoothan/ |title=Jyothisha Gurubhoothan |last=K.C. Kesava Pillai |publisher=Mathrubhumi |language=en-US}}
Pillai composed over 100 [[keerthana]]s, prayers in praise of God.


===Music===
=== Musical compositions ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
K.C. Kesava Pillai was a composer of songs, whose standard is comparable to that of [[Swati Tirunal]] and [[Irayimman Thampi]], both Kerala musicians.
⚫
*''Sangeetha manjari'' and ''Sthavaratnavali'': both contain [[kriti (music)|kriti]]s and [[bhajan]] songs
⚫
*''Sangeethamaalika'' and
⚫
*''Eswarasthothranga''
⚫
*''Sthavaratnamalika''
* {{Cite book |url=http://raaga.org.in/composed-by/kc-kesava-pillai/ |title=Maya Gopala Bala |last=K. C. Kesava Pillai |publisher=Raaga |language=Sanskrit |quote=Raaga : Kaapi, Thaala: Aadi thala |access-date=8 March 2019 |archive-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321141758/http://raaga.org.in/composed-by/kc-kesava-pillai/ |url-status=dead }}
{{div col end}}

=== Works on Kesava Pillai ===
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.indulekha.com/k-c-kesavapillai-kavithayude-samkramanakaalam-study-a-alice |title=K C Kesava Pillai: Kavithayude Samkramana Kaalam |last=A. Alice |publisher=National Book Stall |year=2014 |page=144 |language=Malayalam |quote=A study on the literary contributions of poet K C Kesava Pillai}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
1.http://www.kerala.gov.in/music/music7.pdf Kerala Government website

2."K.C.Kritikal",Department of Cultural Publications, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala.
== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |url=https://ml.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B6%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%82 |title=Kesaviyam |date=2019-03-08 |website=Wikisource |access-date=2019-03-08}}
* {{Cite journal |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/7633?mode=full |title=K C Kesava Pillai transitional period poet: a study on the basis of his work |last=Alice, A |journal=INFLIBNET |year=1997 |publisher=Department of Malayalam Literature, Mahatma Gandhi University |page=196 |hdl=10603/7633?mode=full |language=Malayalam}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/KCKesavapillai/Html/KCKesavapillai.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-03-07 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-03-07}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EI8Ok8zd8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/R1EI8Ok8zd8 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Jayasadajitha - a K.C.Kesava Pillai composition |date=2011-10-16 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-03-07}}{{cbignore}}
* {{cite book|author1=Nalini Natarajan|author2=Emmanuel Sampath Nelson|title=Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA188%7CYEAR%3D1996%7CPUBLISHER%3DGREENWOOD+PUBLISHING+GROUP%7CISBN%3D978-0-313-28778-7%7CPAGES%3D188%E2%80%93%7D%7D%3C%2FREF%3E|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-28778-7|pages=188–}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyEmge4XbIw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/FyEmge4XbIw |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=K C Kesava Pillai - Sameeksha |date=2015-01-24 |website=YouTube |publisher=Doordarshan |access-date=2019-05-29 |quote=documentary}}{{cbignore}}


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{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
⚫
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Paravur}}
{{Paravur |state=collapsed}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Kesava K. C.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Kesava K. C.}}
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kollam]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kollam]]
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[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:19th-century male writers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:19th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:19th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from British India]]
[[Category:Poets from British India]]

Latest revision as of 20:15, 30 June 2024

K. C. Kesava Pillai
Born(1868-02-04)February 4, 1868
Travancore (present-day Paravur, Kerala, India)
DiedSeptember 2, 1914(1914-09-02) (aged 46)[1]
Kerala, India
OccupationTeacher, poet, musician
NationalityIndian
Notable works
  • Kesaviyam
  • Adimalarina
  • Asanna Marana Chitha Sathakam
  • Sadarama
  • Bhashanarayaniyam
SpouseKalyani Amma
Nanikutty Amma
RelativesValiyavelichathu Veettil Raman Pillai (father)
Desathu Lakshmy Amma (mother)
R. Narayana Panickar

Kanakku Chembakaraman Kesava Pillai (1868–1914) was an Indian composer of Carnatic music and a poet of Malayalam literature. He was the Poet Laureate of Travancore and was known for Kesaveeyam, a mahakavya in Malayalam, two attakathas and several bhajans and kirtans. He also translated the Sanskrit text, Narayaniyam, into Malayalam under the title, Bhashanarayaniyam.

Biography

[edit]

K. C. Kesava Pillai[note 1] was born on February 4, 1868, in Travancore kingdom to Valiyavelichathu Veettil Raman Pillai and Desathu Lakshmy Amma.[2] His early schooling was at Paravur Malayalam School where he studied up to 5th standard and followed it up with Sanskrit studies under the tutelage of Paravur Kesavan Asan and grammar studies under Enakkattu Rajaraja Varma.[3] As a boy, Pillai regularly watched Kathakali and learnt the basics of Kathakali literature, costumes and mudras, besides gaining proficiency in music. Aged 15, he wrote his first attakadha, Prahladacharitham.[4] Simultaneously, he studied English with the help of a few friends while working as a Sanskrit teacher at a Vaidya School. In 1897, he joined as a Sanskrit teacher at a Malayalam school in Kollam but shifted to an English school in 1901 before moving to Thiruvananthapuram in 1901 as the teacher of Velayudhan Thampi, the son of Sree Moolam Thirunal, the then Maharajah of Travancore.[2]

Pillai married Kalyani Amma in 1890 but she died after two years. He married again in 1894; Nanikutty Amma, his father's niece, was the bride. A close associate of Pandalam Kerala Varma and A. R. Raja Raja Varma, Pillai died on September 4, 1913, at the age of 45 years.[4] On account of his musical and poetical achievements, he was awarded the title of Sarasa Gayaka Kavimani by Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran.[5] Noted writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner, R. Narayana Panickar, was his son-in-law.[6]

Legacy

[edit]

Literary work

[edit]

Kesava Pillai's body of literary work, written in Sanskrit and Malayalam languages, comprises an epic, three attakathas for Kathakali, two Thullal songs, eleven short poems, six khandakavyas, four plays, two stories and four commentaries.[7] He wrote Prahlaada Charitham, later renamed, Hiranyasuravadham, the first of this three attakathas, when he was only 15. It was reported that Pillai, with his advice, assisted A. R. Rajaraja Varma in writing Vritha Manjari.[2] His plays, such as Lakshmikalyanam, were reported to portray the social life of the Nair community of his times.[8] Kesaviyam, a mahakavya and Kerala Varma Vilasam, a poem on the life of Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran are two of his major works.[9] Kesaviyam has been written without observing the dvitīyākṣara prāsa (second syllable rhyming), which was in vogue during those times.[10]

Music

[edit]

Pillai composed six compositions, including Ganamalika, which has two volumes, besides over 100 songs.[7] Sadarama, one of his compositions,[11][12] is composed in the form of a Geya nataka, while Sangitamalika is an ensemble of 42 songs. The majority of his songs are devotional and are composed in ragas such as Todi, Sankarabharanam, Mohanam, Kapi, Kalyani and Pantuvarali.[4][13] One of his songs, 'Omanappennallayo... has been reworked by the Malayalam music director, M. Jayachandran, for the 2010 film, Kadaksham.[14]

Bibliography

[edit]

Attakadha

[edit]
  • Prahlaada Charitham, later renamed, Hiranyasuravadham
  • Soorapadmasuravadham
  • Sreekrishnavijayam

Poetry

[edit]
  • Asanna Marana Chinta Satakam (Reflections of a Dying Man) although written for a competition, is a touching lyrical monologue with a predominant elegiac tone and anticipates the Khandakavyas or shorter poems of the poets of the renaissance. It has an underground connection with C. S. Subramanian Potti's Oruvilapam (A Lament: 1903), V. C. Balakrishna Panicker's Oruvilapam (A Lament:1908) and even Kumaran Asan's Veena Poovu (A Fallen Flower:1907) which may be thought of an elegy in disguise.
  • Adimalarina: A ragamalika in four languages: Malayalam, Tamil, English and Sanskrit.
  • Satya Swaroopavibho in raga Sankarabharana
  • Bhajikka Nee Ramane in Mohanam
  • Koti Divakara in Dhanyasi
  • Nana Jaathikal in Kambhoji
  • Vande Maatharam in Sindhubhairavi
  • Vande Maatharam in Kuntalavarali
  • Kamalanatha in Thodi
  • Sree vasudeva in Kāpi
  • Sreemoolarajavijayam, 1894, submitted to Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja.
  • Aasannamaranachintasatakam: a work consisting of 104 slokas (songs in Carnatic music or Indian music praising God) in Saardoolavikriditham.
  • Kerala Bhashaa Narayaneeyam: a translation of Narayaneeyam in Malayalam.
  • Subhashitha Ratnakaram
  • Abhinayamalika
  • Kesaviyam: A mahakavya modeled on the Sanskrit pattern, adhering to the rules of structure and style of the classical rhetorician, Dandi.[15]
  • Sadarama (A popular Tamil musical play)
  • A selection of attakkathas.

Plays

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  • Lekshmi Kalyanam
  • Raghava Madhavam
  • Vikramorvaseeyam
  • Sadaarama

Other works

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  • K.C. Kesava Pillai. Jyothisha Gurubhoothan. Mathrubhumi.

Musical compositions

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  • Sangeetha manjari and Sthavaratnavali: both contain kritis and bhajan songs
  • Sangeethamaalika and
  • Eswarasthothranga
  • Sthavaratnamalika
  • K. C. Kesava Pillai. Maya Gopala Bala (in Sanskrit). Raaga. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019. Raaga : Kaapi, Thaala: Aadi thala

Works on Kesava Pillai

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Notes

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  1. ^ K. C. stands for Kanakku Chembakaraman, a title given to Pillai's maternal family by the Maharajah of Travancore

References

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  1. ^ The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras. Music Academy. 2001. p. 180.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  3. ^ "K. C. Kesava Pillai - Veethi profile". veethi.com. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal". www.swathithirunal.in. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  5. ^ Jayakumar Vijayalayam (1987). Sarasa gayaka kavimani K C Kesava Pillai. Kottayam: National.
  6. ^ "Biography of R. Narayana Panikkar". Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  8. ^ K. M. George (1972). Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 147–. ISBN 978-81-260-0413-3.
  9. ^ T. K. Krishna Menon (1990). A Primer of Malayalam Literature. Asian Educational Services. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-81-206-0603-6.
  10. ^ K. M. George (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 238–. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  11. ^ Sisir Kumar Das (2005). History of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 274–. ISBN 978-81-7201-006-5.
  12. ^ Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1083–. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  13. ^ A D Madhavan (25 January 2011). Core of Karnatic Music. DC Books. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-93-81699-00-3.
  14. ^ "Omanappennallayo ... (Kadaaksham - 2010)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  15. ^ "kesaveeyam". keralaliterature.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.[permanent dead link]

Further reading

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