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Anwar Ali (poet)

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Anwar Ali
BornAnvar Ali
(1966-07-01)1 July 1966
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter, Poet, Lyricist
Spouse(s)Najumul Shahi (Ambili)
Children2
AwardsKerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay (2003);
Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist (2020), Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 2021 for Mehaboob Express.[1]

Anwar Ali (born 1 July 1966), also known Anvar Ali, is an Indian poet and lyricist writing in Malayalam. He is also a literary editor and critic, translator, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker.[2][3]

Career

Literature

Ali's first collection of poems, Mazhakkalam[4](The Rainy Season, 1999), established him as a prominent voice in contemporary Malayalam poetry. Ali's poetry collections include Aadiyaadi Alanja Marangale (Ye Trees, Swaying Ramblers, 2009) and Mehaboob Express (2020). Eternal Sculptures (2007) is a collection of his poems in English translation. His novella, Njan Rappai, was published in 1995.

Ali's poems have been translated into various Indian and foreign languages and have been included in several anthologies of contemporary poetry, such as Innan Ganges flyter in i natten (A Swedish Anthology of Indian Poetry in Hindi, Malayalam and English, edited by Tomas Lofstrom and Birgitta Wallin); Singing in the Dark - A Global Anthology of Poetry Under Lockdown (edited by K. Satchidanandan and Nishi Chawla); Oxford India Anthology of Modern Malayalam Literature, Volume 1 (edited by P. P. Raveendran and GS Jayasree); and The Tree of Tongues (edited by E V Ramakrishnan).

Ali translated Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, the Japanese autobiographical memoir of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi – a literary classic, into Malayalam in 1994. He co-translated Sirpi Balasubramaniam’s poetry collection Oru Gramathile Nadi[5](A River in a Village, 2010). He has translated a series of modern Anglophone African poems and poems from Indian languages like Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Assamese into Malayalam.[6]

On Ali’s contribution to Malayalam poetry, his friend and fellow poet Anitha Thampi has highlighted Ali’s unique exploration and transformation of the language of poetry in Malayalam. Further, Amrith Lal of The New Indian Express, a cultural columnist and critic, observes, "Ali has carried forward the poetic language, constantly experimenting with its structures, drawing from Malayalam’s rich inheritance of story-telling and narrative poetry, the careful moulding of poetic metres, cross-fertilisation of the vocabulary by borrowing from popular culture, street talk and community lingo, using classical modes as well as parody, leaning on cinema and performance traditions to energise the art."[1]

Other works

Ali has notably experimented with the performance of his poetry. In 2015–2017, he created a poetry band, Leaves of Grass, with guitarist and composer John P. Varkey. The band's performances combined the stylistic aspects of performance poetry with rock music.[7][8]

In 2018, he collaborated with Olam, an instrumental band, to perform Mehboob Express, a long narrative poem that has gained acclaim as a chronological, sociocultural saga and critique of Indian politics. In 2017, in the maiden show at Uru Art Harbour, Mattancherry, curated by artist Riyas Komu, Ali showcased the living culture around legendary Mattancherry singer Mehboob (singer) through an audio-visual installation .[9][10] Produced under the banner of Image Commune (2015), Ali's debut documentary film on Attoor Ravi Varma, Maruvili (Call from the other Shore), was selected for the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (2015); Mumbai International Film Festival (2016); Jaffna International Film Festival, Sri Lanka (2016); and SIGNS Festival of Federation of Film Societies of India, Kerala (2015).[11]

He co-wrote the screenplay of Margam (2003), an acclaimed Malayalam feature film, and co-directed a documentary series on the history of Malayalam cinema for Kerala State Film Development Corporation. He contributed to Shasthra Kouthukam, a science programme that aired in Doordarshan between 1991 and 1995, on behalf of the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology.

Ali co-edited the journals Pakshikkoottam (Flock of Birds), an alternate journal and publishing house, and Kavithakku Oru Idam (A Space for Poetry), a journal for new poetry in Malayalam. He was the chief content editor of Seventy-Five Years of Malayalam Cinema, a digital encyclopaedia produced by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (2003).

Ali was invited to South Korea for the Writer-in-Residence Program of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea in 2007 and attended the 2007 Afro-Asian Literature Festival in Jeonju, Korea. He has presented his work in various poetry, literary, and film festivals, including Young Poets Meet, New Delhi (1997); The New Voices, Trivandrum (2004); Asselieh Film Festival, Morocco (2004); Kavi Bharati, Bhopal (2005); Paju Book Festival, South Korea (2014); Sharjah International Book Fair (2014 & 2018); Bharatiya Kavita Samaroh, Patna (2014); Samanvay: IHC Indian Languages' Festival, New Delhi (2014); Jaffna International Film Festival, Sri Lanka (2016); and Kokrajhar Literary Festival, Bodoland, Assam (2021).[12]

Ali's distinctive poetic idiom illuminates the lyrics of Annayum Rasoolum (2013), one among the films that brought a paradigm shift in Malayalam cinema. In his subsequent work, he has continued to experiment with fresh and bold poetic imagery and style, thus treading away from tradition and gaining much popularity among young audiences and filmmakers. Some of his notable works include Njan Steve Lopez (2014), Kammatipaadam (2016),[13] Kismath (2016), Mayaanadhi (2017), Eeda (2018), Thottappan (2019), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Nayattu (2021 film) (2020), Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam (2020), Malik (film) (2021), and Oru Thekkan Thallu Case (2022).[14]

Awards

Literary awards

Film awards for lyrics

Award Song Notes
2018 65th Filmfare Awards South-Best Lyricist[16] Mizhiyil Ninnum (Mayanadi)
2019 CPC Cine Awards - Best Original Song[17] Cherathukal (Kumbalangi Nights) Award shared with Sushin Shyam and Sithara Krishnakumar
2020 Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist[18] Smaranakal Kaadayi
(Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam)
Theerame Theerame
(Malik)

Other awards

Literary works

  • 1994– Janalakkarikile Penkutty (Translation of Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window )
  • 1995– Njan Rappai (Novella)
  • 1999– Mazhakkalam (Poems)
  • 2007 - Eternal Sculptures (Poetry Collection in English)
  • 2009– Aadiyaadi Alanja Marangale (Poems)
  • 2010– Oru Gramathile Nadi (Translation of Poetry Collection by Sirpi Balasubramaniam)

As lyricist

Film songs

Song(s) Movie/Album Notes
2013 Kando Kando Annayum Rasoolum
Vazhivakkil
Aaru Ninte Naavikan
2014 Theruvukal Nee Njan Steve Lopez
Ooraake Kalapila
Chirakukal Njan Nee Dooramaay
Muthu Penne (Research)
Ulakam Vayalaakki Jalaamsam
2016 Para Para Kammatipaadam
Kaathirunna Pakshi Njaan
Puzhu Pulikal
Kisa Paathiyil Kismath[20]
Chilathunaam
Vinnu Churanna
2017 Lokam Ennum Sakhavu
Mizhiyil Ninnum Mayaanadhi
Thambiran Ezra
2018 Swapnam Swapnam Padayottam
Marivil Eeda
Udalin
Mizhi Niranju
Kinavu Kondoru Sudani from Nigeria
Plathoore Sivantambalathin Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri
2019 Uyirullavaram Valiyaperunnal
Thazhvarangal
Pranthan Kandalinl Thottappan
Cherathukal Kumbalangi Nights
Uyirilthodum
Kurumali Puzhel Pengalila
2020 Smaranakal Kaadaayi Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam
Muttathu Halal Love Story
Odiyodippoya Vishudha Rathrikal
2021 Chiramabhayamee Aarkkariyam
Doore Maari
Kinarilu
Appalaale Nayattu
Odiyodippoya Vishudha Rathrikal
Theerame Theerame Mālik
Aaraarum Kaanaathe
Pakaliravukal Kurup
2022 Arike Varathe Kuttavum Shikshayum
Badarile 19(1)(a)
Paravakal
Yentharu Oru Thekkan Thallu Case
Prema Neyyappam
Paathirayil
Mazhappattu Padavettu
Maloor Thottam
Panju Panju
Public Veedu
Padarvalli
Kodum Ravil Veyil
Chaayum Veyil Saudi Vellakka
Oro Manavum 1001 Nunakal
2023 Etho Vaathil Djinn
Thaaraattayi Iratta
Devi Neeye Thankam
Vichara Mazha
Adam mala Thuramukham
Karakkenne
Maravi

Non-film songs

Year Title Language Music Singer
2020 Manassinte Madrassayil Malayalam Shahabaz Aman Shahabaz Aman
2022 The death-walk song/ Chavunadappattu[21] Malayalam Dawn Vincent John P. Varkey
2023 Avale nee kanduvo Malayalam Muhsin kurikkal Nisa Azeezi

References

Must not allow hijacking of cultural bodies: Malayalam poet [1] [2] Poetry Reading Anvar Ali [3] Archived 2017-06-11 at the Wayback Machine heraldofindia.com [4]

  1. ^ a b c "What makes the poetry and politics of Anvar Ali, winner of this year's Kerala Sahitya Akademi award, so engaging?". 31 July 2022.
  2. ^ Praveen, S. r. (July 2015). "A film that keeps its poetry". The Hindu.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Anvar Ali".
  5. ^ "Oru Gramathile Nadi (Malayalam) | Exotic India Art".
  6. ^ "Must not allow hijacking of cultural bodies: Malayalam poet".
  7. ^ "മഴ | Mazha | Anvar Ali | John P Varkey |Leaves OF Grass". YouTube.
  8. ^ "കൊണ്ടോട്ടി എയർപോർട്ടിൽ നിന്ന്...by Leaves of Grass". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Mattancherry in focus in maiden show at Uru". The Hindu. 10 August 2017.
  10. ^ "URU Art Harbour - Space118". 30 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b Praveen, S. r. (July 2015). "A film that keeps its poetry". The Hindu.
  12. ^ "ಮಲಯಾಳಂ ಗೀತರಚನೆಕಾರ ಅನ್ವರ್‌ ಅಲಿ ಅವರ 'ರೇಪ್‌' ಕವಿತೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ನೀರವ ಮೌನ". 21 October 2022.
  13. ^ N, Aswin V. (8 February 2018). "Anvar Ali, an alchemist of words". The Hindu.
  14. ^ "Biju Menon starrer 'Oru Thekkan Thallu Case' gets a release date - Times of India". The Times of India.
  15. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021: Rajasree, Vinoy Thomas, Vaisakhan among winners".
  16. ^ "Winners of the 65th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) 2018". filmfare.com. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  17. ^ "CPC Cine Awards 2019: Virus And Kumabalangi Nights Bag Top Honours!". www.filmibeat.com. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  18. ^ "സംസ്ഥാന ചലച്ചിത്ര പുരസ്കാരം; മികച്ച നടൻ ജയസൂര്യ, മികച്ച നടി അന്ന ബെൻ".
  19. ^ "SiGNS Festival". www.signsfestival.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Anwar Ali- Best Malayalam Song Lyrics 2016 Nominee| Filmfare Awards".
  21. ^ "'The death-walk song': This music video is a stark reminder of the migrant crisis under lockdown".
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