Cheri Viswanath

Indian writer and journalist

Cheri Viswanath

Born| (1933-08-09)9 August 1933
Kollam, Kollam District,
British India
Died| 9 September 2014(2014-09-09) (aged 81)
Pen name| Cheri
Occupation| Screenwriter, journalist, lyricist, novelist
Nationality| Indian
Subject| Social Aspects
Literary movement| Realism
Spouse| S.Radhamani Amma (late)

Cheri Viswanath (9 August 1933 – 9 September 2014) was a South Indian screenwriter, playwright, lyricist and journalist.[1][2]

## Biography

[edit]

Many of his works were written under the pen name Cheri, which is derived from the name of his family Cheriyil in Kollam District in South India.

He started his career as a playwright and journalist and was associated with the famous theatre group in South India called Kalanilayam.[3]

In a literary career spanning over 45 years, he had written 16 novels, 25 dramas and 19 radio plays and several lyrics for Malayalam movies.[4]

His song for the movie Thaalappoly (1977)[5] was the biggest hit of the year.[6]

He had written screenplays for 20 feature films, directed by veteran film makers M.Krishnan Nair, Madhu, Crossbelt Mani and M.Mani.

Viswanath worked as the Chief Editor for the Malayalam Dailies Thaniniram and Yeenadu for 45 years.

He is the father of award-winning international film maker Biju Viswanath and Priya Prakash, Veena Player.

## Major works

[edit]

### Plays

[edit]

Name  | Theatre Group  | Year

|
|

Pattukari | Kollam Theatres | 1962
Anarkali | Grihari Theatres | 1963
Bhagat Singh | Grihari Theatres | 1965
Pazhassiraja | Amrita theatres | 1967
Police | Kayamkulam Peoples Theaters | 1970
Dharmasupatri | Kayamkulam Peoples Theaters | 1971
Pashupatastram | Adoor Pankajam's Jaya Theaters | 1972
Penal code | Adoor Bhavani Theatres | 1973
Sreekrishavatram(Opera) | Pappanacode Mani | 1973
Parithranaya | Adoor Pankajam's Jaya Theaters | 1974
Naradan Keralathil | Kalanilayam Dramascope | 1977
Ragam Thanam Pallavi | Kalanilayam Drama scope | 1978
Sreekrishna Avataram | | Indian drama scope | 1980

### Screenplays

[edit]

Movie  | Director  | Year

|
|

Neelasari | M.Krishnan Nair | 1976
Dheere Sameere Yamuna Theere | Madhu | 1976
Thaalappoly | M.Krishnan Nair | 1977
Rowdy Ramu | M.Krishnan Nair | 1978
Koumara Praayam | Gopalkrishna | 1979
Eettappuli | Mani | 1983
Thimingalam | Mani | 1983
Bullet | Mani | 1984
Ottayan | Mani | 1985
Pacha Velicham | M.Mani | 1985
Revenge | Mani | 1986
Chorakku Chora | Mani | 1986
Black Mail | Mani | 1987
Urukku Manushyan | Mani | 1987
Niramulla | N.Shankaran Nair | 1987
Kulambadikal | Mani | 1988
Cabaret Dancer | N.Shankaran Nair | 1988
Penn Simham | Mani | 1988
Naradhan Keralathil | Mani | 1989
Commander | Mani | 1990

### Radioplays

[edit]

* Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal 1979 (Seven Wonderful Nights)
* Sasthram Prathikuttil 1980 (Science in the Accused Stand)
* Porutham 1980 (Harmony)
* Tharavadinte Manam 1981 (Family Honour)
* Siksha 1981 (Punishment)
* Punarvivaham 1983 (Remarriage)
* Nandi Veendum Varilla 1986 (Thanks I Won't Come Again)
* Doctor, Collector, Engineer 1986
* Packup 1992

### Kadhaprasangam

[edit]

* Neelasari (Blue Sari) 1969 (Kollam Babu)
* Marble Sundari (Marble Beauty) 1971 (Kundara Soman)
* Swayamvaram (Marriage) 1972 (Kundara Soman)
* Punarjanmam (Rebirth) 1973(Kundara Soman)
* Christ 1975 (Chenganoor Thankachan)
* Neelavelicham (Blue Light) 1976 (Viswambharam)
* Devatha (Goddess) 1977 (Chitaranjan Bhagavatar)

### Novels

[edit]

* Avivahithayaya Bharya 1962 (Unmarried Wife)
* Ladies Hostel 1963
* Snehabandam 1965 (Love Affair)
* Vivahasammanam 1966 (Wedding Gift)
* Kamadhenu 1967 (Wish Cow)
* Kanaljalam 1968 (Mirage)
* Randam Madhuvidhu 1970 (Second Honey Moon)
* Daivam Veetil Vannirunnu 1971 (God Came to House)
* Neelasari 1972 (Blue Sari)
* Melottu ozhukumma Puzha 1985 (The River That Flows Upwards)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cheri Viswanath". IMDb.
2. ^ "Cheri Viswanath". malayalachalachithram. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
3. ^ [1] Archived 28 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. ^ "Thaalappoly (1977) – IMDb". IMDb.
6. ^ "Priya Sakhi Poy Varu – Thalappoli. Download Malayalam MP3 songs". Raaga.

## External links

[edit]

* Cheri Viswanath at IMDb
* [2] mathrubhumi daily