Ka. Mu. Sheriff was a writer and poet who wrote mainly in the Tamil language. He was a popular Tamil film lyricist during the 1950s and 60s. His lyrics Chittukuruvi Chittukuruvi Sedhi Theriyuma?, Yerikaraiyin Maele Poravale Penn Mayile are ever-green in the minds of Tamil film song lovers. He has also written screenplays and dialogue for some films.

Ka. Mu. Sheriff
Born
Kadershah Ravuthar Mu. Sheriff

(1914-08-11)11 August 1914
Abhivirutheeswaram, East Thanjavur, Tamilnadu
Died7 July 1994(1994-07-07) (aged 79)
Occupationpoet

Early life

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Born on 11 August 1914 at Abhivirutheeswaram in East Thanjavur district as the only son of Kadershah Ravuthar and Pathuma amma, he lived an exemplary life. Though he was a Muslim by birth, he respected other faiths and was a vegetarian throughout his life. He never smoked or drank.

He did not have a regular school education but was tutored privately in Tamil language till he was 14 years of age. Encouraged by his father, he learned Tamil grammar and literature. He started writing poetry when he was young.

Career

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He started writing short stories for Ananda Vikatan. (Later these short stories were published as a collection in book form). He published a monthly named "Oli" (transl. Light) in 1948 and then between 1952 and 1969 he published two periodicals Saattai and Thamizh Muzhakkam.

Freedom fighter

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He was a follower of the Congress party freedom fight and has taken part in the Quit India Movement in 1942. Later he joined Ma. Po. Si.'s Tamil Arasu Kazhagam and functioned as its secretary. He participated in the struggle mooted by Tamil Arasu Kazhagam to retain Madras as the Capital of Tamil Nadu. He also participated in the Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu.

Writer

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He has written numerous books on various subjects in Tamil. (Lists of books he authored can be found in ta:கா. மு. ஷெரீப்).

Tamil Movie Lyricist

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In late 1940s, Sheriff was affiliated to the Modern Theatres in Salem. He was influential in introducing M. Karunanidhi to the Modern Theaatres' owner T. R. Sundaram, who hired the young script writer for a monthly sum of 500 rupees, to join the story department of his company. In his autobiography, Karunanidhi had acknowledged this debt. Sheriff has penned more than 400 lyrics, many of which are popular and ever-green among Tamil film song lovers. His very first movie lyric was penned for the 1950 film Ponmudi, produced by the Modern Theatres.

Music Directors

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Music directors who composed tunes to his lyrics are: G. Ramanathan, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, S. Dakshinamurthi, K. V. Mahadevan, Ramaneekaran, T. A. Kalyanam, T. R. Pappa, S. Rajeswara Rao

Singers

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Singers who sang his lyrics include T. M. Soundararajan, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, A. M. Rajah, P. Leela, Jikki, K. Jamuna Rani, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, K. Rani, U. R. Chandra, Ponnammal, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, A. P. Komala,

Notable compositions

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Year Film Song/s Singer/s Music Director Notes
1950 Manthiri Kumari உலவும் தென்றல் காற்றினிலே and others G. Ramanathan He is one of the lyricists along with A.Maruthakasi
1950 Digambara Samiyar G. Ramanathan
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1950 Ponmudi G. Ramanathan He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1950 Chavukkadi Chandrakantha G. Ramanathan He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1951 Devaki G. Ramanathan He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1951 Sarvadhikari S. Dakshinamurthi He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1952 Amarakavi Oru Pizhaiyum Seydhariyen ..eesa Man meethile M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar G. Ramanathan
T. A. Kalyanam
1952 Zamindar G. Ramanathan A. Maruthakasi also wrote lyrics. Individual credits not known
1953 Anbu Enna Enna Inbame A. M. Rajah & Jikki T. R. Pappa 3 out of 12 songs were penned by him
1953 Inspector G. Ramanathan He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
1953 Naalvar Valluvanaar Seydha Thozhil U. R. Chandra, Ponnammal & group K. V. Mahadevan
1953 Vazha Pirandhaval G. Ramanathan
S. Rajeswara Rao
All 9 songs were penned by him
1954 Koondukkili Vaanga Ellorume Koodi T. M. Soundararajan & K. Rani K. V. Mahadevan
1954 Mangalyam Vaazhvadhu Ponaalum T. M. Soundararajan K. V. Mahadevan 4 out of 7 songs were penned by him
1954 Pudhu Yugam Jaadhiyile Naanga Thaazhndavanga Jikki, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathinamala G. Ramanathan He wrote the story also
1955 Asai Anna Arumai Thambi Menakaiyum Naanuvaal K. Rani K. V. Mahadevan
1955 Kalyanam Seydhukko Engum Nirai Paramporul Onre Sirkazhi Govindarajan Ramaneekaran
Vaetti Kattina Pombale Sirkazhi Govindarajan & Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi
1955 Mullaivanam Engirundho ingu vandha radhiye T. M. Soundararajan & (Radha) Jayalakshmi K. V. Mahadevan
Sariyendru nee oru
1955 Nalla Thangai Ennai Pole Bhagyasaali Jikki & P. Leela G. Ramanathan
Thaene Paage Thevittadha (Radha) Jayalakshmi
1955 Town Bus Chittukkuruvi Chittukkuruvi K. V. Mahadevan All songs
1956 Naan Petra Selvam G. Ramanathan All (9) songs
1957 Makkalai Petra Magarasi O Malliyakka O Rojakka Jikki, K. Jamuna Rani & A. G. Rathnamala K. V. Mahadevan
1957 Mudhalali Yeri Karaiyin Mele T. M. Soundararajan K. V. Mahadevan He wrote all the 7 songs
1958 Annaiyin Aanai Patthu Maadham Sumandhu Annaiyai Pol Oru T. M. Soundararajan S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
1960 Sivagami Vanil Mulu mathiyai kanden T. M. Soundararajan K. V. Mahadevan
1963 Thulasi Maadam Aadum MAyile Aattam Enge T. M. Soundararajan K. V. Mahadevan 3 out of 5 songs were penned by him

[1]

Death

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Ka. Mu. Sheriff died on 7 July 1994.

Bibliography

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  • "கவி கா.மு. ஷெரீப் நூற்றாண்டு" [Poet Ka. Mu. Sheriff Centenary] (in Tamil). tamil.thehindu.com. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  • Kavi Ka. Mu. Sheriff
  • Thiru. Veerapandian (1 September 2013). "Kaalam Isaikkum Kavithaikkup Peyar ka. mu. sheriff" [Ka. Mu. Sheriff is the name of the song rendered by Time]. nakkheeran.in. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.

References

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  1. ^ "Annayai Pol Oru". Lyrics by Ka. Mu. Sheriff. RedMux. 8 April 1958. Retrieved 13 December 2017.