Kalakaattha Sandanamere Veguvoge Poothirikko…
Pooparikka Pokilamo vimenaathe pakkilamo…
When Nanjiyamma's song in the film Ayyappanum Koshiyum (AK) was released in 2020, it was an instant hit in Kerala. The song was the best promotion for late director Sachy’s action thriller, starring Prithviraj and Biju Menon. AK is a film that gave great importance to the geography and peculiarities of Attappadi—the only tribal block in Kerala. And, Nanjiyamma’s songs—she created three songs specifically for the film—played a significant role in setting the right mood for the film that portrayed the battle of egos between a police officer and an ex-serviceman.
Nanjiyamma had received a special jury award in the Kerala State Awards 2020 for her musical prowess. Now, she has been bestowed with a much bigger honour—Nanjiyamma won the National Awards for 2020 for the best female playback singer, on Friday.
Nanjiyamma hails from Nakkupathi Pirivu, an Irula tribal hamlet in Attappady. The song, Kalakattha... that made her popular was created in the Irula language, a tribal language that does not have a script of its own. The song describes the sandalwoods, flowers and flora in her forest lands. It tells the story of an elderly woman who is feeding her grandchildren by showing them the nature around them. Traditional tribal instruments like parai, davil, kokal and jaltra were used in the song. The song is very much connected to Nanjiyamma's life.
She has always been connected to nature. She has been into farming and cattle rearing for decades now. Nanjiyamma has a daughter and a son. Her son Syam is an employee at the Integrated Tribal Development Project office at Agali. Nanchiyamma told THE WEEK that she did not expect an award. "I did not know about this award or anything. But my son called and asked me to see the TV," she said over the phone. "He told me that I have an award. I am so happy." After saying this, with her innate innocence, she asked whether this writer is also happy. "Of course," replied this writer.
The sexagenarian has been part of Azad Kalasangham Attakalam, a musical group of tribal artists, founded by an artist named Pazhani Swami. It was through Pazhani Swami, who is working in the Forest Department, that Sachy, who won the National Awards for 2020 for the Best Director, came to know about Nanjiyamma. Swami acted in the role of an excise officer (Faizal)—a notable character—in the film. Nanjiyamma too acted in AK.
Though AK was the film that gave her popularity, it was not her first film. Her debut film was a 2015 documentary, Agged Nayaga, by Sindhu Sajan. In 2016, she sang five songs in Razi Muhammad’s Velutha Rathrikal.