Rafeeq Ahamed (born 17 December 1961) is an Indian poet, lyricist and novelist. He has won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry and is a six-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics. With more than 600 songs to his credit, Rafeeq Ahamed is regarded as the most successful and critically acclaimed lyricist of contemporary Malayalam films.
Early life Rafeeq Ahamed was born to Syed Sajjad Hussain and Thithayikutty on 17 December 1961 in Akkikavu, Thrissur district. He graduated in English literature from Sree Krishna College, Guruvayur.
Literary career Rafeeq Ahamed authored a number of poems.https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/2017/04/24/rafeeq-ahammed-talk-about-his-favourite-poems.html "മഴകൊണ്ടുമാത്രം മുളയ്ക്കുന്ന പ്രണയത്തിന്റെ വിത്തുകൾ"]. Malayala Manorama (in Malayalam). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2023. Some of his collections include Swapnavangmoolam, Paarayil Paninjathu, Aalmara and Cheettukalikkar. He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 2006 for the collection Aalmara. He is also a recipient of Vyloppilli Award, Odakkuzhal Award and P. Kunhiraman Nair Award. He also authored the novel Azhukkillam which was serialised in Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly and published as a book in 2015.
Film career He started his film career through the 1999 film Garshom directed by P. T. Kunju Muhammed. His second work as a lyricist was Perumazhakkalam, directed by Kamal. It was the music director M. Jayachandran who suggested Rafeeq to Kamal, based on an experience of working with Rafeeq for the title song of a television serial Samanathaalam. Rafeeq penned the lyrics of the much acclaimed song; Rakkilithan for Perumazhakalam and has since written more than 600 songs for about 300 Malayalam films.
Bibliography Poetry collections Year Title 2013 Rafeeq Ahamedinte Kavithakal 2012 Thoraamazha 2008 Gramavrikshathile Vavval 2008 Shivakami 2007 Cheettukalikkar 2006 Aalmara 2000 Paarayil Paninjathu 1996 Swapnavangmoolam
Novel Azhukkillam (2015)
Partial filmography
1990s +YearTitleNotes1997Garshom"Ethu Kaalaraathrikalkkum""Parayaan Maranna"
2000s +YearTitleNotes2004Perumazhakkalam1 song- "Rakkilithan"Athu Mandara PoovallaUnreleased film2006Out of Syllabus4 songs2007ParadesiPranayakalamKerala State Film Award for Best LyricsSoorya KireedamFlashKaiyoppu1 song2008LaptopThirakkatha2009Dr. PatientRithuT. D. Dasan Std. VI BKerala CafeSufi Paranja KathaKerala State Film Award for Best LyricsPaleri Manikyam1 song 2010s +YearTitleNotes2010SadgamayaKerala State Film Award for Best LyricsAnwarFilmfare Award for Best Lyrics,Vanitha Film Award for Best LyricsElsamma Enna AankuttyBombay Mittayi4 songsElektraDe NovaAnnarakkannanum Thannalayathu2011KhaddamaUrumi1 song- "Chalanam Chalanam"Bhakthajanangalude SradhakkuSalt N' PepperThe TrainAdaminte Makan AbuViolinBombay March 12VeeraputhranSevenes1 song- "Meghathoppil"SnehaveeduSwapna Sanchari2012UnnamIthramathramOrangeOrkut oru ormakkoottu2 songsEe Adutha KaalathuThalsamayam Oru Penkutty1 songNidraJosettante HeroDoctor InnocentanuUstad HotelAsianet Film Award for Best LyricsDiamond NecklaceRun Baby RunSpiritKerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics,Amrita TV Film Awards for Best Lyrics,Filmfare Award for Best LyricsVanitha Film Award for Best LyricsBachelor Party22 Female Kottayam1 song- "Neeyo"Cinema CompanyNaughty ProfessorBhoopadathil Illatha OridamLast BenchTheruvu NakshatrangalMolly Aunty Rocks!Trivandrum LodgeIdiots101 Weddings916Theevram1 songScene Onnu Nammude VeeduPoppins1 songChaptersBavuttiyude NamathilI Love Me2013Oru Indian PranayakadhaAmrita TV Film Awards for Best Lyrics10:30 am Local CallLokpalNee Ko Njaa ChaCelluloidTourist HomeRadioKili PoyiLucky StarUp & Down: Mukalil OralunduK.QRebecca Uthup KizhakkemalaRedwineAugust ClubImmanuelLadies and GentlemanLeft Right LeftSringaravelanABCD: American-Born Confused Desi1 song - "Vaanam Puthumazha"5 Sundarikal2 songsGod for SaleArtistKunjananthante KadaArikil Oraal1 songDaivathinte Swantham CleetusNorth 24 Kaatham2 songs3GIdukki GoldVishudhanEzhu Sundara Rathrikal2014Ettekaal SecondSalaam KashmierPranayakadhaPianistHow old are youAsianet Film Award for Best LyricsGamerPraise the LordLaw Point7th Day1 song - "Mazhavil Chiraku"Onnum MindatheCherukkanum PennumBangalore Days1 song - "Ethu Kari Ravilum"Vikramadithyan1 song - "Megham"Beware of DogsPersiakaranNjaanMoney RatnamIyobinte PusthakamTamaar PadaarMylanchi Monchulla VeeduAngelsKaaviya Thalaivan (Malayalam)Dubbed FilmCousins1 song - "Neeyen Vennila"Njangalude Veettile AthidhikalPakida2015The ReporterRasputinAlif100 Days of Love1 songEnnum EppozhumYou Too BrutusBhaskar the RascalIvideLukka ChuppiLove 24x7Loham1 songKaliyachanEnnu Ninte MoideenKerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics,Asianet Film Award for Best Lyrics,Filmfare Award for Best Lyrics,Vanitha Film Award for Best LyricsPathemariIthinumappuramSaigal PadukayaanuRani PadminiCharlie4 songs2016WhiteKismath1 song - "Nilamanaltharikalil"Maheshinte Prathikaaram3 songs - "Idukki", "Theliveyilazhakum" and "Mounangal".Pulimurugan1 song - "Kaadaniyum"PachakkallamKattumakkanPuthiya Niyamam1 songIthu Thaanda PolicePa Va2 songsDaffedarPrethamGuppy1 song - "Athiraliyum"Thoppil JoppanOre Mukham1 song2017Jomonte SuvisheshangalMunthirivallikal ThalirkkumbolOru Mexican Aparatha2 songs - "Aakaashakkuda", "Ivalaaro"FukriCampus DiaryKaattum MazhayumAbyPareeth PandariComrade in America1 song - "Kannil Kannil"Viswasapoorvam Mansoor2 songsThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumAsianet Film Award for Best LyricsCappucinoHadiyaMatchboxNaval Enna Jewel1 songVelipadinte Pusthakam1 songCrossroadKaattuZacharia Pothen JeevichirippunduUdaharanam Sujatha1 songAakashamittayeeVimaanamMayanadi1 song - "Kiliye"Masterpiece1 song2018Carbon2 songsEnte Mezhuthiri AthazhangalKallai FMSakhavinte PriyasakhiAamiParole1 songKammara Sambhavam1 songUncleAbrahaminte SanthathikalNeerali2 songsKoodeEnnaalum Sarath..?Oru Kuttanadan Blog2 songsKayamkulam KochunniOdiyan2 songs - "Kondoram", "Maanam Thudukkanu";Vanitha Film Award for Best LyricsPaviyettante Madhurachooral2019The Great Indian Road MovieUyare2 songs - "Nee Mukilo", "18 Vayassilu"Naan Petta MakanMy Great GrandfatherMunthiri Monchan1 songAnd the Oscar Goes To...Kakshi: Amminippilla1 songPranaya Meenukalude KadalGanagandharvan1 songMamangam3 songsNalpathiyonnu (41) 2020s +YearTitleNotes2020Big BrotherAyyappanum Koshiyum"Thaalam poi""Ariyathariyathariya"Karnan Nepolian Bhagat SinghShyamaragam2021OneVarthamanamBlack CoffeeKuruthi"Vetta Mrugam"2022RanduBheeshma Parvam"Aakasham Pole"Pathonpatham NoottanduPonniyin Selvan: I (Malayalam)2023Pulimada"Arikil Onnu Vannal"Otta"Parakkum Parava Poley""Paral""Peyneer Poley""Ottaykkoru Mutham"2024Iyer In Arabia"Thiruvananthapurame" Bougainvillea"Maravikale"
Awards
Literary awards Odakkuzhal Award for Rafeeq Ahammedinte Kavithakal (2014) Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Alamara (2006) Olappamanna Memorial Award for Paarayil Pathiinjathu (2000) Edappally Award Kunchupilla Award Kanakasree Award Vailoppilli Award P. Kunjiraman Nair Award (2017) Ulloor Award Swathi-Ayyappa Panicker Literary Award (2019) Padmaprabha Literary Award (2024)
Film awards
+YearAwardMovieNotesRef.2007Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistPranayakalam2009Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistSufi Paranja Katha2010Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistSadgamayaFilmfare Award for Best Lyricist – MalayalamAnwarVanitha Film Awards for Best Lyrics2012Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistSpiritAmrita Film Award for Best LyricsFilmfare Award for Best Lyricist – MalayalamAsianet Film Award for Best LyricsUstad HotelVanitha Film Awards for Best LyricsSpirit, Diamond Necklace2013Amrita Film Award for Best LyricsOru Indian Pranayakatha2014Asianet Film Award for Best LyricsHow old are you?2015Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistEnnu Ninte MoideenAsianet Film Award for Best LyricsFilmfare Award for Best Lyricist – MalayalamVanitha Film Awards for Best Lyrics2017Asianet Film Award for Best LyricsThondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol2018Vanitha Film Awards for Best LyricsOdiyan2019Kerala Film Critics Association Awards for Best LyricsSyamaragam2022Kerala State Film Award for Best LyricistViddikalude Mash
References
External links
Column at The Indian Express