>Ira Leviton at 16:22, 14 August 2020

2020-08-14T16:22:27Z

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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Cheri Viswanath
| image =
| pseudonym = Cheri
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1933|08|09}}
| birth_place = [[Kollam]], [[Kollam District]],<br> [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|09|9|1933|8|9}}
| occupation = Screenwriter, journalist, lyricist, novelist
| nationality = Indian
| subject = Social Aspects
| movement = [[Realism (arts)|Realism]]
| spouse = S.Radhamani Amma (late)

}}

'''Cheri Viswanath''' (9 August 1933 – 9 September 2014) was a [[South indian]] screenwriter, playwright, lyricist and journalist.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3341894/</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cheri Viswanath|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=7577|publisher=malayalachalachithram|accessdate=21 September 2015}}</ref>

==Biography==
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 theater group in South India called '''Kalanilayam'''.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/22/stories/2010012262300300.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128043411/http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/22/stories/2010012262300300.htm |date=28 January 2010 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/secure/MalayalaSangeetham/php/createSongIndex.php?txt%3DCheri+Viswanathan%26stype%3Dwriters%26lang%3DMALAYALAM%26malayalam%3Don%26encode%3Dutf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-04-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004221236/http://malayalasangeetham.info/secure/MalayalaSangeetham/php/createSongIndex.php?txt=Cheri%20Viswanathan&stype=writers&lang=MALAYALAM&malayalam=on&encode=utf |archivedate=4 October 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

His song for the movie Thaalappoly (1977)<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320603/</ref> was the biggest hit of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=199974 |title=Priya Sakhi Poy Varu – Thalappoli. Download Malayalam MP3 songs |publisher=Raaga |date=}}</ref>

He had written screenplays for 20 feature films, directed by veteran film makers [[M. Krishnan Nair (director)|M.Krishnan Nair]], [[Madhu (actor)|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==

===Plays===
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px #dee8f1 solid; font-weight:normal; font-size:x-small; font-family:verdana;"
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Name
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Theatre Group
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Year
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pattukari]] || Kollam Theatres || style="text-align:left;"| 1962
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Anarkali]] ||| Grihari Theatres || 1963
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Bhagat Singh]] ||| Grihari Theatres|| 1965
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pazhassiraja]] ||| Amrita theatres|| 1967
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Police ||| Kayamkulam Peoples Theaters || 1970
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Dharmasupatri |||Kayamkulam Peoples Theaters|| 1971
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pashupatastra]]m ||[[Adoor Pankajam]]'s Jaya Theaters|| 1972
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Penal code ||| Adoor Bhavani Theatres|| 1973
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Sreekrishavatram(Opera) |||Pappanacode Mani || 1973
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Parithranaya ||| [[Adoor Pankajam]]'s Jaya Theaters|| 1974
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Naradan Keralathil |||Kalanilayam Dramascope ||| 1977
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Ragam Thanam Pallavi ||| Kalanilayam Drama scope ||| 1978
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Sreekrishna Avataram ||| | Indian drama scope || 1980
|}

===Screenplays===
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px #dee8f1 solid; font-weight:normal; font-size:x-small; font-family:verdana;"
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Movie
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Director
! style="background:#b0bfd5; color:white;"|Year
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Neelasari || style="text-align:left;"| M.Krishnan Nair || style="text-align:left;"| 1976
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Dheere Sameere Yamuna Theere || style="text-align:left;"| Madhu || style="text-align:left;"| 1976
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Thaalappoly || style="text-align:left;"| M.Krishnan Nair || style="text-align:left;"| 1977
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Rowdy Ramu || style="text-align:left;"| M.Krishnan Nair || style="text-align:left;"| 1978
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Koumara Praayam || style="text-align:left;"| Gopalkrishna || style="text-align:left;"| 1979
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Eettappuli || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1983
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Thimingalam || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1983
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Bullet || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1984
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Ottayan || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1985
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Pacha Velicham || style="text-align:left;"| M.Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1985
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Revenge || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1986
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Chorakku Chora || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1986
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Black Mail || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1987
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Urukku Manushyan || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1987
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Niramulla || style="text-align:left;"| N.Shankaran Nair || style="text-align:left;"| 1987
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Kulambadikal || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1988
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Cabaret Dancer || style="text-align:left;"| N.Shankaran Nair || style="text-align:left;"| 1988
|- style="text-align:left;"
|| Penn Simham || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1988
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Naradhan Keralathil || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1989
|- style="text-align:left;"
||Commander || style="text-align:left;"| Mani || style="text-align:left;"| 1990
|}

===Radioplays===
*''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===
*''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===
*''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==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|3341894}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140911012111/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/music/483158/] mathrubhumi daily

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viswanath, Cheri}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Kollam]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam screenwriters]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language lyricists]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Cheri Viswanath - Revision history

>Ira Leviton at 16:22, 14 August 2020