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{{more citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{infobox person
| name = Ka. Mu. Sheriff
| image = Ka._mu._sheriff.jpg
| birth_name = Kadershah Ravuthar Mu. Sheriff
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1914|8|11}}
| birth_place = Abhivirutheeswaram, East Thanjavur, Tamilnadu
| occupation = poet
| spouse =
| children = Daughter Name : Apsha Nachiyar
Grand Children Name : Shareefa Beevi,
Mahmutha,
Taj,
Mariyam Beevi (Late),
Bashariya,Allahpichai
| death_date = Before 1989
}}
'''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.

==Early life==
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==
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" ({{Translation|Light}}) in 1948 and then between 1952 and 1969 he published two periodicals ''Saattai'' and ''Thamizh Muzhakkam''.

==Freedom fighter==
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 [[Chennai|Madras]] as the Capital of Tamil Nadu. He also participated in the [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu]].

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

==Lyricist==
In late 1940s, Sheriff was affiliated to the Modern Theatres in Salem. He was influential in introducing M. Karunanidhi to the [[Modern Theatres]]' 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 (1950 film)|Ponmudi]], produced by the Modern Theatres.

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

==Singers==
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 Sisters|Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi]], [[Radha Jayalakshmi|(Radha) Jayalakshmi]], [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]], U. R. Chandra, Ponnammal, [[N. L. Ganasaraswathi]], [[A. P. Komala]],

==Notable compositions==
{{Incomplete list|date=April 2017}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Song/s !! Singer/s !! Music director !! Notes
|-
|1950
|[[Manthiri Kumari]]
| உலவும் தென்றல் காற்றினிலே and others
|
|G. [[G. Ramanathan|Ramanathan]]
|He is one of the lyricists along with [[A. Maruthakasi|A.Maruthakasi]]
|----
| 1950 || [[Digambara Samiyar]] || || || G. Ramanathan<br/>S. M. Subbaiah Naidu || He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
|-
| 1950 || [[Ponmudi (1950 film)|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 (1951 film)|Devaki]] || || || G. Ramanathan || He is one of the lyricists. Individual credits not known
|-
| 1951 || [[Sarvadhikari (film)|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<br>T. A. Kalyanam ||
|-
| 1952 || [[Zamindar (1952 film)|Zamindar]] || || || G. Ramanathan || [[A. Maruthakasi]] also wrote lyrics. Individual credits not known
|-
| 1953 || [[Anbu (1953 film)|Anbu]] || ''Enna Enna Inbame'' || A. M. Rajah & Jikki || T. R. Pappa || 3 out of 12 songs were penned by him
|-
| 1953 || [[Inspector (1953 film)|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<br />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 (1954 film)|Mangalyam]] || ''Vaazhvadhu Ponaalum'' || T. M. Soundararajan || K. V. Mahadevan || 4 out of 7 songs were penned by him
|-
| 1954 || [[Pudhu Yugam (1954 film)|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 ||
|-
| rowspan=2|1955 || rowspan=2|[[Kalyanam Seydhukko]] || ''Engum Nirai Paramporul Onre'' || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || Ramaneekaran ||
|-
| ''Vaetti Kattina Pombale'' || Sirkazhi Govindarajan & Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi || ||
|-
| rowspan=2|1955 || rowspan=2|[[Mullaivanam]] || ''Engirundho ingu vandha radhiye''|| rowspan=2|T. M. Soundararajan & (Radha) Jayalakshmi || rowspan=2|K. V. Mahadevan ||
|-
| ''Sariyendru nee oru'' ||
|-
| rowspan=2|1955 || rowspan=2|[[Nalla Thangai]] || ''Ennai Pole Bhagyasaali'' || Jikki & P. Leela || rowspan=2|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 || He wrote 3 songs -MKTs last film |
|-

| 1963 || [[Thulasi Maadam]] || ''Aadum MAyile Aattam Enge'' || T. M. Soundararajan || K. V. Mahadevan || 3 out of 5 songs were penned by him
|}
<ref>{{cite news|title=Annayai Pol Oru|url=http://redmux.com/song/annayai-pol-oru-tm-soundararajankamu-sheriff|work=Lyrics by Ka. Mu. Sheriff|publisher=RedMux|access-date = 13 December 2017|date = 8 April 1958 }}</ref>

==Death==
Ka. Mu. Sheriff died before 1989.

== In popular culture ==
Sheriff is briefly portrayed by an uncredited actor in the film [[Periyar (2007 film)|''Periyar'']] (2007).<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=7374&v=J0xwDvTwxMs&feature=youtu.be |title=Periyar 2007 Tamil Full Movie |date=2021-01-26 |last=Joker Speech |access-date=2025-02-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite web|url=http://tamil.thehindu.com/cinema/cinema-others/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%87/article6402938.ece |title=கவி கா.மு. ஷெரீப் நூற்றாண்டு |trans-title=Poet Ka. Mu. Sheriff Centenary |language=Tamil |publisher=tamil.thehindu.com |date=12 September 2014 |accessdate=25 April 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170425022037/http://tamil.thehindu.com/cinema/cinema-others/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%87/article6402938.ece |archivedate=25 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}
*[https://kavikamu.wordpress.com/ Kavi Ka. Mu. Sheriff]
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.nakkheeran.in/users/frmArticles.aspx?A=17595 |title=Kaalam Isaikkum Kavithaikkup Peyar ka. mu. sheriff |trans-title=Ka. Mu. Sheriff is the name of the song rendered by Time |author=Thiru. Veerapandian |publisher=nakkheeran.in |date=1 September 2013 |accessdate=25 April 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170425022941/http://www.nakkheeran.in/users/frmArticles.aspx?A=17595 |archivedate=25 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}

== External links ==

* [http://kavikamu.wordpress.com/ கவி கா.மு.ஷெரீப் வலைத்தளம்]
* [https://archive.today/20170425022941/http://www.nakkheeran.in/users/frmArticles.aspx?A=17595 காலம் இசைக்கும் கவிதைக்குப் பெயர் கா.மு. ஷெரிப்] - திரு. வீரபாண்டியன்

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheriff, Ka. Mu.}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Tamil poets]]
[[Category:Tamil film poets]]
[[Category:Indian lyricists]]
[[Category:Tamil Muslims]]

Ka. Mu. Sheriff - Revision history

Ramesheditor at 21:53, 28 April 2026