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{{short description|Indian composer and writer of Malayalam literature}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kutti Kunju Thankachi
| image = Kuttikunhi_Thankachi.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Lakshmy Pilla
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1820|2|14}}
| birth_place = [[Vilavancode taluk]], [[Travancore]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1904|2|13|1820|2|14}}
| death_place = Travancore
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Poet, playwright, composer
| alma mater =
| spouse = Kunjan Thamban, Kunjunni Thamban
| domesticpartner =
| children = Eight children
| parents = {{ublist|[[Irayimman Thampi]]|Kalipilla Thankachi}}
| influences =
| influenced =
| website =
| awards =
}}
'''Lakshmy Pilla''' (14 February 1820 – 13 February 1904), better identified as '''Kutti Kunju Thankachi''', was an Indian composer and writer of [[Malayalam literature]], known to be the first female poet and composer of Kerala. The daughter of [[Irayimman Thampi]], the noted composer of ''[[Omanathinkal Kidavo]]'' and a musician at the court of [[Swathi Thirunal]], she was the author of a number of [[Attakatha (performance)|attakathas]] such as ''Parvathiswayamvaram'' and ''Mithrasahamoksham''. ''Sreemathy Swayamvaram'' and a play, ''Ajnathavasam''.

== Biography ==
Kutti Kunju Thankachi, née Lakshmy Pilla, was born on 14 February 1820 at [[Vilavancode taluk]] of the [[Travancore|Travancore state]], presently in [[Kanyakumari district]] of the south Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], to [[Irayimman Thampi]] and Kalipilla Thankachi.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/VUnnikrishnanNair/Html/VUNairgraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> Her early education was under her father;{{Refn|group=note|She was known to be his only student of Irayimman Thampi<ref name="Composers - Irayimman Thampi ( 1782–1856)">{{Cite web |url=https://ramyasspace.wordpress.com/tag/composers/ |title=Composers - Irayimman Thampi ( 1782–1856) |website=ramyasspace |language=en |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref>}} she studied under Harippadu Kochuppilla Varrier, simultaneously learning [[Thiruvathira|Thiruvathira dance]] from her father.<ref name="KUTTIKUNJU THANGACHI The First Woman Composer in (the present day) kaRNATik tradition">{{Cite web |url=http://carnatica.net/special/kuttikunju-ppn.htm |title=KUTTIKUNJU THANGACHI The First Woman Composer in (the present day) kaRNATik tradition |website=carnatica.net |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref> Her first marriage was in 1834 to Kunjan Thampan of [[Cherthala]] Varanadu Naduvilel Kovilakam but after the death of Thampan in 1851, she married again in 1861; the marriage with Kunjunni Thampan lasting a decade until his death in 1871. She had eight children, from her two marriages. She was afflicted with eye disease from her childhood, lost her eye sight completely by 1902 and died on 13 February 1904, at the age of 83.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

== Legacy ==
Thankachi, known to be the first woman poet<ref name="Brehath Sangeetha Kendram - Kerala Composers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.brehathsangeet.com/kerala-composers/ |title=Brehath Sangeetha Kendram - Kerala Composers |date=2019-04-07 |website=brehathsangeet.com |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref> and composer of Kerala,<ref name="KUTTIKUNJU THANGACHI The First Woman Composer in (the present day) kaRNATik tradition" /> wrote eighteen books comprising three [[Attakatha (performance)|attakathas]], ''Parvathiswayamvaram'', ''Mithrasahamoksham'' and ''Sreemathy Swayamvaram'',<ref name="Breathing life into Kutti Kunju Thankachi’s play">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/breathing-life-into-kutti-kunju-thankachis-play/article7124554.ece |title=Breathing life into Kutti Kunju Thankachi's play |last=Santhosh |first=K. |date=2015-04-21 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref> several poems, two ''kurathi'' songs, a [[Ottan Thullal|thullal]] and a play, ''Ajnathavasam''.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/KuttikunjuThankachi/Html/Kuttikunjubooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> Noted critic, [[S. Gupthan Nair]], has stated that Thankachi had gained popularity as a poet during her time itself and people used to visit her to read their poems to listen to her opinions.<ref name="Women Writers of Kerala - Kuttykunju Thankachi">{{Cite web |url=http://womenwritersofkerala.com/author.php?author_id=266&lang=en |title=Women Writers of Kerala - Kuttykunju Thankachi |date=2019-04-07 |website=womenwritersofkerala.com |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref> She was known to have good knowledge of [[Sanskrit]] and she composed songs in several [[ragas]] such as [[Kambhoji]], [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyaani]], [[Nata (raga)|Naatta]], [[Khamas (raga)|Khamas]] and Surutti.<ref name="Composers and Musicians Kutti Kunju Thankachi (1820-1904)">{{Cite web |url=http://www.swathithirunal.in/composeres/thanka.htm |title=Composers and Musicians Kutti Kunju Thankachi (1820-1904) |website=www.swathithirunal.in |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref><ref name="Carnatic Music in Kerala">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/carnatic-music-kerala/375 |title=Carnatic Music in Kerala |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref>

== Literary contributions ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:75%"
! scope="col" style="width:10%" | No.
! scope="col" style="width:40%" | Work
! scope="col" style="width:25%" | Genre
|-
| 1 || ''Shivaraari Mahatmyam'' || [[Thiruvathira]] songs
|-
| 2 || ''Seetha Swayamvaram''' || [[Thiruvathira]] songs
|-
| 3 || ''Narada Mohanam'' || [[Thiruvathira]] songs
|-
| 4 || ''Thiruvananthapuram Sthalapuranam'' || [[Kilippattu]]
|-
| 5 || ''Vaikom Sthalapuranam'' || [[Kilippattu]]
|-
| 6 || ''Kiratham'' || Kurathipattu (folk song)
|-
| 7 || ''Nalacharitham'' || Kurathipattu (folk song)
|-
| 8 || ''Ganga Snanam'' || Tullal
|-
| 9 || ''Parvathiswayamvaram'' || [[Attakatha (performance)|Attakatha]]
|-
| 10 || ''Mithrasahamoksham'' || [[Attakatha (performance)|Attakatha]]
|-
| 11 || ''Sreemathy Swayamvaram'' || [[Attakatha (performance)|Attakatha]]
|-
| 12 || ''Anchita Saubhagya Lakshmi'' (for Princess Vanchi) || Tharattu (lullaby)
|-
| 13 || ''Ajnathavasam'' || Play
|-
| 14 || ''Asharavamsha Dinesha Vibho'' || Kummi (folk song)
|}

== Musical compositions ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:75%"
! scope="col" style="width:20%" | Work
! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Language
! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Raga
! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Tala
! scope="col" style="width:25%" | Remarks
|-
| ''Katyayan mam palaya'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Kambhoji]] || [[Adi tala]] || on [[Palkulangara Devi Temple|Palkulangara Devi]]
|-
| ''Saamaja hara hara'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyani]] || [[Adi tala]] || on [[Adikesava Perumal Temple, Kanyakumari|Thiruvattar Keshava Swami]]
|-
| ''Sooryakoti sama prabha makute'' || [[Sanskrit]] || [[Nata (raga)|Nata]] || [[Adi tala]] || on [[Mookambika]]
|-
| ''Paahi mohana krute'' || [[Sanskrit]] || [[Khamas (raga)|Khamas]] || [[Adi tala]] || on [[Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple|Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami]]
|-
| ''Anandaroopa hare'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Pantuvarali]] || Chapu || on [[Malayinkeezhu]] Sree Krishna Swami
|-
| ''Shri pavanapurusha'' || [[Malayalam]] || Suruti || [[Adi tala]] || on [[Lord Krishna]]
|-
| ''Bandurangi Kintu cheyvu njan'' || [[Malayalam]] || Huseni || [[Adi tala]] || [[Carnatic music|Padam]]
|-
| ''Balike, pokarudanetho'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Sankarabharanam (raga)|Shankarabharanam]] || [[Adi tala]] || [[Carnatic music|Padam]]
|-
| ''Indal valarunnitayyayyo'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Bilahari]] || [[Adi tala]] || [[Carnatic music|Padam]]
|-
| ''Ha ramananayi maranno'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Kambhoji]] || [[Adi tala]] || [[Carnatic music|Padam]]
|-
| ''Kulasekhara maharaja bhupathe'' || [[Sanskrit]] || [[Darbar (Raga)|Darbar]] || Roopaka || [[Tillana]]
|-
| ''Dayithe thurakkoo vathil'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Hanumatodi|Todi]] || [[Adi tala]] || Vathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)
|-
| ''Yahi yahi mohanakarte'' || [[Malayalam]] || [[Madhyamavathi]] || [[Adi tala]] || Vathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)
|-
| ''Kaama komalaakaara'' || [[Malayalam]] || Ragamalika || [[Adi tala]] || Vathilthurapattu (Door opening songs)
|}

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors by category]]
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note|2}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.indulekha.com/abhinaya-sangeetham-songs-mohiniyattam-leela-omcheri |title=Abhinaya Sangeetham |last=Leela Omcheri |publisher=National Book Stall |year=2014}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/KuttikunjuThankachi/Html/KuttikunjuThankachi.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://sharatsunderrajeev.blogspot.com/search/label/Kutty%2520Kunju%2520Thankachi |title=Tales from Travancore |last=Sharat Sunder Rajeev |language=en |access-date=2019-04-07}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thankachi, Kutti Kunju}}
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:People from Kanyakumari district]]
[[Category:Women writers (early modern)]]
[[Category:Female composers]]
[[Category:Indian women poets]]
[[Category:Indian women dramatists and playwrights]]

Kutty Kunju Thankachi - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 07:38, 15 August 2023