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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = R K Damodaran
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1953|08|01}}
| birth_place = [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], India
| title = [[Poet]], [[lyricist]], [[composer]]
| spouse = Rajalakshmi
| children = Anagha
| website = {{URL|rkdamodaran.com}}
}}
'''R. K. Damodaran''' (born 1 August 1953) is a poet and lyricist<ref name="Suresh">{{cite web|last1=Suresh|first1=Meera|title=R K Damodaran: Four decades of finest verses|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/nov/09/r-k-damodaran-four-decades-of-finest-verses-1695977.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=25 April 2018|date=9 November 2017}}</ref> who has worked predominantly in the Malayalam movie industry. He also worked as a journalist in [[Mathrubhumi]] from 1982 to 2013. He has written lyrics for almost 3,600 songs in devotional, political, environmental, drama and light music genres, including two Sanskrit songs. He has worked in more than 100 Malayalam films<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Malayalam Songs written by RK Damodaran| url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?l=1238|website=www.malayalachalachithram.com|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="film bio">{{cite web|title=Exclusive biography of #RKDamodaran|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/r-k-damodaran/biography.html|website=FilmiBeat|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref> and written songs like "Ravivarma Chithrathin", "Thalam Thettiya Tharatt", "Manjil Chekkerum", "Sukham", "Chandrakiranathin Chandanamunnum", "Thani Thankakkinapponkal" and "Pakalppoove".

== Career ==
Damodaran, from [[Manjapra]] in [[Ernakulam district]], studied BA Malayalam at [[Maharajas College,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/dec/14/sahityavedi-held-at-maharajas-college-1726698.html|title='Sahityavedi' held at Maharaja's College|publisher=}}</ref> Kochi]] and [[Sanskrit]] language at [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]], Kochi. He entered the film music world in 1977, when he was a second year BA student at Maharaja's College. His first song was "Ravivarma Chithrathin Rathi Bhavame" for the 1978 movie ''[[Raju Rahim]]'' (recorded on 2 November 1977 at AVM-C Theatre, Chennai). He soon made a name for himself in the Malayalam movie industry. During a career spanning over four decades,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/021117/40-years-of-rk-damodaran.html|title=40 years of RK Damodaran|date=2 November 2017|publisher=}}</ref> he has written 118 film songs and worked with music masters like [[Dakshinamurthy]], Devarajan Master, M. S. Viswanathan, Ilayaraja, Arjunan Master, Johnson, Raveendran, Syam, S. P. Venkitesh, Jerry Amaldev, Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath, Vidyadharan, Mohan Sithara, T. S. Radhakrishnan, Vidya Sagar, K.P. Udayabhanu, M. Jayachandran, Deepak Dev and Berny-Ignatious. The film ''[[Cleopatra (2013 film)|Cleopatra]]'', released in 2013, was his last film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/ReadMore/2971/r-k-damodaran-on-his-song-rasaleela/E?PageSpeed=noscript|title=ക്ലിയോപാട്രയുടെ വിശേഷങ്ങളുമായി ആര്‍.കെ ദാമോദരന്‍|website=www.mathrubhumi.com}}</ref>

Besides writing lyrics for Malayalam movies, he also published four books. Two were collection of his poetry, ''Athunathanam'' and ''Kadharaavaneeyam''. The other two were devotional song collections namely ''Amme Narayana'' and ''Aravana Madhuram''. He also wrote two dramas, ''Poorapparambu'' and ''Kannakiyude Mula''. He has also learned to play the chenda, Kerala's traditional percussion instrument, from Babu Kanjilasseri of Kozhikode.

Damodaran was selected as a member of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy during 2001 to 2004 which is run by the government of Kerala. Since 2012, he has been an executive member of Bharat Bhavan which is under the Department of Culture, government of Kerala. He has been an executive member of Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad since 2016.

== Personal life ==
Damodaran was born to [[Manjapra, Palakkad district|Manjapra]] Kothanath Chirayil Kalathil Ramankutty Nair, a government employee by profession and [[Palakkad]] Pallatheri Kappadathu Puthanveettil Kalyanikkutty Amma on 1 August 1953 in Kochi. He was named after his paternal grandfather, according to the then-existing customs. He is deeply influenced by the fertile cultural landscape of his family place. He married Rajalakshmy (a native of [[North Paravoor]]), who was his classmate at Maharaja's College, on 7 June 1985. They have a daughter named Anagha (b. 1986). They are currently{{when|date=September 2022}} residing at Kochi, Kerala.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rkdamodaran.com/|title=R K Damodaran|website=rkdamodaran.com}}</ref>

== Awards ==
These are some of the awards and achievements in the career life of R. K. Damodaran.
* [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award|Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Kalasree Award]] - 2013<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-sangeetha-nataka-akademi-announces-kalashri-awards/article5335032.ece|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi announces Kalashri awards|newspaper=The Hindu |date=10 November 2013|publisher=|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
* Kunjunni Master Award for poetry - 2008
* Vaadya Mithra Award with Suvarna Mudra - 2006
* Kesava Poduval Smaraka Puraskaram - 2018
* Pavakulathamma Award -2018<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2018/apr/15/pavakulathamma-award-for-r-k-dhamodharan-1801705.html|title=Pavakulathamma Award for R K Dhamodharan|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref>
* P.Gokulapalan Sankam Kala Group Award -2017
* Thirumantham Kunnu Neerajanam Award- 2014
* Parasseri Meen Kulathi Bhagavathi Temple's Bhadrapriya Award - 2014
* Paloor Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple Award - 2014
* Akhila Bharathiya Ayappa Samithi Award - 2014
* Pattambi Sreethali Mahadeva Puraskaram- 2013
* Oottoor Unni Namboothirippadu Smaraka Puraskaram- 2011
* Kashypa Veda Research Foundation Award - 2010
* Mayilppeeli Award from Guruvayoor - 2010
* Thathvamasi Award - 2010
* Pambadi Pambumkavu Sree Nagaraja Puraskaram - 2009
* Jaycey Foundation Award - 2005
* Kerala Film Audience Council Award - 2004 & 2005
* Sangam Kala Group Award - 2003
* MTV Award and Smrithi Award - 2002
* Harivarasanam Award - 2001
* Drisya Award - 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2007
* Malayalam Tele Viewers Association Award - 2000
* Ayyappa Ganasree Award - 1994
* IPTA Award for the Best National Integration Song - 1992
* Nana Miniscreen Award - 1991
* Chottanikkara narayana Marar memorial NAVA NAARAAYAM award-2018

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/r-k-damodaran.html R K Damodaran famous movie songs], ''Filmibeat''
* [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/021117/40-years-of-rk-damodaran.html 40 Years of R K Damodaran], ''Deccan Chronicle''
* [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-sangeetha-nataka-akademi-announces-kalashri-awards/article5335032.ece Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Awards], ''The Hindu''

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Damodaran, R K}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Mysore alumni]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Writers from Kochi]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

R. K. Damodaran - Revision history

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