Girish Puthencherry

Girish Puthencherry—man, what a legend in Malayalam cinema. Born on a regular ol’ September day back in '59, in this small town called Puthenchery in Kozhikode, Kerala. Not exactly the place you’d expect a lyricist and writer who’d go on to churn out some absolute bangers for the film industry. His words? Pure poetry. Honestly, if you’ve ever been swept away by the feels in movies like Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (that’s 1997, for the uninitiated), or felt the nostalgia hit from Meleparambil Aanveedu (‘93, that one’s a classic), you’ve got Girish to thank for a lot of that magic. He was the kind of artist who could turn heartbreak into verses and everyday moments into something you’d want to sing about. Never flashy, but always right there, in the background, making the movies hit harder. And let’s not forget Twenty:20 (2008), which is basically a who’s-who of Malayalam cinema. His lyrics sort of stitched the whole film together, adding soul where you least expected it. He wasn’t just a writer, either—he was married to Beena, lived a pretty grounded life, and, well, he left us all too soon in 2010, back in his hometown. People still talk about him like he’s just stepped out for a chai and will be back any minute with a new song. That’s the kind of mark he left. His legacy? It’s in the music, the words, the movies—still echoing long after the credits roll.