Jamal Kochangadi
Jamal Kochangadi was born on 30 April 1944 in Kochangadi, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. His parents were P.A. Zainuddhin Naina (Freedom Fighter, Journalist, Political Leader and Founder of Coir Fed) and Sulekha.
He attended Kochangadi Aliya School, Mattancherry HE HMMHS.
After completing school in 1963, he joined Keralanadam, an evening newspaper and went on to become the Chief Editor of the Bharatharajyam Evening Newspaper. Then he worked in a couple of small newspapers in Kochi like Yuva Keralam, Jai Hind, Cochin Express and a weekly named Filmnadam.
On becoming the Editorial Member of League Times, he shifted from Kochi to Kozhikode. During this period he got a proposal from Kozhikode to marry Fathima, the eldest daughter of painter and theatre artist A.M. Koya. The proposal came through his close friends Ibrahim Vengara and Vikraman Nair. Thus the marriage took place. They lived together several decades as husband and wife. Jamal Kochangadi’s wife N.P. Fathima passed away in 2019.
He attended Kochangadi Aliya School, Mattancherry HE HMMHS.
After completing school in 1963, he joined Keralanadam, an evening newspaper and went on to become the Chief Editor of the Bharatharajyam Evening Newspaper. Then he worked in a couple of small newspapers in Kochi like Yuva Keralam, Jai Hind, Cochin Express and a weekly named Filmnadam.
On becoming the Editorial Member of League Times, he shifted from Kochi to Kozhikode. During this period he got a proposal from Kozhikode to marry Fathima, the eldest daughter of painter and theatre artist A.M. Koya. The proposal came through his close friends Ibrahim Vengara and Vikraman Nair. Thus the marriage took place. They lived together several decades as husband and wife. Jamal Kochangadi’s wife N.P. Fathima passed away in 2019.
From 1980 onwards he has been occupying prominent positions in news dailies such as League Times, Madhyamam, and Thejus. From 1988 to 2018 he was in charge of the Special Edition of newspapers. He made a significant contribution to cultural journalism by being the editor of Varadya Madhyamam and Thejus Sunday Edition.
His short story Chappa was made into a feature film with the same name. P. A. Backer, was the director. The film was released in 1982 and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.
His short story Chappa was made into a feature film with the same name. P. A. Backer, was the director. The film was released in 1982 and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.
Short Stories
“Anjum Moonnum Onnu” is a short story collection, written in 1961, when he was a final year student at school. This was done in association with former Deputy Speaker of Kerala, the late M.J. Zackaria Sait.
Translation
- Hitlarude Manass (Mind of Hitler)
- Marubhumiyile Pravachakan (Prophet of the Desert)
- Classic Abhimukhangal (Classic Interviews)
- Dhyanam Islamil (Contemplation in Islam)
- Columbusum mattu yathrikarum (Columbus and other travellers.)
Biography
- Latha Mangeshkar- Music and Life
- Luminaries of World Literature (Brief biographical notes on 150 world known writers)
- From Tansen to Zakir Hussain (Biographies of Musical legends)
- Melody (Biosketches of 40 Hindi film singers and Composers)
As editor
- Baburaj (An anthology of music composer MS Baburaj)
- Kerala Samskraram – Adanapradanangal (Collection of studies on Kerala Culture)
Fiction
- Spadikam Pole (Like a crystal)
- Nilavinte Sangeetham (Music of moonlight)
Collection of Social Essays
- Manpazham Thinnu Maricha Kutty
- Akathalam
- Kudumbam
- Kuttikal
Memoirs
- Pena Sakshi (Pen as witness) Memories of media life through letter communication with eminent persons.
- Ithente Kochi (This is my Kochi) Memories of Kochi.
- Basheer, Vijayan, Mammootty pinne mattu chilarum. Memories of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, O. V. Vijayan, Mammootty and other well-known dignitaries.
Play
- Iniyum Unarathavar (Kozhikode Sangamam Theatres)
- Kshubhitharude Ashamsakal (Stage India, Kozhikode)
Interviews
Sathyam Parayunna Nunayanmaar- (Liars who tell the truth) Interviews with cartoonists from Kerala like O. V. Vijayan, Kutty (cartoonist), E. P. Unny etc.
Songs
- Pravachana ganangal – Musical Album on Prophet Muhammad
- Marakkillorikalum
Filmography as Lyricist
|
Year |
Song |
Film |
Singers |
|
1980 |
Aa Churam Ee Churam |
Thaliritta Kinakkal |
K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
|
1980 |
En Mooka Vishadham |
Thaliritta Kinakkal |
S. Janaki |
|
1983 |
En Manassil (F) |
Marakkillorikkalum |
Vani Jairam |
1983 |
En Manassil (M) |
Marakkillorikkalum |
P. Jayachandran |
Awards
- Thiruvananthapuram Muslim Association Puraskaram
- P.A. Sayed Mohammad Foundation Award
- P.A. Backer Puraskaram
- J.C. Kuttikad Award
- Kozhikode Souhrida Puraskaram
- Vakkam Abdul Khader Smaraka Puraskaram (Trivandrum)
- Qatar Thanathu Samskarika Vedi Puraskaram
The Malayalam Film and TV Chamber of Commerce is really privileged to have a multitalented genius like Jamal Kochangadi as a Peer Director.