Acclaimed Malayalam poet and lyricist Anil Panachooran passed away on Sunday after suffering a heart attack. He was 55. According to news agency PTI, he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kollam and was later shifted to another medical facility in Thiruvananthapuram around 7.20PM and had passed away at around 8.20PM. Anil was a lawyer by profession and hit the heights of glory with the 2017 Mohanlal film Velipadinte Pusthakam in which he penned the nationwide hit song 'Jimikki Kammal', which has since seen many dance covers. 

Anil Panachooran had made headlines in Kerala in 2007 with his songs in the Malayalam film Arabikkadha, including 'Chora Veena Mannil...' and 'Thirike Njan...' receiving acclaim. 'Chora Veena Mannil', which he himself had sung, received astounding feedback from fans, and has since then been played in Left cultural events. Among his well-received songs also include 'Thirike Njan...', which had lines that laid emphasis on the hardships being encountered by expatriates who were living away from their family members, and had turned out to be a hit with non-resident Keralites as well. 

Prior to his entry in films, Anil Panachooran earned a reputation in Malayalam poetry, especially his 'Anaadhan', written in the 1990s. The poem, which spoke about a mentally-challenged woman giving birth to a baby on the street, was later made as a song in the film Makalkku, which as well dealt with a similar topic. Some other notable poems of Panachooran are 'Valayil Veena Kilikal', 'Pranayakalam', 'Oru Mazha Peythengil', and 'Kanneerkanalukal'.

Among Anil Panachoorans's next famous songs, his 'Vyathyasthanamoru barber...' from Kadha Parayumbol, topped and reigned the Malayalam cinema charts. During the next decade, he went on to pen lyrics for many notable Malayalam films, among which include Bhramaram, Cocktail, Cycle, Madambi, Minnaminnikkoottam, Mulla and Velipadinte Pusthakam. His 'Jimikki Kammal' especially turned out to be a massive chart-buster, inspiring several dance cover versions from around the world, including the highly-popular one where a former lecturer Sheril G Kadavan's performance skyrocketed the song's popularity around the country and several other parts of the globe. 

According to reports, Anil Panachooran was working on his first directorial, Kaadu, when he tested positive for COVID-19. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid his condolences on the reputed poet's passing away, while adding that his songs, including 'Chora Veena Mannil", will be remembered by Malayalis. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala too paid his tributes saying the State had lost a talented poet from the new generation and further said that he maintained a close friendship with the poet.