Nanjiyamma is a national award winner female playback singer who hails from a tribal community in Kerala. She garnered public attention after singing playback in the Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyum in 2020. The film's title song "Kalakkatha" written by herself in Irula language and composed by Jakes Bejoy attained popularity after its release on YouTube. The song received more than 10 million views in a month.
Early life and career She hails from an Irula community in Nakkupathi, a tribal village in Attappadi in Palakkad district, Kerala, India.
Nanjiyamma is a folksinger of the Azad Kala Samithi, led by Pazhani Swami, a tribal artist in Attappadi. Later in 2020, she was introduced into playback singing through the film Ayyappanum Koshiyum. She has also played the role of mother-in-law to the protagonist Biju Menon in the film. She finds a livelihood by farming and feeding cattle. She sings mostly folk songs that went past through generations. She first sung for a documentary for Mathrumozhi titled Aggedu Nayaga directed by Sindhu Sajan. Nanjiyamma sung the promotional song for Government of Kerala's housing programme Life Mission and it was the first time Irula language was used for a public relations program in Kerala.
Nanjiyamma was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in the 68th National Film Awards of India for the song "Kalakkatha" song from the movie Ayyappanum Koshiyum. She received special Jury Award of Kerala State Film Award in 2020.
Discography
YearFilm Song(s)Composer2024Mayavanam "Kadanamma (Promo song)"Dr. Jagath lal2022Ulkkanal "Ele Le Le (Tribal Song)", Lyrics also2022Signature "Attappadi song"2022Chekkan "Athukku Antha"2022EMI "Thena Koyyana"2022Station 5 "Dakka Dakka"2020Ayyappanum Koshiyum "Adakachakko (Promo Song)"Jakes Bejoy "Kalakkatha", Lyrics also"Thaalam Poyi"2015Velutha Rathrikal "Hey Vannathi " "Mallike" "Muttolam Mundudutha""Hey Karadi"2015Aggedu Nayaga "Kakke Daage"Manakkala Goopalakrishanan "Kelaye daage gogunthee" "Akkare vantha pachakkiliye""Le le le karadi"
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 2020 Ayyappanum Koshiyum Kannamma's Mother Uncredited role 2020 Chunkan NanjiammaMusical video 2020 The Prince of Mollywood Prithviraj NanjiammaMusical videoalso singer 2021 Payanam HerselfMusical video 2022Chekkan Muthassi 2022EMI Singer 2022Signature 2022Ullkkanal 2022Guardian Angel 2024MayavanamSingerMovie song 2025 Am Ah
Television ShowNetworkNotesBumper Chiri AghoshamMazhavil ManoramaNaattupattuJanam TVParayam NedamKaumudyParticipantSalt and PepperKaumudyPresenterRuchiyathraSurya TVPresenterMadhura Pathinettil PrithviSurya TVGuestKarthika DeepamZee KeralamSpecial appearanceSinger for title songNanjiyamma's Tribal Village FoodUmami@Kerala (YouTube Channel)Guest
References