[1][2][3][4][5] Thirunalloor (variously spelled in English as Thirunelloor, Thirunellur and Thirunallur) Karunakaran[a] was born in the village of Perinad in Kollam (Quilon) district in Kerala to P. K. Padmanabhan and N.

[citation needed] He started learning Sanskrit in the traditional way before joining primary school and he associated with the working-class political movement early in his life.

[6] Though he lived in the city of Trivandrum for more than three decades, Thirunalloor chose to spend the rest of his life in his native village of Perinad on the banks of Ashtamudi lake, which had been a constant source of inspiration for his poetry.

[citation needed] A three-day-long cultural festival called 'Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam' is held every year from 1 May (International Workers' Day) on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake in Quilon to perpetuate his memory.

[10][11] The Ashtamudi lake and life on its shores was a key source of inspiration for his writings, and his poetry abounds with varied themes, characters, and imagery taken from this environment.

[12][13][14] Several of his works, like lyrics written for various media and art forms like Kadhaprasangam and stageplays, as well as marching songs, articles, and writings in Sanskrit, are yet to be compiled.