Kerala’s forest scientist Kannan Warrier on his musical journey

Dr. Kannan CS Warrier, a forestry expert, is also a prolific composer and singer with over 140 songs.

Dr Kannan CS Warrier, director of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment — Kerala Forest Research Institute, is up by 3.30 am every day. He cycles about 10 kilometres around the picturesque, green Peechi in Thrissur district. “I cherish this time by myself. I enjoy the peace and quiet and this is when I compose my songs,” he says over the phone. 

For over 50 years, alongside his professional commitments, Kannan has been a vibrant presence in the music scene, having composed and sung over 140 songs, 100 of which are on YouTube. “It is usually on my bicycle rides in the mornings that music comes to me. As soon as a tune occurs to me, I record it on the phone and then send the tune to my lyricist friends,” he says. Kannan has 191 tunes waiting to be composed. 

With over 30 years of experience in forestry research (tree breeding, clonal forestry, tissue culture and biodiversity conservation), he has numerous achievements in his chosen field, including the National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and the Rolla S Rao National Award for the best research on biodiversity conservation in India. 

However, music is an equally important part of his life, says Kannan. He composed the music for the official theme song ‘Vananeeru’, for the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department in 2025. The department’s theme song for the year 2020, ‘Kadarivu’, was also composed by Kannan and sung by P Jayachandran. “The theme songs are the forest department’s attempt to engage with the public, and make them aware of the importance of forests. ‘Vananeeru’ celebrates the forest and its water sources,” he says. 

Nature and forests are a constant source of inspiration and his songs span genres including devotional, cinematic, light and semi-classical. He has brought out ‘Dashapushpam’, a devotional album and ‘Lalitham’, a Carnatic-based album. 

Kannan started singing at the age of seven, under the mentorship of his mother. When he was in Class VIII, he got a chance to compose a song for the 34th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi.

Later, while he was doing his pre-degree, he performed at the Republic Day Parade, winning third place in an orchestra for playing the electric guitar. While he excelled in academics, Kannan kept on proving his mettle in music as well, becoming the ‘kalaprathibha’ for five years at the Kerala Agricultural University, where he completed his graduation and post graduation in forestry, both with a first rank. Kannan is also well-versed in playing the guitar, mridangam, harmonium, harmonica, and idakka.