Abhayadev

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Abhayadev

| native_name =

| image = Abhayadev lyricist.png

| caption = Abhayadev

| image_size =

| birth_name = Ayyappan Pillai

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1913|06|25}}

| birth_place = Pallam, Kottayam, Kerala, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|07|26|1913|06|25}}

| instrument =

| genre =

| occupation = Poet, lyricist

| years_active = 1949–2000

| label = Audiotracs

| website =

}}

Ayyappan Pillai, better known by his pen name Abhayadev (25 June 1913 – 26 July 2000) was an Indian poet and lyricist during the 1970s in Malayalam movies.{{cite web|url=http://en.msidb.org/songs.php?tag=Search&lyricist=Abhayadev&limit=416 |title=List of Malayalam Songs by Lyricist Abhayadev |publisher=en.msidb.org |access-date=2014-08-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903082135/http://en.msidb.org/songs.php?tag=Search&lyricist=Abhayadev&limit=416 |archive-date=2014-09-03 }} He wrote lyrics for around 500 films and dialogues for 25 Malayalam movies.{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=61|title=Abhayadev|publisher=malayalachalachithram.com|access-date=2014-08-29}}{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/malayalam/lyricist/Abhayadev.html|title=Raaga - Malayalam - Lyricist - Abhayadev|website=Raaga.com|access-date=2014-08-29}} He was born to Karimalil Kesava Pillai who was also a well-known poet, at Pallam near Kottayam.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/unforgettable-verses/article4557960.ece|title=Unforgettable verses|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 March 2013|first=K.|last=Pradeep|access-date=18 September 2019}} He made his debut in 1949 as lyricist in the film Vellinakshatram.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Music-composer-Dakshinamoorthy-passes-away-at-94/articleshow/21564207.cms|title=Music composer Dakshinamoorthy passes away at 94 - The Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India |date=3 August 2013 |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=2014-08-29}} He was actively involved in the activities of Sahitya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society (SPCS), Hindi Prachar Sabha, and numerous other social and cultural organisations till his death.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/oral-koodi-kallanayi-1964/article1141026.ece|title=ORAL KOODI KALLANAYI 1964 - The Hindu|newspaper=The Hindu |date=30 January 2011 |publisher=thehindu.com|access-date=2014-08-29}} He was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.keralascope.com/Pages/rakendhu.html|title=KeralaScope|publisher=keralascope.com|access-date=2014-08-29|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903211351/http://www.keralascope.com/Pages/rakendhu.html|url-status=dead}} His grandsons Ambilikuttan is a playback singer, and Jayadevan is a violinist settled in Canada.