Chacko's first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946. The poem 'Kanakaaksharangal' published in 1967 brought him popularity. Chemmanam is famed for efficiently utilising
satire in his poems as a means of social and political critique. His poetic style has often drawn comparison to the early Malayalam language poet
Kunjan Nambiar. His 1977 poetry collection
Rajapatha won the
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. He was conferred with the lifetime achievement award for literature by the
Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2006. He received the Mahakavi Pandalam Keralavarma Award for Poetry in 2014 and
Asan Prize in 2015.
List of poems •
Vilamparam (Proclamation) (1947) •
Kanakaaksharangal (Golden Letters) (1967) •
Nellu (Rice) (1968) •
Innu (Today) (1969) •
Puthari (Fresh Rice) (1970) •
Asthram (Arrow) (1971) •
Agneyaasthram (Fire-arrow) (1972) •
Dukkhanthinte Chiri (Laughter of sorrow) (1973) •
Aavanazhi (Quiver) (1974) •
Jaithrayaathra (Victory Parade) (1975) •
Rajapaatha (Royal Path) (1976) •
Daahajalam (Water for Thirst) (1981) •
Bhoomikulukkam (Earthquake) (1983) •
Ampum Villum (Bow and Arrow) (1986) •
Raajavinu Vasthramilla (King is naked) (1989) •
Aalilla Kaserakal (Empty Chairs) (1991) •
Chinteru (Plane - as in tool for timber work) (1995) •
Narma Sankadam (Light Sadness) (1997) •
Onnu Onnu Randaayiram (1–1–2000) (2000) •
Ottayaal Pattaalam (One-man Army) (2003) •
Ottayaante Choonduviral (Pointing finger of a lone Elephant) (2007) •
Akshara Poraattam (War of Words) (2009) •
Akshara Poraali (Warrior of words) (2010) == References ==