Famous malayalam writters





Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup (Malayalam: ഒറ്റപ്ലാക്കല്‍ നമ്പിയാടിക്കൽ വേലു കുറുപ്പ്[1]), popularly known as O. N. V. Kurup or simply O. N. V., is a Malayalam poet and lyricist fromKerala, India, who won Jnanpith Award,the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He is considered one of the finest living lyrical poets in India. O. N. V. Kurup is also a lyricist inMalayalam cinema. He received the awards Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011, the fourth and second highest civilian honours from the Government of India. In 2007 he was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala, Trivandrum. O. N. V. is known for hisleftist leaning.[2] He was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Thiruvananthapuramconstituency for the Lok-Sabha elections in 1989.[3]

Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on May 27, 1931 at Chavara, Kollam in Kerala.[4] He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the public 'Government School, Chavara'. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Economics from SN College, Kollam, he moved to Thiruvananthapuram city (Trivandrum) where he joined Travancore University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts (postgraduate) in Malayalam literature.

[edit]Biography

O.N.V. was a lecturer at Maharajas College - Ernakulam, University College - Trivandrum, Arts and Science College - Kozhikode, andBrennen College - Thalassery. He joined Government Women's College - Trivandrum as the Head of Malayalam Department. He was also a visiting professor at Calicut University. He retired from service in 1986.[4]
He received the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour, for the year 2007.[5] He is the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win the prestigious award.[6] According to a statement by Bharatiya Jnanpith, the trust which presents the award, Kurup began his career as a "progressive writer and matured into a humanist though he never gave up his commitment to socialist ideology".[7]
He is now settled in Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvanathapuram, with his wife Sarojini, son Rajeev, and daughter Mayadevi.

[edit]Poetry

O. N. V.'s first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946.[8] His first poetry collection namedPorutunna Soundaryam, came out in 1949. He published a book named Dahikunna Panapatram (The Thirsty Chalice) which was a collection of his early poems during 1946-1956.[9] in 2010 he achieved the jnanapith.

[edit]Poetic works


ONV Kurup reciting his poem in a function atThiruvananthapuram









List of Poetry by Kurup

#NameTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1Daahikunna PaanapaathramThe Thirsty Chalice1956
2MarubhumiThe Desert
3NeelakkannukalBlue Eyes
4MayilpeeliPeacock Feather1964
5Oru Thulli VelichamA Drop of Light
6Agni ShalabhangalFire Moths1971
7AksharamAlphabet1974
8Karutha Pakshiyude PaattuSong of a Black Bird1977
9UppuThe Salt1980
10Bhumikku Oru Charama GeethamA Dirge for the Earth1984
11Shaarngka Pakshikal1987
12MrigayaHunting1990
13ThonnyaksharangalNonsense Alphabets1989
14AparahnamAfternoon1991
15UjjayiniUjjain1994
16VerutheGratis (For Nothing)
17SwayamvaramSwayamvara1995
18Bhairavante ThudiDrum of Bhairavan
19Oyenviyude Ganangal *Songs of O.N.V.
20Valappottukal **Pieces of Bangle
*Collection of 1500 songs. **Poems for children

[edit]Prose list










List of Prose by O. N. V.

#NameTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1Kavitayile Samantara RekhakalParallel Lines in Poetry
2Kavitayile PratisandhikalCrisis in Poetry
3Ezhuthachan - Oru PadanamEzhuthachan - A Study
4PatheyamFood carried
5KalpanikamImaginative
6Pushkin - Swatantrya Bodhatinte Durantagatha

[As a lyricist

In addition to the valuable contributions he had given to the Malayalam literature, he is one of the leading lyricists in Malayalam film/drama/album industry. He was the part of many dramas by Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) which has a major remark in the revolutionary movements of Kerala. Kalam Marunnu (1956) was his first film which was also the first film by the famous Malayalam composerG. Devarajan. Since then he has been active in film till date and was honoured with one national award and thirteen state awards (the most by a Malayalee). He has penned for about 900 songs[10] in about 232 films and a numerous songs for plays and albums. His partnerships withSalil Chowdhury and M. B. Sreenivasan was so popular in Malayalam film industry. He has made many hit songs with popular music directors, including G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. S. Baburaj, Raveendran, M. K. Arjunan, K. Raghavan, Shyam, Johnson, M. G. Radhakrishnan, S. P. Venkatesh, Ouseppachan, Vidhyadharan etc..

[edit]Awards

[edit]Awards from State / Central Governments

O. N. V. has won two major awards from the Kerala State and two from the Indian government.[11]

[edit]National Film Awards

[edit]Kerala State Film Awards


O. N. V. Kurup with singer Yesudas
He won the Kerala State film awards for the Best Lyricist thirteen times:

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M. T. Vasudevan Nair



Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair
MT, a painting
MT, a painting
BornJuly 15, 1933 (age 77)
Kudallur, Palghat, British India
Pen nameMT
OccupationNovelist, short story writer,screenplay writer, film director
NationalityIndian
GenresNovel, Short story
SubjectsSocial aspects
Literary movementRealism
Notable award(s)Padma Bhushan, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi Award
Spouse(s)Kalamandalam Saraswathi (Second wife)
mtvasudevannair.com
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair (Malayalam: മഠത്തില്‍ തെക്കെപാട്ട് വാസുദേവന്‍ നായര്‍) (born 15 July 1933[1][2]), popularly known as MT, is a renowned Indian author,[3] screenplay writer and film director.[4] He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj.[5]He is one of the most prolific and versatile writers in modern Malayalam literature. In 2005, India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan was awarded to him.[6] He was awarded the highest literary award in India Jnanpith for his work Randamoozham (Second Turn).[7]

[Life and career

[]Literary work

His novels, short stories and screenplays speak of the pain and anguish of the Kerala society in the post independence India. His literary and cinematographic work focus on rural south Indian society. British colonialism and the independence of India led to fundamental changes of traditional matrilineal structures in the northern Kerala (Nair) communities. M. T. Vasudevan Nair is considered the principal chronicler of the breakdown of the family system. Many narratives draw from Bharathapuzha and the history of Kudallur, Nair’s home village, which is characterised by the dissolving of feudal structures and values. Nair uses a concise and lyrical language to depict the correlation between conditions of society and the anxieties and emotional involvements of his characters. M.T. Vasudevan Nair's Naalukettu picturizes the feudalship and its associated struggles. His yet another novel Asuravittu (Demon seed) also has as its heme, the conflicts and problems of a Nair Family.

[Filmography

He has written the screen play for at least 54 movies and has directed 7 titles. He has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay four times for: Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Kadavu (1991), Sadayam (1992), and Parinayam (1994), which is the most by any in screen play category.

[Awards and honours

Honorary Awards
Jnanpith Award
Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards
Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
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Sugathakumari



Sugathakumari
Born1934
Kerala, India
OccupationPoet, Activist,Environmentalist
Nationality India
Notable work(s)Raathrimazha, Ambalamani
Sugathakumari is an Indian poet - activist, born in 1934, who has been at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India. She played a big role in the Save Silent Valley protest. She formed Abhayagrama, aka Abhayagramam, a home for destitute women (Athani) and a day-care centre for the mentally ill. She was the former chairperson of theKerala State Women's Commission.


Her father is Shribotheshvaran and her mother is V.K.Karthiyayini. Her husband is Dr K.Velayudhan Nair and her daughter is Lakshmi. She was the Principal of Jawahar Balabhavan. She was the Editor of a Magazine Thaliru. She has won several awards.[edit]Personal life

[edit]Social Activity

Kumari was inspired by her father's poetry as well as his strong beliefs: 'He was a freedom fighter filled with the all too rare ideals of patriotism and sacrifice.' His example influenced her deeply and led her eventually to the conviction that the writer has an important obligation as a social conscience. Although she is best known as a poet environmentalist, Kumari is also the founder of Abhaya (refuge) -- an organization which gives shelter and hope to female mental patients. Her work to launch Abhaya was prompted by an off-chance visit to the government-run Mental Hospital in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram. There women were housed in 19th century conditions, sexually abused and regularly prostituted to men in the neighboring police camp. When she visited the hospital she saw 'women's bodies covered with sores and stark naked. They were emaciated and their hair was matted. They didn't even look like human beings.' The horror of this experience was embedded in her mind and she decided on the spot to do something about it, despite opposition to interventions from ngos by professionals in the field. However, recent news reports paint a totally different picture of the poet-activist and cast doubt on her credentials. The recent expose of alleged rape of a lower caste woman by Abhaya office bearers within the center premises as reported in a leading political magazine - PATHRAM - and efforts to cover up the act have raised questions over the center which was originally constituted to treat and rehabilitate victims of such acts.

[edit]Works

  • Mutthuchippil (Pearl and Oyster) (1961)
  • Pathirappookkal (Midnight Flowers) (1967)
  • Paavam Maanavahridayam (Poor Human Heart) (1968)
  • Irul Chirakukal (The Wings of Darkness) (1969)
  • Raathrimazha (Night Rain) (1977)
  • Ambalamani (Temple Bell) (1981)
  • Kurinjippookkal (Kurinji Flowers) (1987)
  • Thulaavarshappacha (The Monsoon Green) (1990)
  • Radhayevide (Where is Radha?) (1995)

[edit]Awards

  • 1978 Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for Rathrimazha
  • 1982 Odakkuzhal Award for Ambalamani
  • 1984 Vayalar Award for Ambalamani
  • 2001 Lalithambika Antharjanam Award
  • 2003 Vallathol Award
  • 2004 Kerala Sahithya Akademi Fellowship
  • 2004 Balamaniamma Award
  • 2004 Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award"
  • 2006 Padmashri
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[edit]

C. Radhakrishnan



C. Radhakrishnan
Born1939
chamravattam, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter; author,
C. Radhakrishnan (Malayalam: സി രാധാകൃഷ്‌ണന്‍) (15 February 1939) is a renowned writer andfilm director in Malayalam language from Kerala state, South India. He has been honored by both the National Sahitya Academy of India (1989, for Spandamapinikale nandi) and the Kerala Sahithya Academy of Kerala (1962, for Nizhalpadukal). He has been conferred the Vayalar Award (1990, for Munpe parakuna pakshikal), Mahakavi G. Award (1993, for Verpadukalude viralpadukal), Mooloor Award, Dr. C. P. Menon Award (for Aalochana), Achuthamenon Award (for Munpe parakuna pakshikal), Abudhabi Malayali Samajam Award (1988, for Munpe parakuna pakshikal), Pandit Karuppan Award, Devi Prasadam Award, Lalithambika Award (2004, for his total contribution to Malayalam literature) etc. His works have been translated into various Indianand foreign languages. He has been chosen for the Padmaprabha Puraskaram in 2007, which carries a cash prize of Rs. 55,000, ruby-studded plaque and citation. C. Radhakrishnan is the editor of Malayalam magazine Piravi, published by the School Of Bhagavad Gita

[edit]Books published

  1. Ellam Maykuna Kadal
  2. Natakantham
  3. Kannivila-
  4. Kanalthullikal
  5. Mrinalam
  6. Verukal padarunna vazhikal
  7. Nizhalppadukal
  8. Thamaso ma
  9. Oodum paavum
  10. Randu divasathe vicharana
  11. Kankaaligal
  12. Nilaavu
  13. Thevidissi
  14. Asatho ma
  15. Amritham
  16. Aazhangalil amritham
  17. Cassioppiyakkaran fidel castelino
  18. Oru vilippadakale
  19. Control panel
  20. Driksakshi
  21. Athirukal kadakkunnavar -Swapnaparampara
  22. Ulpirivukal
  23. Kurekkoodi madangivarathavar Idukkuthozhuthu
  24. Karal pilarum kalam
  25. Evide ellavarkkum sukham
  26. Puzha muthal puzha vare
  27. Pullippuliyum vellinakshathrangalum
  28. Kaivazhikal
  29. Pin nilavu *Cinema
  30. Ival avalil oruval
  31. Sruthi
  32. Amavasikal
  33. spandhamapinikale nandi
  34. ini oru nirakanchiri
  35. Munpe parakkunna pakshikal
  36. Theekkadl kadanju thirumadhuram
  37. Ullil ullathu
  38. Priya
  39. Geetha darsanam
  40. Karal pilarum kaalam
  41. Aalochana
  42. Chuzhali
  43. Verpadukalude viral padukal
  44. sukrtham
  45. Maathruparvam

[edit]Films directed

  1. Agni (1978)
  2. Kanalattam (1979)
  3. Pushyaragam (1979)
  4. Ottayadippaathakal (1990)


Ayyappa Paniker



K. Ayyappa Paniker
BornSeptember 12, 1930
Kavalam, Kerala
DiedAugust 23, 2006 (aged 75)
Thiruvananthapuram
Occupationpoet, literary critic, academic,scholar.
Notable worksKurukshethram,
Ayyappapanikkarude Krithikal,
Chintha
Dr. K. Ayyappa Paniker, sometimes spelt "Ayyappa Panicker" (September 12, 1930 – August 23, 2006) was an influential Malayalam poet, literary critic, and an academic and a scholar in modern and post-modern literary theories as well as ancient Indian aesthetics and literary traditions. He was one of the pioneers of modernism in Malayalam poetry, where his seminal works like Kurukshethram (1960), considered a turning point in Malayalam poetry [1],Ayyappapanikkarude Krithikal and Chintha and several essays were an important influence on the playwrights of his generation[2][3].
In an academic career which ran in consonance with his literary one, and spanned four decades, he taught in various colleges and universities before retiring as the Director, Institute of English,University of Kerala. He published over 25 works, translated several important work to Malayama, including Guru Granth Sahib and a book in French; as a scholarly editor he produced numerous anthologies on Indian literature, he was the chief editor of the Sahitya Akademi’sIndian Literary Encyclopaedia [3]. Another important work by him Indian Narratology, published by IGNCA, was the first of its kind to study various forms of the art of narration, in Indian literature, starting with Vedic and oral literature to Buddhist and contemporary literature [4].
Paniker (his preferred spelling) was born in Kavalam near Alappuzha to E. Naryanan Namboodiri, a Namboodiri Brahmin of Periyamana Illam, and M. Meenakshiamma. Fourth of the eight children, six of them girls, he grew up without any paternal affection, while his mother died when he was 12 years old, this early anguish and solitude deeply reflected in his poetry, which he started writing when he was in high school.[3]

[edit]Early life and education

The Kavalam village, was also home to people like, K. M. Panikkar, historian and administrator, and playwright and poet, Kavalam Narayana Panicker, his cousin [5]. He published his first poem at the age of 16, published in the Mathrubhoomi Weekly. He did his Intermediate atMalabar Christian College, Kozhikode, and B.A. Honours in English Literature from the University College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1951, thereafter he received his Master's degree from the University of Kerala.
Paniker took his doctorate from Indiana University with a doctoral dissertation on the poetry of Robert Lowell, supervised by Prof. Robert E. Gross, subsequently he did post-doctoral research in Yale and Harvard University (1981–82) [6].

[edit]Career

Leaders, selfish and opportunistic,
tell us that life is for doing good,
that good is nothing but social good.
If we are clever in spreading the net,
we can have a good haul.
-Ayyappa Paniker [3]
Paniker joined CMS College, Kottayam as a lecturer of English in 1951, after working there for a year, he joined the Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram. He started teaching at the University College, in Thiruvananthapuram in 1952, and did so till 1965. At this point, he became a Professor at the Institute of English and Head of the department in University of Kerala (1965–74). In 1974, he became Reader in English, at the Institute of English under University of Kerala, a post he held till 1980, when became Dean of Faculty of Arts in the University of Kerala, he retired in 1990.
Through his long career he lectured in many national and international universities, including around 25 universities in US, where came across poets James Dickey, John Hollander, Czeslaw Milosz and Allen Ginsberg [7].

[edit]Awards and recognition

Paniker was a recipient of a number of honours including the Padma Shri, Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for poetry and criticism, KendraSahitya Akademi Award for poetry, 2005 Saraswati Samman for his collection of writings Ayyappa Panikerude Krithikal, Distinguished Teacher award, Mahakavi Ulloor award for poetry, Kabir Samman, International man of the year (IBC, Cambridge, UK), Indira Gandhi memorial fellowship with lead to the book, Indian Narratology published by IGNCA, Gangadhar Meher National award for poetry, Asan prize and Jana Sanskriti award (Abu Dhabi), Vayalar award, and Vallathol award.

[edit]Personal life

He died in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) on 23 August 2006 at the age of 76, and was survived by his wife and two children [7], he was cremated the following day in his native village, Kavalam in a plot he had set apart twelve years ago for the purpose, on the western side of his traditional family house, Olickal tharavad, which finds reference in several of his works, especially in his poem ‘Kavalam’ in the anthologyPathumanippookkal [8].

[edit]Legacy

Ayyapa Foundation was formed in 2006 in Thiruvananthapuram, to promote his work and Malayalam poetry[9]. The January 2007 issue of journal Samyukta, was dedicated entirely to him, it contained 10 critical essays on him and his work, besides three collections of his verse in English translation, one of which, Poetry at Midnight published for the first time. It also contained a 36-page bibliography of his oeuvre [5]. In September, 2009, Dr Sitakant Mahapatra delivered the 'Ayyappa Paniker commemorative speech 2009 at Thiruvananthapuram [10].

[edit]Bibliography

  • Selected poems of Ayyappa Paniker. Modern Book Centre, 1985.
  • Indian Renaissance. Facet Books. 1988. ISBN 0932377319.
  • A perspective of Malayalam literature. Annu Chithra Publications, 1990.
  • Kathakali, the art of the non-worldly, with D. Appukuttan Nair, Pankaj Shah, Sangeet Natak Akademi. Marg Publications, 1993. ISBN 818502622X.
  • Indian Narratology. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Sterling Publishers. 2003. ISBN 8120725026.
  • Agnipujayum Mattu Pradana Kavithakalum (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8126416238.
  • Ayyappapanikerute Krithikal Vol 1 (1951-1969) (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8171301347.
  • Ayyappapanikerute Krithikal Vol 2 (1969-1981) (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8171303668.
  • Ayyappapanikerute Krithikal Vol 3 (1981-1989) (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8171305954.
  • Ayyappapanikerute Krithikal Vol 4 (1990-1999) (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 812640065X.
  • Ayyappapanikerute Kavitakal Vol 5 (2000-2006) (Malayalam). Dc Books. (Last poems, written during 2000-2006 compiled by his daughter Kumari M.).
  • Viswasahithyanglilute-1 (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8126413158.
  • Viswasahithyanglilute-2 (Malayalam). Dc Books. ISBN 8126413166.

[edit]Edited Anthologies

[edit]


Vaikom Muhammad Basheer



Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
BornJanuary 21, 1908
Thalayolaparambu, Vaikom
DiedJuly 5, 1994 (aged 86)
Beypore, Kozhikode
OccupationNovelist, short story writer,
LanguageMalayalam
NationalityIndian
GenresNovel, Short story
SubjectsMalayalam
Notable award(s)Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award
Spouse(s)Fabi Basheer
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (21 January 1908 – 5 July 1994)[1] was a Malayalam fiction writer in Kerala state, South India. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short storywriter. He is noted for the pathbreaking, disarmingly down-to-earth style of writing that won both literary critics as well as the common man. He is regarded as India's one of the most successful and outstanding writers.[2] Translations of many of his works into other languages has won him worldwide acclaim.[2] His notable works include Baalyakaalasakhi, Shabdangal,Paaththummaayude Aadu, Mathilukal, Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu and Anarga Nimisham. He was awarded the Padma Sri in 1982. He is fondly remembered as the Beypore Sultan.


[edit]Biography

Early life

Basheer, born in the village of Thalayolaparambu in northern Travancore, was the eldest child of devout Muslim parents. His father was in the timber business as a contractor, but the business did not do well enough for his large family to live in anything approaching luxury. After beginning his education at the local Malayalam medium school, he was sent to the English medium school in Vaikom, five miles away. While at school he fell under the spell ofMahatma Gandhi. He started wearing Khadar, inspired by the swadesi ideals. When Gandhi came to Vaikom to participate in the Vaikom Satyagraham (1924) Basheer went to see him. He managed to climb on to the car in which Gandhi travelled and touch his hand, a fond memory Basheer later mentioned in many of his writings. He used to visit Gandhi's Satyagraha Ashram at Vaikom daily. He got punished for going late to school due to this.

[edit]Freedom struggle involvement before journey

He resolved to join the fight for an Independent India, leaving school to do so while he was in the fifth form. Part of his purpose in joining theIndian National Congress was to help ensure that there was some Muslim representation in the pan-Indian movement.
Since there was no active independence movement in Travancore or Kochi – being princely states – he went to Kozhikode to take part in theSalt Satyagraha in 1930. His group was arrested before they could participate in the satyagraha. At the police station, they were beaten up and later remanded at Kozhikode sub-jail. Basheer was sentenced to three months imprisonment and sent to Kannur prison. He became inspired by stories of heroism by revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, who were executed while he was in Kannur jail. He and about 600 political prisoners then at Kannur were released after the Gandhi-Irwin pact of March 1931. Freed from prison, he organised an anti-British movement and edited a revolutionary journal, Ujjivanam ('Uprising'). A warrant was issued for his arrest and he left Kerala.

[edit]Journey

After leaving Kerala, he embarked upon a long journey that took him across the length and breadth of India and to many places in Asia and Africa, a journey which spanned seven years, doing whatever work that seemed likely to keep him from starvation. His occupations ranged from that of a loom fitter, fortune teller, cook, newspaper seller, fruit seller, sports goods agent, accountant, watchman, shepherd , hotel manager to living as an ascetic with Hindu saints and Sufi mystics in their hermitages in Himalayas and in the Ganges basin, following their customs and practices, for more than five years. There were times when, with no water to drink, without any food to eat, he came face to face with death.

[edit]Imprisonment and after

At Kottayam (1941–42), he was arrested and put in a police station lock-up, and later shifted to another lock up in Kollam Kasba police station. The stories he heard from policemen and prisoners there appeared in later works, and he wrote a few stories while at the lock-up itself. He spent a long time in lockup awaiting trial, and after trial was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment. He was sent to Thiruvananthapuram central jail. While at jail, he forbade M. P. Paul from publishing Baalyakaalasakhi. He wrote Premalekhanam (1943) while serving his term and published it on his release. Baalyakaalasakhi was published in 1944 after further revisions, with an introduction by Paul.
He then made a career as a writer, initially publishing the works himself and carrying them to homes in order to sell them. He ran two bookstalls in Ernakulam, Circle Bookhouse and later, Basheer's Bookstall.
Once India achieved control of its destiny after obtaining Independence from British rule, he showed no further interest in active politics, though concerns over morality and political integrity are present all over his works.
Well into his forties, he surprised many of his acquaintances by marrying a woman much younger than him (Fabi Basheer) and settling down to a life of quiet domesticity with his wife and two children, Anees and Shahina, in Beypore, on the southern edge of Kozhikode.
During this period he also had to suffer from mental illness and was twice admitted to mental sanatoriums. He wrote one of his most famous works, Pathummayude Aadu (Pathumma's Goat), while undergoing treatment in a mental hospital in Thrissur. The second spell of paranoia occurred after his marriage when he had settled down at Beypore. He recovered both times, and continued his writings.
He died in Beypore, on 5 July 1994.
Basheer is fondly called as Beypore Sultan (Sultan of Beypore). Though his works have been translated to English and eighteen Indian languages, the peculiarity of the language he uses makes the translations lose a lot of sheen.

[edit]Writing style

[edit]Language

Basheer is known for his unconventional style of language. He did not differentiate between literary language and the language spoken by the commons and did not care about the grammatical correctness of his sentences. Initially, even his publishers were unappreciative of the beauty of this language; they edited out or modified conversations. Basheer was outraged to find his original writings transcribed into "standardized" Malayalam, devoid of freshness and natural flow, and he forced them to publish the original one instead of the edited one. Basheer's brother Abdul Khader was a Malayalam teacher. Once while reading one of the stories, he asked Basheer, "where are Aakhyas and aakhyathas (related with Malayalam grammar) in this...?". Basheer shouted at him saying that "I am writing in normal Malayalam, how people speak. and you don't try to find your stupid 'aakhya and aakhyaada' in this"!. This points out to the writing style of Basheer, without taking care of any grammar, but only in his own village language. Though he made funny remarks regarding his lack of knowledge in Malayalam, he had a very thorough knowledge about Malayalam.
Basheer's contempt for grammatical correctness is exemplified by his statement Ninte Lodukkoos Aakhyaadam! ("Your 'silly stupid' grammar!") to his brother, who sermonizes him about the importance of grammar (Pathummayude Aadu).

[edit]Themes

An astute observer of human character, he skillfully combined humour and pathos in his works. Love, hunger and poverty are recurring themes in his works. There is enormous variety in them – of narrative style, of presentation, of philosophical content, of social comment and commitment. His association with India's independence struggle, the experiences during his long travels and the conditions that existed in Kerala, particularly in the neighbourhood of his home and among the Muslim community – all had a major impact on them. Politics and prison,homosexuality, all were grist to his mill. All of Basheer's love stories have found their way into the hearts of readers; perhaps no other writer has had such an influence on the way Malayalis view of love. The major theme of all Basheer stories is love and humanity. In the storyMuchittu Kalikkarente Makal (The Card Sharp's Daughter), when Sainaba comes out of the water after stealing his bananas, Mandan Muthappa says only one thing: "Sainaba go home and dry your hair else you may fall sick." This fine thread of humanism can be experienced in almost all his stories.

[edit]Autobiographical element

One contrast among his works is between those that are primarily autobiographical as far as events and characters are concerned and those that are the product of the author's imagination. This is not to say that a novel or a story will always fall clearly into one category or another; the percentage of factual truth varies considerably. Whatever the case, a book published as fiction is to be read as such, in contrast with one published as memoirs.

[edit]Works

Almost all of Basheer's writing can be seen as falling under the heading of prose fiction – short stories and novels, though there is also a one-act play and volumes of essays and reminiscences. Basheer's fiction is very varied and full of contrasts. There are poignant situations as well as merrier ones – and commonly both in the same narrative. There are among his output realistic stories and tales of the supernatural. There are purely narrative pieces and others which have the quality of poems in prose. In all, a superficially simple style conceals a great subtlety of expression.
His literary career started off with the novel Premalekhanam, a humorous love story between Keshavan Nair – a young bank employee and an upper caste Hindu (Nair) – and Saramma – an unemployed Christian woman. Hidden underneath the hilarious dialogues we can see a sharp criticism of religious conservatism, dowry and similar conventions existing in society. This was followed by the novel Baalyakaalasakhi – a tragic love story between Majeed and Suhra – which is among the most important novels in Malayalam literature in spite of its relatively small size (75 pages), and is commonly agreed upon as his magnum opus work. In his foreword to Baalyakaalasakhi, Jeevithathil Ninnum Oru Aedu (A Page From Life), M. P. Paul brings out the beauty of this novel, and how it is different from run-of-the-mill love stories.
The autobiographical Janmadinam ("Birthday", 1945) is about a writer struggling to feed himself on his birthday. While many of the stories present situations to which the average reader can easily relate, the darker, seamier side of human existence also finds a major place, as in the novel Shabdangal ("Voices", 1947), which faced heavy criticism for violence and vulgarity.

A scene from the film Mathilukal directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the novel by Basheer
Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu ("Me Gran'dad 'ad an Elephant", 1951) is a fierce attack on the superstitious practices that existed among Muslims. Its protagonist is Kunjupathumma, a naive, innocent and illiterate village belle. She falls in love with an educated, progressive, city-bred man, Nisaar Ahamed. Illiteracy is fertile soil for superstitions, and the novel is about education enlightening people and making them shed age-old conventions. Velichathinentoru velicham (a crude translation can be 'brightness is very bright!') one of the most quoted Basheer phrases occurs inNtuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu. People boast of the glory of days past, their "grandfather's elephants", but that is just a ploy to hide their shortcomings.
Mathilukal ("Walls") deals with prison life in the pre-independence days. It is a novel of sad irony set against a turbulent political backdrop. The novelist falls in love with a woman sentenced for life who is separated from him by insurmountable walls. They exchange love-promises standing on two sides of a wall, only to be separated without even being able to say good-bye. Before he "met" Naraayani, the loneliness and freedomlessness of prison life was killing Basheer; but when the orders for his release arrive he loudly protests, "Who needs freedom? Outside is an even bigger jail." The novel was later made into a film with same name by Adoor Gopalakrishnan with Mammootty playing Basheer.
Sthalaththe Pradhaana Divyan, Aanavaariyum Ponkurishum, Muccheettukalikkarante makal and Ettukaali Mammoonju featured the life of real life characters in his native village of Thalayolaparambu (regarded as Sthalam in these works).

[edit]Published works

[edit]Novels

#TitleTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1PremalekhanamThe Love Letter1943
2BaalyakaalasakhiChildhood Companion1944
3ShabdangalThe Voices1947
4NtuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnuMe Grandad Had an Elephant1951
5Maranaththinte NizhalilIn the Shadow of Death1951
6Muchcheettukalikkaarante MakalThe Daughter of the Cardshark1951
7Sthalaththe Pradhaana DivyanThe Principal Divine of the Place1953
8Aanavaariyum PonkurishumElephant Scooper and Golden Cross1953
9JeevithanizhalppaadukalThe Shadows of Life1954
10Pathummayude AaduPaaththumma's Goat1959
11MathilukalWalls1965
12Thaaraa Specials1968
13MaanthrikapoochchaThe Magic Cat1968
14PrempattaThe Loving Cockroach (Published posthumously)2006

[edit]Short Stories

#TitleTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1JanmadinamThe Birthday1945
2OrmakkurippuJottings from Memory1946
3Anargha NimishamInvaluable Moment (See Anal Haq)1946
4Viddikalude SwargamFools' Paradise1948
5Paavappettavarudaey VaeshyaThe Prostitute of the Poor1952
6Vishwavikhkhyaathamaaya MookkuThe World-renowned Nose1954
7VishappuThe Hunger1954
8Oru Bhagavadgeethayum Kuraey MulakalumA Bhagavadgeetha and Some Breasts1967
9AanappoodaElephant-hair1975
10Chirikkunna MarappaavaThe Laughing Wooden Doll1975
11Bhoomiyudaey AvakaashikalThe Inheritors of the Earth1977
12ShinkidimunkanThe Fools' God Man1991
13Yaa Ilaahi!Oh God! (published posthumously)1997
14Jeevitham Oru AnugrahamLife is a Gift (published posthumously)2000

[edit]Others

  1. Kathaabeejam [Story Seed] (Play) (1945)
  2. Nerum Nunayum [Truth and Lie] (Commentary and letters) (1969)
  3. Ormmayudaey Arakal [The Cells of Memory] (Commentary and reminiscences) (1973)
  4. Anuraagaththintaey Dhinangal [The Days of Desire] (Diary; originally titled Kaamukantaey Diary [The Diary of the Paramour] and changed later on the suggestion of M. T. Vasudevan Nair) (1983)
  5. Bhargavi Nilayam [Bhargavi's Mansion] (Screenplay for a film (1964) by A. Vincent which is credited as the first horror cinema in Malayalam; adapted from the short story Neelavelichcham [The Blue Glow]) (1985)
  6. M. P. Paul (Reminiscences of his friendship with M. P. Paul) (1991)
  7. Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakaahalam!! [Hark! The Final Clarion-call!!] (Speech) (1992)
  8. Basheerinte Kathukal [Basheer's Letters] (Letters) (2008; Published posthumously)
  9. Budhiyaalatha mannussier
  10. New indian modal school by aju xd (2011 - 2012)

[edit]Awards

  • Padma Sri(1982)
  • Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship
  • Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship
  • Lalithambika Antharjanam Award(1992)
  • Muttathu Varkki Award (1993) (Paaththummaayude Aadu)
  • Vallathol Award (1993)

[edit]



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