C. V. Balakrishnan
Born: 1952
Payyannur Kerala, India
Occupation: Writer, teacher, freelance journalist
Nationality: Indian
Genre: Novel, short story, essay, screenplay
Notable works: Ayussinte Pusthakam,
Disha
Atmavinu Sariyennu Thonnunna Karyangal
Notable awards: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
C. V. Balakrishnan (born 1952) is a Malayalam-language novelist, short-story writer, essayist and scenarist from the south Indian state of Kerala. His novels and short stories encompass the emotional issues related to mass culture, sexual politics, fate of the marginalised and institutionalised religions. An author of more than 40 literary works along with a few film scripts and film criticisms, his best known work is the novel Ayussinte Pusthakam (Book of Life). He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for the novel Atmavinu Sariyennu Thonnunna Karyangal.
Biography:
Balakrishnan was born in Payyannur, Kannur district, Kerala. After completing his school education, he took training in teaching and worked in various schools before shifting to Calcutta in 1979 where he worked as a freelance journalist. It was in Calcutta he began writing Ayussinte Pusthakam. Balakrishnan is married to Pathmavathi and has two children: Nandan and Nayana. He resides in Kalikkadavu, Kasaragod district, Kerala.
Bibliography:
Novels:
# Atmavinu Sariyennu Thonnunna Karyangal
# Avanavante Anandam Kandethanulla Vazhikal Ayussinte Pusthakam Disha Kannaatikkatal #Kamamohitham Maranam Ennu Perullavan
# Ottakkoru Penkutty Jivitame Nee Enth?
# Jwalakalapam Etho Rajavinte Prajakal
# Ente Pizha Ente Pizha Ente Valiya Pizha
# Librarian (2014)
Novellas:
# Aadhi
# Aavanakkinte Oru Poovu Allenkil Erikkinte Oru Poovu Aagola Grameenan Ozhiyabadhakal #Drushti
# Asthikalile Venal Eenthappanayude Thottam Ellinpatangal Puvidumbol
# Globinte Ee Vasath Irattakkuttikalude Achan Parimalaparvatham Vilakkumadam
# Manassinu Ethra Thiraseelakal
# Manjuprathima
# Meen Pidikkaan Poya Gabriel Narthanasala
# Amen Amen Prappitiyan
# Sari
# Pisachineppatti Samsarikkam
# Tharangaleela Vishadakala Viva Goa
Short story collections:
# Bhavabhayam
# Bhumiye Patti Adhikam Parayanta
# Katha (Selected stories)
# Kulirum Mattu Kathakalum
# Malakhamar Chiraku Veesumbol
# Manju Pratima Pranayakalam
#Sareeram Ariyunnathu Snehavirunnu
# Urangan Vayya
Others:
# Cinemayude Itangal (essays)
# Mechilppurangal (essays)
# Paralmeen Neenthunna Paadam (autobiography)
# Saannidhyam (memoirs and travel notes)
# Sugandha Sasyangalkidayiloode (memoirs)
Films:
# Irattakuttikalude Achan (Story)
# Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (Story, screenplay) Mattoral (Story, screenplay)
# Orma Mathram (Story, screenplay)
# Puravrutham (Story, screenplay)
Awards:
# 2000: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (Novel) for Atmavinu Sariyennu Thonnunna Karyangal
# 2002: Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema for Cinemayude Idangal
# 2014: Muttathu varki award
P. K. Balakrishnan
Born: 1926
Edavanakkad, Ernakulam,
Died: April 3, 1991
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Occupation: Novelist,
Historian,
Critic,
Essayist,
Freedom fighter
Nationality: Indian
P. K. Balakrishnan (1926–1991) was a Malayalam novelist, critic and historian. His multifaceted interests took him through politics, journalism, public speaking and creative writing. He was a patriot who gave up his studies for the freedom of the country.
Work:
# Narayana Guru (1954) - an anthology on the great spiritual leader and social reformer of Kerala.
# Chandu Menon - Oru Padanam (Chandu Menon - a Study) (1957) - on the author of the first Malayalam novel 'Indulekha'
# Kavyakala Kumaranasaniloode (The Art of Poetry through Kumaran Asan) (1970) - on the noted doyen of Malayalam poetry Kumaran Asan
# Ezhuthachante Kala - Chila Vyasa Bharatha Padhanangalum (The Art of Ezhuthachan) (1982) - a work on the father of Malayalam literature
# Sidhiyum Sadhanayum (Gift of Genius and Nurturing) (1965) - a work on the craft of novel writing
# Balakrishnante Lekhanangal (Articles of Balakrishnan)(2004)
# Keraleeyatayum Mattum (The Essence of Kerala etc.) (2004) - a collection of 20 articles published in various periodicals over a time
# Pluto Priyapetta Pluto (Pluto, my dear Pluto) (1963) - the story of his real life dog named after the Walt Disney counterpart
# Ini Njan Urangatte (And now, Let me Sleep) (1973) - A work originating from the great Indian epic Vyasabharatha (Mahabharath).
# Tippu Sultan (1959) an historical biography
# Jaathivyavasthithium Keralacharithravum (The Caste system and History of Kerala) (1983) - a work in kerala history.
# "Veritta Chintakal" (Thoughts Apart) (2011) Commentaries on social and political history of India triggered by contemporary events. Collected from articles written in Malayalam daily 'Madhyamam'
Lalithambika Antharjanam
Born: 1909
Died: 1987
Occupation: Writer, social reformer
Language: Malayalam
Nationality: Indian
LaliIthambika Antharjanam (Malayalam: ലളിതാംബിക അന്തര്ജനം) (1909–1987) was an Indian author and social reformer best known for her literary works in Malayalam language. Her published oeuvre consists of nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children, and a novel, Agnisakshi (1976) which won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. Her autobiography Aathmakadhakkoru Aamukham (An Introduction to Autobiography) is a very significant work.
She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and social reform movements among the Nambudiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Later she contributed to the social reform in her own way. Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract.
Biography:
Lalithambika was born in 1909 at Kottavattom near Punalur, Kollam district, Kerala, in a conservative household. She had little formal education, however, she managed to learn to read and write, an unusual achievement at the time. 'Antharjanam' means 'she who spends her life inside'. Her first name is a compound of 'Lalitha' (the Red One,) and 'Ambika' (literally 'little mother', the name of a goddess). Although she was part of the most powerful landholding Brahmin caste of Kerala, Lalithambika's life-work was the exposure and destruction of the hypocrisy, violence and injustice with which women were treated in Nambudiri society. She was not allowed to study in school, and could only glean scraps of information about the outside world through male relatives who were kind enough to tell her about current affairs. She knew a little about the ongoing Indian freedom movement, and longed to take part. In 1926, she was married in the prescribed way to the farmer Narayanan Nambudiri. As a wife, she now lost all contact with the outside world and her day consisted of a claustrophobic routine of hard physical labour in smoky kitchens and damp closed courtyards, petty domestic politics and the fears and jealousies of other similarly imprisoned women. But she also saw their courage and their determination to be human in spite of the unnatural conditions of their lives. In this world her only outlet was her writing, which she did in secret. At the end of a working day that began before dawn, she would put her children to sleep, bar the door and write in the light of a tiny lamp. Constant exposure to smoke and inadequate lighting began to destroy her eyes. When the pain got very bad, she would write with her eyes closed. The frustration and degradation of her caste sisters moved Lalithambika to expose their plight in her celebrated Malayalam novel Agnisakshi (Fire being the Witness). The novel was later made into a film with the same title in 1997. Nambudiri custom allowed only the eldest son to marry within the caste; all the others contracted sambandhams with women from other castes, usually the matrilineal Nairs. This ensured that inheritance through the male line was always undisputed, since the children of sambandhams did not have the right to inherit. As a result many Nambudiri women remained unmarried all their lives, in restrictions that amounted to rigorous imprisonment. They were not supposed to let the sun's rays touch their bodies. Any slip or shadow of suspicion would condemn them to being tried by the smarthavicharam courts of male elders. These courts were empowered to strip a woman of her social position and throw her out to starve. For these women, who were not even allowed to look out of windows, such a fate was psychologically as well as economically devastating. On the rare occasions when antharjanams left the house, they had to envelope their whole bodies in a thick cloak, and carry a leaf umbrella whose canopy reached to their waists, so that they could only see their own feet when walking. By contrast, lower caste women were required by law to bare their breasts when in the presence of higher caste men, and could be punished for not doing so. They thus habitually went with their upper bodied uncovered, and many reformist and missionary movements in early twentieth century Kerala clothed? lower caste women by force to uplift them. By the 1930s, most royal households (who were below Brahmins, caste-wise) were allowing their women to wear blouses, but the practice took longer to percolate downwards to poorer families, especially as blouses were quite costly. In her story Revenge Herself (English translation anthologised in The Inner Courtyard), she highlights the moral and sexual choices faced by upper caste Nambudiri women, who were secluded in the inner house, through the story of the "fallen woman" Tatri. This is especially sensitive in Kerala, where Nair women are relatively free sexual lives in their matriarchal culture. In her story Mulappalinte Manam she highlights the woman's role as the central cohesive force in society, and she supports artificial birth control, so long as it does not contradict this basic womanly qualities of healing the schisms opened up by individualism. Her son N. Mohanan was also a noted author and a winner of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.
Bibliography:
# Adyathe Kathakal (First Stories), 1937
# Takarna Talamura (Ruined Generation), 1949
# Kilivaathililoode (Through the Pigeon Hole), 1950
# Kodumkatil Ninnu (From a Whirlwind), 1951
# Moodupadathil (Behind the Veil), 1955
# Agni Pushpangal (Flowers of Fire), 1960
# Seetha Muthal Satyavathi Vare (From Sita to Satyavati), 1972
# Agnisakshi (Fire being the Witness), 1976
Sankar
(writer and director)
Born: Sandra April 13, 1981
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Occupation: Film director,
Screenwriter,
IT professional,
Novelist
Notable work: Streetlight,
Oru Pennum Parayathathu,
Priyappetta mammootty
Vijayamma Rajappan Sankar (v.r.sankar), commonly known as Sankar is an Indian movie director, screenwriter, short story writer and Novelist. who works in Malayalam cinema and literature.
Early and personal life:
Sankar was born in 13 April 1981 in Palamoodu village near Vembayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.[citation needed] After schooling from LPS and Gvt.BHS Kanniakulangara, he completed his graduation from Govt. College Nedumangad. He started his career as a media journalist and short story writer. He has also done audio programmes for Aakashavani, Thiruvananthapuram.
Film career:
Sankar is a self-taught filmmaker. His debut film as a director is Streetlight, The story of Streetlight is a free adaptation of the novel Oru Pennum Parayathathu (The Story Never Told by a Woman) and narrates the life of a prostitute who fights against the corrupt and maligned socio-political environment of the society of Kerala and finally makes her way successfully in to a committed social worker. Her life is a journey from social alienation and stigma in to transformed and socially concerned person who becomes a godsend for the large group of orphaned children.
Writing career:
Sankar is also known for his bold stands, reactions and writings on social and political issues at various magazines. His articles made many controversies and widely discussed in Kerala.
Oru valakilukkathinte Oarmakku (Memories of the Bangles) is his first published short story collection. Oru Pennum Parayathathu (The Story Never Told by a Woman) is his first published novel.
Poopoloral (A Man Like a Rose)
Kaappi marangalkkidayile penkutty (The girl from coffee country)
Television projects:
He has scripted and directed few television programmes like
# Sindhurasmaranakal,
# Gramodhayam,
# Archana,
# Nakshatraperuma,
# Nirammankiya Ormangalilude,
# Priyappetta Mammootty Arangettam,
# Story Time,
# Oarmayiloode etc.
Documentary:
# Havyam,
# Varnacharthu,etc.
He received the Holy Faith Television Award for the TV programme Priyappetta Mammootty. He also got the Mahatmaji Kathasamanam for the year 1998.
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
(Redirected from Akkitham)
Born: 18 March 1926 (age 89)
Kumaranellur, Palakkad
Pen name: Akkitham
Occupation: Poet, social worker
Language: Malayalam
Nationality: Indian
Notable works: Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri (born 18 March 1926), popularly known as Akkitham, is a Malayalam language poet.[1] He was born in 1926 at Kumaranallur in Palakkad (Palghat) district of the southern Indian state of Kerala and lives there. He is a well known Malayalam language poet, essayist, editor and a highly decorated literary personality among contemporary Malayalam writers. Fondly known as Akkittam, his literary works began to gain wide attention in the early 1950s.
Among his works so far is a milestone poem that brought him the Sanjayan Award in 1952. Titled Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam (Epic of the 20th Century), this poetic masterpiece of Akkitham is reckoned by many in the literary field as the one that heralded modernism in Malayalam poetry. In all, some 45 collections of his poems, plays and short stories by him have been published. Another noted and award winning poetic work of Akkitham was Balidarsanam (Vision of Bali), which fetched him the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973.
Poetic works:
# Arangettam,
# Nimisha Kshetram,
# Idinju Polinja Lokam,
# Amritaghatika,
# Akkithattinte Teranjedutta Kavitakal,
# Kalikkottilil.
# Upanayanam and Samavarttanam are his noted essay works. He also won the Vayalar Award in 2012.
But for this octogenarian poet, his translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam is his life's most valued work. Comprising 14,613 verses, the translation runs over 2,400 printed pages.
Apart from his poetic pursuits, Akkitham also has a keen interest in bringing social reforms relevant to the time. As a member of the Yogakshema Sabha in Thrissur, Akkitham was instrumental in bringing about certain social reforms among the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala. He also was very much active in the efforts to promote Vedic studies in association with the famous Vedic Study Centres at Thirunavaya, Kadavalloor and Thrissur. Akkitham also took efforts to achieve the proliferation of Vedic studies among non-Brahmins. A vociferous spokesperson against untouchability, Akkitham demonstrated his unwavering support by participating in the Paliyam Sathyagraha (peaceful protest) against untouchability in 1947.
Awards and Recognitions:
# Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award,
# Aasan Prize,
# Vallathol Award,
# Lalitambika Sahitya Award,
# Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award,
# Odakkuzhal Award,
# KrishnaGeedhi Award,
# Vayalar Award,
# Nalappad Award,
# Ezhuthachan Award,
# Moorti Devi Award of Jnanpith Award Committee,
# Amrita Keerti Puraskar for 2004.
K. P. Appan
Karthikayil Padmanabhan Appan (25 August 1936 – 14 December 2008), better known as K. P. Appan, was a renowned literary critic in Malayalam. Born in Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kerala, Appan worked as a Professor of Malayalam literature at SN College, Kollam, Kerala.
Biography:
Karthikayil Padmanabhan Appan was born to Poonthoppil Padmanabhan and Karthiyani in Alappuzha on 25 August 1936. He had his schooling at Sanadana Dharma Vidyalaya there and graduation at SD College, Alappuzha. He took his post-graduation from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. Appan began his career as a high school teacher and then joined UC College, Aluva, as a lecturer in Malayalam. Later he joined SN College, Cherthala, and then got transferred to SN College, Kollam, in 1972. He retired from there in 1992.
Writing:
Appan started his writing while Malayalam literature was slowly transiting from neo-classic socialist realism to modernism. New writings of O. V. Vijayan, M. Mukundan, Kakkanadan etc., which focus on the alienation of the individual and related anguish was unsettling to conventional critics like Joseph Mundassery, Kuttikrishna Marar etc. Their ageing literary sensibilities failed to take note of and evaluate the writings of younger generation leading to some sort of stagnation in literary criticism. Appan's entry into the Malayalam literary world at this juncture was like fresh air to a closed room. Appan pointed out that the new generation writers are impatient with existing reality as they considered writing to be an attempt to create new realities. Appan justified the liberal use of myths and metaphors by the new writers. His first book Kshobhikkunnavarude Suvisesham (Gospel of the Angry) opened a new vista in Malayalam literary criticism. Soon he became the messiah of new writing in Malayalam. Liberal values and existentialist philosophy as expounded by Immanuel Kant, Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus etc. found its expression in Malayalam through the genius of K. P. Appan.
Appan had written over 20 books and most of them had turned out to be subjects of interesting debate. He was one who proved to the literary world that literary criticism was by itself a form of delightful literature. He is widely seen as the one who launched the trend of new criticism in Malayalam literature. He introduced modern European and Eastern literary visions in Malayalam literary criticism.
Some of his works were:
# Kshobhikkunnavarude Suvisesham (1972), Thiraskaram (1978),
# Kalahavum Viswasavum (1984), Marunna Malayala Novel (1988),
# Kalapam, Vivadam, Vilayiruthal (1992)
# Malayala Bhavana Mullyangalum Sangharshangalum (1992),
# Bible Velichathinte Kavacham (1994),
# Penayude Samaramukhangal (1995),
# Samayapravahavum Sahithyakalayum (1996), Abhimukha Sambashanangal (1997), #UtharadhunikathaVarthamanavum Vamsavaliyum (1997).
Awards and honors:
In 2008, K. P. Appan won the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for his collection of essays in Malayalam, Madhuram Ninte Jeevitham. The award was announced after his death.
Books:
# Kshobhikkunnavarude Suvisesham
# Kalahavum Viswasavum
# Malayala Bhavana: Mullyangalum Sangharshangalum
# Varakalum Varnangalum
# Bible: Velichathinte Kavacham
# Kalapam, Vivadam, Vilayiruthal
# Samayapravahavum Sahithyakalayum
# Katha: Akhyanavum Anubhava Sathayum
# Utharadhunikatha: Varthamanavum Vamsavaliyum
# Innalekalile Anveshanaparishodanakal
# Vivekashaliyaya Vayanakkara
# Rogavum Sahithyabhavanayum
# Charithrathe Aghadahamakkiya Guru
# Swargam theernnu pokunnu narakam nilanilkunnu
# Thiraskaram
# Marunna Malayalam Novel
# Penayude Samaramukhangal
# Maduram Ninte jeevitham
# Abhimuka Sambhashanakal
# Charithrathe Ningalkoppam Kootuka
Anand (writer)
P. Sachidanandan
Born: P. Sachidanandan 1936
Irinjalakkuda, Kerala, India
Pen name: Anand
Occupation: Writer; author,
Notable works: Aalkkootam (1970)
Jaivamanushyan (1991)
Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu (1992)
Govardhande Yathrakal (1995)
Anand writes primarily in Malayalam. He is one of the noted living intellectuals in India. His works are noted for their philosophical flavor, historical context and their humanism. Veedum Thadavum and Jaivamanushyan won the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award. Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu won the Vayalar Award. He did not accept the Yashpal Award for Aalkkootam and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Abhayarthikal.
Writing
It was the famous critic Govindan who helped Anand publish his maiden novel Alkkoottam. At age 34, it was his first ever published work. It was a new experience for the Malayalee readers and the book received rave reviews and pungent criticisms alike. He followed Alkkoottam (Crowd) with three more equally abstract novels: Maranacertificate (Death Certificate), Abhayarthikal (Refugees) and Utharayanam. These books made Anand a writer with considerable standing in Malayalam. But it was in the late eighties and early nineties that Anand came up with two more novels, Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu and Govardhanante Yaathrakal, which made him an icon in Malayalam literature.He has also written many short stories and articles, most of which deal with plight of the ordinary people who are exploited by the people in power. Anand's characters are not necessarily a Malayali, and often weaves in historical elements into his stories. More often they are also located outside Kerala.
Anand is also a prolific essayist. He occasionally writes poems also.
Awards:
# Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story, 1981
# Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, 1985
# Vayalar Award, 1993
# Odakkuzhal Award, 1996
# Sahitya Akademi Award, 1997
# Muttathu Varkey Award, 2000
# Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize, 2012
# Vallathol Award, 2015
Books by Anand
Novels:
# Alkkoottam (The Crowd)
# Maranacertificate (The Death Certificate)
# Utharayanam Abhayarthikal (The Refugees)
# Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu (The Deserts come into existence)
# Govardhante Yaathrakal (The Journeys of Govardhanan)
# Vyaasanum Vighneswaranum
# Apaharikkapetta Daivangal
# Samharathinte Pusthakam Vibhajanangal Parinamathinte Bhoothangal (The Ghosts of Evolution)
# Dweepukalum Theerangalum (Islands and Shores)
Short story collection:
# Asantham
# Veedum Thadavum (Home and Prison)
# Ira (Victim)
# Odiyunna Kurisu (The Breaking Cross)
# Samvadam (Convesations)
# Naalamathe Aani (The Fourth Nail.)
# Kathakal, Aatmakathakal (Stories, autobiographies)
Dramas:
# Savaghoshyathra Mukthipadham
Other Books:
# Sambhashanangal (Dialogue with Sachithanandan, the poet)
# Idavelakalil
# Jaivamanushyan (The Biological Man)
# Vettakaaranum Virunnukaaranum
# Prakriti,
# Paristhithi,
# Daaridryam,
# Jalam,
# Oorjam
# Kannadilokam
# Nashtapradeshangal
# Stanam Thettiya Vasthu
Poems:
# Thadhagatham
