Malayalam literature

Malayalam literature (മലയാള സാഹിത്യം) comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala.

The earliest known extant literary work in Malayalam is Ramacharitam, an epic poem written in the late 13th or early 13th century. In the subsequent centuries, besides a popular pattu ("song") literature, the manipravalam poetry also flourished. Manipravalam (translates "ruby coral") style mainly consisted of poetry in an admixture of Malayalam and Sanskrit.^[1] Then came works such as champus and sandeshakavyas in which prose and poetry were interspersed. Later, poets like Cherusseri introduced poems on devotional themes. Ezhuthachan, a strong proponent of Bhakti movement, is known as the father of Malayalam. His poems are classified under the genre of kilippattu.^[2]

Modern literary movements in Malayalam literature began in the late 19th century with the rise of the famous Modern Triumvirate consisting of Kumaran Asan,^[3] Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer^[4] and Vallathol Narayana Menon.^[5] Kumaran Asan was temperamentally a pessimist—a disposition reinforced by his metaphysics—yet all his life was active in promoting his downtrodden Hindu-Ezhava community. Ullor wrote in the classical tradition, on the basis of which he appealed for universal love, while Vallathol responded to the human significance of social progress. Contemporary Malayalam poetry records the encounter with problems of social, political, and economic life. The tendency of the modern poetry is often regarded as toward political radicalism.^[6]

Early literature

For the first 600 years of the Malayalam calendar, Malayalam literature remained in a preliminary stage. During this time, Malayalam literature consisted mainly of various genres of songs. The most prominent among these were songs praising the goddesses of the land, ballads of brave warriors, songs related to the work of a particular caste and songs intended just for entertainment. Bhadrakali pattu, thottam pattu, mavaratham pattu, sasthanga pattu, nizhalkoothu pattu, sarpa pattu, sastham pattu, thiyyattu pattu, pulluvar pattu, mannar pattu, panar pattu, krishi pattu, thamburan pattu, pada pattu, villadichan pattu, onappattu, kummi and lullaby were some of the major subgenres. These names were not used historically, but are used in modern times to describe the song genres of that time.

Ramacharitham

Ramacharitham is a collection of poems written at the end of the preliminary stage in Malayalam literature's evolution. It is the oldest Malayalam book available. The collection has 1,814 poems in it. Ramacharitham mainly consists of stories from the Yuddha Kanda the of Ramayana. It was written by a poet with the pen name Cheeramakavi who, according to poet Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer, was Sree Veerarama Varman, a king of Travancore from AD 1195 to 1208.^[7] Other experts, like Dr. K.M. George and P.V. Krishnan Nair, claim that the origins of the book can be found in north Kerala. They cite the use of certain words in the book and also the fact that the manuscript of the book was recovered from Neeleshwaram in north Kerala.^[8] Some experts consider it a Tamil literary piece. A. R. Rajaraja Varma, who heavily contributed to the development of Malayalam grammar, is of the opinion that Malayalam originated from ancient Tamil. Ramacharitham is considered a book written during the formative years of Malayalam. According to Rev. Dr. Hermann Gundert, who compiled the first dictionary of the Malayalam language, Ramacharitham shows the ancient style of the Malayalam language.^[9]

Early prose literature

List of early prose literature in the 19th century.^[10]

Allegories

Title	Author	Year	Make	Other notes
Sanchariyude Prayanam (സഞ്ചാരിയുടെ പ്രയാണം – Sancāriyuṭe Pṟayāṇaṁ)	Rev. C. Muller Rev. P. Chandran	1846	Translation	More Translation of The Pilgrim's Progress (English, 1674) by John Bunyan
Paradeshi Mokshayathra (പരദേശി മോക്ഷയാത്ര – Paradēśi Mōkṣayātṟa)	Rev. K. Koshy Rev. Joseph Peet	1844	Translation	More Translation of The Pilgrim's Progress (English, 1677) by John Bunyan First repeated translation of an English literature to Malayalam
Thirupporattam (തിരുപ്പോരാട്ടം – Tiruppōrāṭṭaṁ)	Archdeacon. K. Koshy	1868	Translation	More Translation of The Holy War (English, 1682) by John Bunyan

Plays

Title	Author	Year	Make	Other notes
Bashashankunthalam (ഭാഷാശാകുന്തളം – Bhaṣāśākuntaḷaṁ)	Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma	1850–1860	Translation	More Translation of Abhijnanasakuntalam (Sanskrit ,1000 B.C-0400) by Kalidasa The first prose translation to Malayalam from Sanskrit literature
Almarattam (ആൾമാറാട്ടം – Āḷmāṟāṭṭaṁ)	Kalloor Umman Philipose	1866	Translation	More Translation of The Comedy of Errors (1594–1595) by William Shakespeare
Kamakshee Charitham (കാമാക്ഷീചരിതം – Kāmākṣīcaritaṁ)	K. Chidambara Wadhyar	1880–1885	Translation	More Translation of Tales from Shakespeare: As You Like It by Mary Lamb, (Children's Story Adaptaion-English,1807) As You Like It (1599–1600) by William Shakespeare
Varshakala Katha (വൎഷകാലകഥ – Varṣakāla Katha)	K. Chidambara Wadhyar	1880–1885	Translation	More Translation of Tales from Shakespeare: The Winter's Tale by Mary Lamb, (Children's Story Adaptaion-English,1807) The Winter's Tale (1623) by William Shakespeare

Stories

Title	Author	Year	Make	Other notes
Oru Kuttiyude Maranam (ഒരു കുട്ടിയുടെ മരണം – Oru Kuṭṭiyuṭe Maraṇaṁ)	<Anonymous Writer>	1847	Original	More Published in the monthly periodical Rajyasamacharam December edition
Vishathinu Marunnu (വിഷത്തിന് മരുന്ന് – Viṣattinŭ Marunnŭ)	<Anonymous Writer>	1848	Original	More Published in the monthly periodical Rajyasamacharam February edition
Anayum Thunnanum (ആനയും തുന്നനും – Āṉayuṁ Tunnaṉuṁ)	<Anonymous Writer>	1849	Original	More Published in the monthly periodical Jnananikshepam August edition
Meenakethanan or Meenakethana Charitham (മീനകേതനൻ or മീനകേതനചരിതം – Mīṉakētaṉan or Mīṉakētaṉacaritaṁ )	Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma	1850–1860	Inspiration	More Inspired from 'The Story of the Prince Kamar-Ez-Zeman and the Princess Budoor', The Thousand And One Nights Vol II by Edward William Lane (English, 1839) which is a translation of Kitab Alf Laylah Wa-Laylah (Arabic, 1100–1200)
Jathibetham (ജാതിഭേദം – Jātibēdaṁ)	Archdeacon. K. Koshy	1860	Original	More Published in the monthly periodical Jnananikshepam August, September, November editions
Aayalkarane Konnavante Katha (അയൽക്കാരനെ കൊന്നവന്റെ കഥ – Ayalkārane Konnavanṯe Katha)	<Anonymous Writer>	1873	Original	More
Kallan (കല്ലൻ – Kallan)	<Anonymous Writer>	1881	Adaptation	More Published in the periodical Vidyavilasini
Pullelikunchu (പുല്ലേലിക്കുഞ്ചു – Pullēlikkuñcu)	Archdeacon. K. Koshy	1882	Original	More Sequel to ജാതിഭേദം (1860), First sequel in Malayalam prose literature Divided into three parts: Part One is a prequel ജാതിഭേദം (1860). Part Two has a plot with same characters of the prequel and some new characters in a new situation. Part Three is presented as a religious tract following incidents of Part Two.
Vasanavikrithi (വാസനാവികൃതി – Vāsanāvikr̥ti)	Vengayil Kunjiraman Nayanar	1891	Original	More Regarded as the first short-story of Malayalam literature

Novels

Title	Author	Year	Make	Other notes
Fulmoni Ennum Koruna Ennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha (ഫുൽമോനി എന്നും കോരുണ എന്നും പേരായ രണ്ടു സ്ത്രീകളുടെ കഥ – Phulmōni ennuṁ kōruṇa ennuṁ pērāya ranṭu strīkaḷuṭe katha)	Rev. Joseph Peet	1858	Translation	More First novel printed and released in Malayalam First novel translated to Malayalam which was originally conceived in an Indian language Translation of The History of Phulmani and Karuna (English,1853) by Mrs. (Hana Catherine) Mullens which is a translation of ফুলমনি ও করুণার বিবরণ [Fulmoni O Korunar Biboron] (Bengali ,1852) by Mrs. (Hana Catherine) Mullens
Ghathakawadham (ഘാതകവധം – Ghātakavadhaṁ)	Rev. Richard Collins^[11]	1877	Translation	More First novel printed and published in Malayalam with a story based in Kerala and around Malayalees, First novel translated to Malayalam which was originally conceived in English Translation of The Slayer Slain (English,1864–1866) by Mrs. (Frances) Richard Collins & Rev. Richard Collins
Pathminiyum Karunayum (പത്മിനിയും കരുണയും – Patmiṉiyuṁ karuṇayuṁ)	<Anonymous Writer>	1884	Translation	More First repeated translation of a novel to Malayalam Translation of The History of Phulmani and Karuna (English,1853) by Mrs. (Hana Catherine) Mullens which is a translation of ফুলমনি ও করুণার বিবরণ [Fulmoni O Korunar Biboron] (Bengali ,1852) by Mrs. (Hana Catherine)
Kundalatha (കുന്ദലത – Kundalata)	Appu Nedungadi	1887	Original	More First novel conceived and published in Malayalam, first novel by a Malayalee Keralite, First novel from Malabar First Malayalam novel to have a story outside Kerala and without Malayali characters
Indulekha (ഇന്ദുലേഖ – Indulēkha)	O. Chandumenon	1889	Original	More First social novel in Malayalam, first novel made in Malayalam with Malayali characters and a story based in Malabar, Kerala,
Indumathee Swayamvaram (ഇന്ദുമതീസ്വയംവരം – Indumatīsvayaṁvaraṁ)	Padinjare Kovilakathu Ammaman Raja	1890	Original	More
Meenakshi (മീനാക്ഷി – Mīṉākṣi)	C. Chathu Nair	1890	Original	More
Marthandavarma (മാർ‍ത്താണ്ഡവർ‍മ്മ – Māṟttāṇḍavaṟmma)	C. V. Raman Pillai	1891	Original	More First Historical novel in Malayalam, Kerala and South India, First novel from Travancore First Malayalam novel to be a part of a trilogy, First Malayalam novel to have a masculine title
Saraswatheevijayam (സരസ്വതീവിജയം – Sarasvatīvijayaṁ)	Potheri Kunjanbu	1892	Original	More
Parishkarapathi (പരിഷ്ക്കാരപ്പാതി – Pariṣkārappāti)	Kochuthomman Appothikari	1892	Original	More
Parangodee Parinayam (പറങ്ങോടീപരിണയം – Paṟaṅṅōṭīpariṇayaṁ)	Kizhakepattu Raman Menon	1892	Original	More First satirical novel in Malayalam
Sarada (ശാരദ – Śārada)	O. Chandumenon	1892	Original	More First novel foretold to have sequels in a trilogy
Lakshmeekeshavam (ലക്ഷ്മീകേശവം – Lakṣmīkēśavaṁ)	Komattil Padu Menon	1892	Original	More
Naluperiloruthan (നാലുപേരിലൊരുത്തൻ – Nālupēriloruttan)	C. Anthapayi	1893	Original	More
Chandrahasan (ചന്ദ്രഹാസൻ – Candrahāsan)	P. Krishnan Menon T. K. Krishnan Menon C. Govindan Eledam	1893	Translation	More
Akbar (അക്ബർ – Akbaṟ)	Kerala Varma Valiya Koi Thampuran	1894	Translation	More First Historical novel translated to Malayalam Translation of Akbar (English,1879) by M. M which is a translation of Akbar (Dutch ,1872) by Dr. P.A.S van Limburg Brouwer
Kalyani (കല്യാണി – Kalyāṇi)	<Anonymous Writer>	1896	Original	More Published in Vidyāvinodini periodical
Sukumari (സുകുമാരി – Sukumāri)	Joseph Mooliyil	1897	Original	More
Saguna (സഗുണ – Saguṇa)	Joseph Mooliyil	1898–1899	Translation	More Translation of Saguna (English, 1896) by Kirubai Sathyanathan Ammal
Kamala (കമല – Kamala)	C. Krishnan Nair	1899	Translation	More Translation of Kamala (English, 1896) by Kirubai Sathyanathan Ammal

Apologues

Title	Author	Year	Make	Other notes
Rasselas (റാസലസ് – Ṟāsalas)	Pilo Paul^[12]	1895	Translation	More Translation of Rasselas or The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (English, 1759) by Samuel Johnson
Nandipa Deepika (നന്ദിപദീപിക – Nandipadīpika)	Kunji Kelu Nair	1895	Translation	More Translation of Rasselas or The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (English, 1759) by Samuel Johnson
Rasalelika (രസലേലിക – Rasalēlika)	Thatha Kanaran	1898	Translation	More Translation of Rasselas or The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (English, 1759) by Samuel Johnson

Malayalam novel

Malayalam writers

The field of Malayalam writers include the following people, from various disciplines and periods.

Art criticism

Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār, author of the Nātyakalpadrumam theatrical study

Poetry

Manipravalam
Champukkal
Niranam poets
Cherusseri Namboothiri
Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
Poonthanam Namboothiri
Arnos Paathiri (1681–1732)
Unnayi Warrier
Kunchan Nambiar (1705–1770)
Irayimman Thampi
Kerala Varma Valiya Koyithampuran
Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai (1859–1936)
K. C. Kesava Pillai (1868–1914)
Kumaran Asan (1873–1924)
Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer (1877–1949)
Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878–1958)

Modern Romantics

Other modern poets

G. Shankara Kurup (1900–1978)

Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon (1911–1985)

Edasseri Govindan Nair

N. V. Krishna Warrier

Thirunalloor Karunakaran

Olappamanna Subramanian Namboothirippad

Sugathakumari

M. Govindan

K. Ayyappa Panicker

Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan

Attoor Ravi Varma

Satchidanandan

Lalitha Lenin

Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri

D. Vinayachandran

Kureepuzha Sreekumar

Balachandran Chullikkadu

A. Ayyappan

Nellikkal Muraleedharan

Post-modern poets

Fiction

Nineteenth century

Modern

Karur Neelakanta Pillai (1898–1974)
P. Kesava Dev (1904–1983)
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908–1994)
Ponkunnam Varkey (1908–2004)
S. K. Pottekkatt (1913–1982)
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1914–1999)
Uroob (1915–1979)
Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909–1987)
Malayatoor Ramakrishnan (1927–1997)
K. Saraswathi Amma (1919–1974)
P. K. Balakrishnan (1926–1991)
V. K. N. (1932–2004)
O. V. Vijayan (1930–2005)
Kakkanadan (1935–2011)
Parappurath (K.E. Mathai)
Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair
K.Surendran
Pattathuvila Karunakaran
M. Mukundan
Anand
P. Padmarajan (1945–1991)
Paul Zacharia
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
T. Padmanabhan
P. M. Taj (1956–1990)
Kamala Surayya (Madhavikkutti, Kamala Das)
P. Sachidanandan
N. S. Madhavan
N. P. Mohammed
Kovilan
M. P. Narayana Pillai
George Onakkur
P.F. Mathews
Subhash Chandran
E. Harikumar
C. Radhakrishnan
Joy J. Kaimaparamban
Benyamin
Chandramathi

Post-modern fiction

Children's literature

Sumangala

Nandanar a.k.a P C Gopalan

Shebaly

Sippy Pallippuram

Essayists

Literary criticism

Joseph Mundasseri (1901–1977)

Kesari Balakrishna Pillai (1889–1960)

Kuttikrishna Marar (1900–1973)

M. P. Paul (1904–1952)

K.Damodaran (1912–1976)

S. Guptan Nair (1919–2006)

M. Krishnan Nair

M. N. Vijayan (1930–2007)

K. M. Daniel (1920–1988)

Sukumar Azhikode (1926–2012)

M.R. Chandrasekharan

M. K. Sanu

K. P. Appan (1936–2008)

Narendra Prasad (1946–2003)

Film criticism

Translation

Others

References

^ [1]
^ http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317732/kilippattu
^ http://www.poemhunter.com/kumaran-asan/
^ http://www.poemhunter.com/ulloor-s-parameswara-iyer/
^ http://www.poemhunter.com/vallathol-narayana-menon/
^ [2]
^ S. Parameshwara Aiyer, Ulloor (1990), Kerala Sahithya Chrithram (History of literature of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: University of Kerala
^ Leelavathi, Dr. M., Malayala Kavitha Sahithya Chrithram (History of Malayalam poetry)
^ Gundert, Rev. Dr. Hermann (1865), Malayalabhasha Vyakaranam (Grammar of Malayalam language
^ Irumbayam, Dr. George (January 1997) [1984]. Jacob, Jolly (ed.). മലയാള നോവൽ പത്തൊമ്പതാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ (malayāḷa nōval pattonpatāṁ nūṯāṇṭil) (Study) (in Malayalam) (First D.C.P. ed.). Thiruvananthapuram: Cultural Publication Section, Government of Kerala. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
^ Journal of Kerala Studies , Volume 9. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India: Kerala University. 1982. p. 159.
^ George, Dr. K. M. (1998) [1972]. Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature (Study). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 99. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title= and |month= (help)

External links

[1] [1]

[2] ttp://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317732/kilippattu

[3] ttp://www.poemhunter.com/kumaran-asan/

[4] ttp://www.poemhunter.com/ulloor-s-parameswara-iyer/

[5] ttp://www.poemhunter.com/vallathol-narayana-menon/

[6] [2]

[7] S. Parameshwara Aiyer, Ulloor (1990), Kerala Sahithya Chrithram (History of literature of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: University of Kerala

[8] Leelavathi, Dr. M., Malayala Kavitha Sahithya Chrithram (History of Malayalam poetry)

[9] Gundert, Rev. Dr. Hermann (1865), Malayalabhasha Vyakaranam (Grammar of Malayalam language

[earlynovels19-10] Irumbayam, Dr. George (January 1997) [1984]. Jacob, Jolly (ed.). മലയാള നോവൽ പത്തൊമ്പതാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ (malayāḷa nōval pattonpatāṁ nūṯāṇṭil) (Study) (in Malayalam) (First D.C.P. ed.). Thiruvananthapuram: Cultural Publication Section, Government of Kerala. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

[ku-11] Journal of Kerala Studies , Volume 9. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India: Kerala University. 1982. p. 159.

[InflWestMal1-12] George, Dr. K. M. (1998) [1972]. Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature (Study). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 99. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title= and |month= (help)

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