Malayalam famous writers

Famous Malayalam writers & poets

Iconic voices of Malayalam literature — from the father of the language to the Jnanpith-winning novelists of the 20th century.

തുഞ്ചത്ത് എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ
tuñchatt eḻuttachchhan
Thunchath Ezhuthachan — revered as the father of modern Malayalam
Meaning: Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu — still read aloud every Karkidakam
16th century · Tirur
തകഴി ശിവശങ്കരപ്പിള്ള
takaḻi śivaśaṅkarappiḷḷa
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai — novelist of Kuttanad's farmers and fisherfolk
Meaning: Chemmeen (1956), Randidangazhi, Kayar
1912–1999 · Jnanpith Award (1984)
വൈക്കം മുഹമ്മദ് ബഷീർ
vaikkaṁ muhammad baṣīr
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer — the "Beypore Sultan", beloved for humour and plain speech
Meaning: Balyakalasakhi, Pathummayude Aadu, Mathilukal
1908–1994
ഒ.വി. വിജയൻ
o.vi. vijayan
O. V. Vijayan — novelist and political cartoonist who reshaped Malayalam fiction
Meaning: Khasakkinte Itihasam (The Legends of Khasak, 1969)
1930–2005 · Palakkad
മാധവിക്കുട്ടി
mādhavikkuṭṭi
Madhavikutty (Kamala Das, later Kamala Surayya) — fearless confessional writer in Malayalam and English
Meaning: Ente Katha (My Story), Summer in Calcutta, Neermathalam Pootha Kalam
1934–2009 · Punnayurkulam
എം.ടി. വാസുദേവൻ നായർ
eṁ.ṭi. vāsudēvan nāyar
M. T. Vasudevan Nair — novelist, screenwriter and director
Meaning: Naalukettu, Randamoozham, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (screenplay)
1933–2024 · Jnanpith Award (1995)

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