Malayalam Literature& INDIAN CULTURE By Sreebitha PV INTRODUCTION MALAYALAM LITERATURE • Ramacharitham – Cheeramon • Bhashakautiliyam- 10th century • Performances of art forms - Koothu, Kootiyattam of Chakyars • Chimmanakkali of Pulayas, Patayani of Nairs etc. THE MALAYALAM SCRIPT Vattezhuthu The word Ezhuthu means writing and Vattu means circular and thus Vattezhuthu means circular script. . . • Granthalipi meaning book-script which evolved in early period so as to present sounds in Sanskrit. THE MALAYALAM SCRIPT • Kolezhuthu The word Kol means stick and as it is indicated the script is oblong in shape. Pavithran points out one more lipi called Braahmi lipi. • Braahmi lipi . and not found in the old Dravidian language.Researchers like Dr. Chronological approach will not work in the context of Indian literary history since there is no predominant single language and there is constant & easy crossing over of literary traditions from one language to another in India.Early Malayalam (Up to the 15th century).PERIODS OF MALAYALAM LITERATURE • Grim’s Method and P.e. after Krishnagatha.M. • Sujit Mukherjee’s Argument . Modern Malayalam after the 15th century i. Govinda Pillai’s Method • K. George’s Method . . Old sayings • Folk songs • Ballads . • Pazham Chollukal .Neither influenced by Tamil nor by Sanskrit forms. The Indigenous stream • Folk Literature • Pacha Malayalam . FOLK SONGS Folk songs are considered to be older than ballads and they cover different aspects of life from birth to death. There are numerous folk songs in Malayalam which could be categorized. FOLK SONGS • Ceremonial songs • Marriage Songs • Elegiac Songs • Onappatttu • Thiruvathirappattu • Religious Songs • Vocational Songs • Vanchippattu • Kuravappattu Ceremonial songs Lullaby variety – These songs are very simple, without any imagery or artistic excellence. ceremony of Nairs and Ezhavas before the actual marriage. .Talikettukalyanam . • Kalyanakkalikal (festive games during marriage). Marriage Songs • There are some songs which are based on the theme of marriage. • Vathilthurappattu (song requesting the opening of the door) is a very interesting type of song among the Christian community of Kerala. • Such songs are sung among the Pulaya community when the parents pass away. . Elegiac Songs • Songs of lamentation are also a significant variety. Onappatttu • Onam is one of the most important festivals of Kerala. • Many games are played at Onam time and there are songs for each and it is well known throughout Kerala. . Mostly upper caste malayalee women dance and sing special songs in this occasion. another important festival of Kerala. . Thiruvathirappattu • These songs are sung on the occasion of Thiruvathira. thunder. Velanpattu and Chattupattu belong to semi- religious songs. . Their fear and devotion gave birth to religious and semi-religious songs. • Semi-religious songs Navattupattu. were the gods of the old Dravidians.Thiyyattu and Kuttiyottappattu are well known. Religious Songs • Forces of nature such as Lightning. • Sarpappattu or snake song is one among them. • Religious songs . large trees etc. storm. Krishippattukal (songs relating to Krishi or agriculture) . They are more popular than ceremonial and religious songs. Vocational Songs • There are also Folk songs connected to various vocations. • Many such songs have no ideas to convey. • Eg:. but have a rhythm which inspire the workers to engage in hard manual work. . Among them we find love songs and humorous songs. Vanchippattu( Boat Songs) • Boat songs are very popular. BALLADS • Heroic Ballads • Religious Ballads • Historical Ballads . Heroic Ballads • Vatakkan Pattukal (the ballads of North Malabar) portray the life of few heroes. • Thacholi Othenan and Aromal chekavar form the subject matter of most of these ballads. . • There are also many ballads about Unniarcha and Othenan. • These songs deal with Nayars and Thiyyas. Mathilakathu Kath . Mappila Paattu. Paanan Pattu etc. The language is a mixture of Malayalam and Arabic. • Bhadrakali Pattu. Religious Ballads • Mappila Pattukal (Songs of Malabar Muslims) are very beautiful and we find full expressions of heroic and erotic sentiments in this. Pulluvan Pattu. Thottam Pattu. and the characters are Muslims. Ayyappan Pattu . . . Anchuthampuran Pattu etc. Historical Ballads • Margam Kalipattu. Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar (AD 1350 and 1450)- They successfully freed Malayalam literature from Manipravala style. Unniyadi Charitham and Unni Chirutheyi Charitham)Madyakala Champukkall (Ramavan Champu. Kamadhanam Champu.) • NIRANAM POETS . Bharatham Champu etc. .Kannassa Ramayanam and Kannassa Bharatam etc.Madhava Panikkar. • Important works .Prose (Malayalam Metres) and Verse (Sanskrit Metres)- Pracheena Manipravala Champukkal (Unniyachi Charitham. TRADITIONAL POETRY • MANIPRAVALAM -Malyalam and Sankrit- Lilathilakam • CHAMPUKKAL OR CHAMPU POEMS . He held out a model in the hope that other poets would follow.Adhyatma Ramayana •Poonthanam-Jnanappaana •Venmani poets (Second half of the 19th century)- •Venmani Prasthanam. •Kerala Varma – Sankritisation of Malayalam literature. MODERN POETRY •Cherusseri (1500 AD) .Krishnagatha •Ezhuthachan(1500 AD) . However many poets continue to follow the Venmani style.Mayoora Sandesam (Peacock Messenger) in the Mainipravala style. . .C. THE MAHAKAVYAS •Mahakavyas literally means ‘a great poem’. Kesava Pillai. •Ramachandravilasam (1902) .Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup. •Most poets deal with the puranic themes. but Ullur has taken an incident from Travancore history. •Other prominent Mahakavyas – Umakeralam by Ullur – Rugmangadacharitam by Pathalam Kerala Varma – Chitrayogam by Vallathol – Kesaviyam by K. Kumaran Asan (18731924). • After the great Trio. P. K. .K. Vallathol Narayana Menon (1879-1958)and Ulloor Parameswara Iyer (1877-1949).M. Kuttippurathu Kesavan Nayar. Balamani Amma. Raja.Changapuzha Krishna Pillai and Raghava Pillai. K. Pallathu Raman. Kunhiraman Nayar. Vennikulam Gopala Kurup. MODERN POETRY • THE GOLDEN PERIOD OF MALAYALAM POETRY- Second and third decade of 20th century • The great trios. • The Twin Poets of Idappally . N. Sankara Kurup have enriched poetic literature in Malayalam. Panikkar. poets like Nalappat Narayana Menon. Bodeswaran and G. Gopala Pilla. • POST MODERN POETS Anitha Thampi.M.Joseph. Joseph.B. Pala Narayanan Nair. Anujan.V. Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon. O. O. C.V. N. Bhaskaran. Appan are names which immediately strike one.N. A. V. Kurup. Sugatha Kumari and M. Girija.C. Sreehari. Olappamanna. Akkittam. P. Krishna Variyar.M. Manoj. Vayalar Rama Varma. MODERN POETRY • THE PROGRESSIVE MOVMENT OF MALAYALAM LITERATURE (1937) Idasseri Govindan Nair. M. S. . Murukan Kattakkada etc.A.P. THE NOVEL Kundalata (1887) - Appu nedungadi Indulekha (1889) O Chandu Menon . .V.Udayabhanu and Parappurath.K. THE NOVEL • C. Dharma Raja. Raman Pillai- Historical themes- Marthanda Varma. and Ramaraja Bahadu. • The thirties of the 20th century. Narayana Kurukkal’s serialized political novels . Popular novels Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai • Chemmeen (1957) • Thottiyute Makan (Son of the Scavenger) • Rantitangazhi (Two Measures) • Enippatikal (The steps of the Ladder) . Popular novels P. Kesava Dev • Odayil Ninnu (From the Gutter) • Brantalayam (House of Mad Men) • Ulakka (Pestle) • Nati (the Actress) • Rowdy • Oru Sundariyudte Atmakatha(Autobiogra phy of a Beautiful Lady) • Ayalkkar (The Neighbours) . Popular novels Vaikom Muhammad Basheer • Balya Kala Sakhi (Childhood Friend-1994) • Entuppappakkoranentarnu (My Grandfather had an Elephant.1951) . Kovoor‘s Kadu • Joseph Mundasseri‘s Kondayil Ninnu Kurusilekku (for the Rosary to the Cross) • Muttathu Varkey’s Inappravukal (A Pair of Doves) • Patatha Paikili (The Bird that does not sings) • M.M. Pottekkad’s Vishakanyaka (Poison Maid) • Mootupatam (The Veil) • Natan Premam (Country Romance) • Premasiksha (Punishment for Love) • Theruvinte Katha (Story of the Street) • Uroob’s Ummachu Sundarkalum Sundaranmarum (The Beautiful and the Handsome) • E. Popular novels • S.T Vasudevan Nair’s Nalukettu .K. SHORT STORY • Vasanavikrti (The Mischief of Habit. 1981) by Kunjiraman Nayanar which was published in the monthly Vidyavinodini marks the birth of the Malayalam short story . E.V. Moorkoth Kumaran. Otuvil Kunjikrishna Menon. Abadi Narayana Poduval. SHORT STORY • Early writers - Vengayil Kunjiraman Nayanar. . Krishnapillai - modeled their stories after British and American authors being unaware of the scope of the form. In 1944. Saraswathiyamma and P.C. . • Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. • Jivatsahitya Prasthanam (1937) . Kuttikrishan played an important role in popularizing the genre. Ponkunnam Varkey. K. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Lalithambika Antherjanam. S. SHORT STORY • Development of short story as a popular literary form (Last decades of 19th century) . Karoor Neelakanta Pillai.The spread of general education and the birth of newspapers and magazines. this movement was transformed into the Purogamana Sahityam (Progressive Literature). They stood for reform and the creation of a socialistic society and used the subject matter of literature as a tool for it. Kesava Dev.K Pottekkat. Orikkal Mausyanayirunnu (Once He Was a Man. 1959). mainly depicts the story of their own community. 1953) and Marupati(The Reply). 1968) etc. Nandanar’s ) and Oru Kochanujane Kurichu (About a Younger Brother. Eg:-M. • Experience of Soldiers .The writers challenged the established and the widely accepted principles of literary composition and approved values.C Vaduthala’s .K. Muhammed Koya.Kovilan’s Boardout(1953).Vijayan’s Parakal (Rocks. P. . O. 1957)Bhayam (Fear. Pirannal (Birthday. SHORT STORY • Stories of Communities . N. Mukundan’s Prabhatam Mutal Prabhatam Vare (From Morning to Morning). Vettoor Raman Nair and T. • Revolutionary Spirit . 1970) etc. Muhammad etc.A. P.Ponjikkara Rafi.V. Muppathu Vayassulla Oral (A Thirty-Year Old Man) by M. Valsala. MODERN SHORT STORIES • Murukan Enna Pampatti (Murukan the Snake- Cahrmer) by M. A. Gracy. Narayana Pillai.P. Suhra. B. Ramachandran.S.B. Sukumaran.M. Kochubava. Utpatti Vicharam (Thoughts on the Origin) by T. Geetha Hiranyan. Rosemary. K.S. Priya etc. . Madhavan. • Other authors of contemporary short stories are N. Varantayil Ninnulla Kazhcha (Sight from the Varanda) of Pattathuvila Karunakaran. T. Sreedevi. Prapanchattinte Avasistangal (The Remnants of the Universe) and Mazha( the Rain) by Zakariah. Aarum Pokatha Vazhi by Punathil Kunjabdulla.V. • Folk-arts Thiyattu and Mudiyettu etc. DRAMA • Temple-arts and folk-arts of Kerala. Koothu and Kootiyattam etc. • Temple-arts. . . as an art form it is different in concept form the proper drama. Kathakali Kathakali is performed on the stage and its literature reads like poetic dialogue: nevertheless. Chavittu Natakam The Portuguese had introduced this form which is a play similar to the Miracle plays of the west. . DRAMA • Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Sakuntalam – Malayalam Translation. A. Uttararama Charitam (1892) and Ascharya Choodamani (1893).Kerala Varma Thampuran. .Kerala Varma in 1882 • Continuation of the Sanskrit tradition(19th century) – Malayalam Translation .Raja Raja Varma. Malavikagnimitram (1890).R. • Important Translators . Attoor Krishna Pisharodi and Vallathol Narayana Menon.Janaki Parinayam (1899). – Chandrika (1892) by Kunhikuttan Thampuran. – Kandathil Varghese Mappilai’s Ebrayakutty (1893) . – Bhagavaddoothu by Naduvathu Nambodiri. DRAMA • Mythological stories in the mould of the Sanskrit drama – Kalyani Natakam (1888) by Kochunni Thampuran. Kesava Pillai.C.C. adapting the technique of the western playwrights. • The influence of the Western plays (Twentieth Century) • Translations of English. DRAMA • Influence of Musical drama of Tamil Nadu • Sadarama by K. Sangeeta Naishadham by T. German and Russian plays. French. . • A few original plays were also written in the last quarter of the 19th century. Achutha Menon and Balagopalan by Kuttamath. DRAMA THE Modern Drama Historical Plays Humourous Plays Social and Political Plays Psychological Plays Other Categories . Raja Kesavadasan and Iravikkuttippillai and Kainikkara Padmanabhan Pillai’s Velu Thampy Dalava are good examples of historical plays. Mayamanushan (The Mystery Man). T. Pranayakkamishan (Commission for Love).B. Gopinathan Nair- Nilavum Nizhalum (Moonlight and Shade). Mayavi (The Mysterious Graduate). N. and Pennarasunad (The Land where Women Rules). Krishnapillai . Parivarthanam (Change) and Akavum Puravum(Inside and Outside) . DRAMA • HISTORICAL PLAYS E.V.A.V Ramakrishna Pillai’s Seethalakshmi. • HUMOROUS PLAYS E. Nayars in Malabar • K.T.Women’s issues in Nambudiri community.Life of the Muslim community of Malabar. SOCIAL PLAYS • Kocheppan Mappilai’s Mariamma – The story of Christian society. • V.P. . • Tharavaditham by Cherukad. Muhammad’s Ithu Bhoomiyanu (This is Earth) . T. Bhattathirippad’s Adukkalayail Ninnum Arangathekku (from the Kitchen to the Drawing Room) • M. Bhattathirippad’s Ritumati ( the Pubescent) . POLITICAL PLAYS • Pattabakki (Arrears of Rent) is by K.This is a realistic and effective political drama. . • Kesava Dev. Damodaran . than social in approach. Ponkunnam Varkey. and Idasseri Govindan Nair have written plays which are political. – Sarvey Kallu (The Survey Stone).) • Other important political plays are. – Thoppil Bhasi’s Ningalenne Communistakki (You have made me a Communist). – Aswamedham (The Horse Sacrifice) – Kesava Dev’s Jnanippo Communistavum (I will Become a Communist Now) – Manthriyakkalle (Don’t make me a Minister) . POLITICAL PLAYS (contd.. – Puthiya Akasavum Puthiya Bhoomiyum (New Sky and New Earth). – Mutiyanaya Putran (The Prodigal Son). Mutakku Mutal (The invested Capital). • Following Ibsen’s method. . Kanyaka (The Virgin). Krisha Pillai has introduced this form into Malayalam literature. Psychological Plays • N. and Balabalam (Trial of Strength). he wrote Bhagnabhavanam (Broken Home). • His other plays are Anuranjanam (The Compromise). Azhimukhathekku (Towards the Rivermouth). Sankara Kurup followed symbolic style in his plays Sandhya (Evening) & Irittinu Munpu (Before Darkness) • One act plays and Radio plays • K.Bhaskaran. . P. R.Dr. Pillai • Radio plawrights . Padmanabhan Nair.K.A. written in Manipravala style. • G. C. K.Panikkar’s Mandodari is a puranic story. Nair.S. N. Nair.Kurup. S. Ananda Kuttan.M. Achari.S.K.N.K. Veeraraghavan Nair. Idasseri Govindan Nair. Other Categories • Kainikara Kumara Pillai’s Mohavum Muktiyum (Illusion and Deliverance) is an allegoric drama.N. P. Varier. Ramakrishna Pillai and N. Autobiography •Vaikkom Pachumoothathu’s autobiography is considered the first autobiography in Malayalam. But it does not conform to the characteristics of the genre autobiography. . the largely acceptable autobiography is Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishnapilla’s Ente Nadukadathal (My Exile). K.) •The genre of autobiography in Kerala is said to have nourished with the autobiographies of socio-cultural and literary celebrities like.. Panickar. – Athmakatha (The Autobiography) of K.V. Autobiography (contd. Pottakkadu etc. . – Jeevitha Smaranakal (Memoirs of Life) of E. T. Keshavamenon. – Kazhinja Kalam (Times of Yore) of K. – Kannerum Kinavum (Tears and Dreams) of V. Krishnapillai. M. Bhattathirippadu.P. – Ente Vazhiyambalangal (My Inn) of S. .B. except autobiography. Women’s Autobiographies • Till the 19th century. Kalyani Amma’s Oru Vyazhavatta Smaranakal (Memories of Twelve Years) published in 1916. • The first anutobiography of a woman . women had shown their presence in every literary genre. . Women’s Autobiographies (contd. the autobiography of a Thiyya woman which got the Kerala Sahithya Academy award of 1980. K. a Sex worker) are noted autobiographies which openly talked about women’s sexuality. • Kamala Suraiyya’s My Story (1973) and Nalini Jameela’s autobiography Njan Laingikathozhilzli (Me. .) • C. Revathy Amma’s Sahasrapoornima (Completing A Thousand Full Moons) in 1977. is considered a complete autobiography from a marginalized woman in Malayalam. INFORMATIVE LITERATURE •Literary criticism •Biography •Essay •Travelogue . Sukumar Azhikode.Narayana Pillai • A.Balakrishna Pilla’s Rupamanjari. P.R. M. Mundasseri’s Kavyapedhika. .K. S.Rajaraja Varma.Nair.P. • M. N.Sanskrit Tradition • Break from Samskrit Tradition- A.Guptan Nair.Paul’s Novel Sahityam .V.R. Krishna Warier etc. Literary Criticism • Beginning. Surendran etc. • 20th century. Kumaran Asan by K. Vallathol by V. O. Raman Pillai by P.V.Kesava Pillai and Rantu Sahitya Nayakanmar by Hari Sharma. Biography • 19th century. Unnikrishnan Nair. .Visakham Thirunal- Translation of short biographies from Mander’s Treasury of Great Men. chandu Menon and Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar by Moorkoth Kumaran. Parameswaran Nair.K. Sri Narayana Guru. C. Moorkoth Kumaran. I. Kesava Menon’s Nam Munnott(We Go Forward).Rajaraja Varma. Purna Jivitam(A Complete Life). Essays • Essayists-Kerala Varma.P. and Jivita Cintakal(Thoughts on Life) etc. • Collection of Essays. K. Cherian.M.Eswara Pillai.R. Kunjuraman.P.C.Appan Thampuran’s Mangalamala(5 volumes) K. . Chacko etc. C. Kunhiraman Nayanar (Kesari) . Achutha Menon and Appan Thampuran.R Krishna Pillai. C. O. A.V. R. • Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar’s Varthamanapusthakam.K Pottekkad is another prominent writer of this genre. Kashmir. • Among the recent travelogues. the first travel account in Malayalam was written in 18th C.B. • S. N. Soviet Diary. Simhabhooomi and Nile Diary are well known works. Krishna Varier’s Putumayude Lokam and K. . Kumar’s Mexican Natukalil are noteworthy. Travelogue Very popular in Malayalam Literature. • Mundassery’s China Munnottu and C.V. His Indonesian Diary. Bhaskaran Nair’s Amerikayil Poya Katha are to be noted. Balideep. .M.P. 1958 etc. N. George • P. Parameswaran Nair(Published by the Sahitya Akademi. Govinda Pillai • Kerala Sahitya Charitram . 1958).Mahakavi Ullur Parameswara Iyer • Sahitya Charitram Prasthanagalilute- Edited by K. Krishnapillai(Kairaliyute Katha. Histories of Malayalam Literature • History of Malayalam Literature.K. Children’s Literature • Mathew M. Poompatta. Balayugam by Janayugam publications etc. .Balan • Balan publicatios brought out over 250 books • The Writers Co-operative society has brought out over 50 books • Balarama by Malayala Manorama. Kuzhiveli. Movements • Bhakti Movement • Social Revolt • Nationalism • Progressive Movement . Sahitya Pravartaka Co-operative Society(1945) which also have contributed to the development of Malayalam literature and Indian culture. . CONCLUSION Other than the above mentioned forms of literatures. Sahitya Parishad (1932). Kerala Sahitya Akademi(1956). and movements there are many institutions and organizations like Bhashaposhini Sabha. THANK YOU .