

His another work Chemmeen (shrimps), is a story of the fishermen community of Purakkad in Kuttanad. His description and picturisation have a real life force which is appreciable. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Rantitangazhi (Two measures of paddy) focuses on the lower community. Malayattoor Ramakrishnan was popular through his Verukal (roots) and Yantrom (machine). His yet another novel Asuravittu (Dragon seed) also has as its theme, the conflicts and problems of a Nair Family. Vasudevan Nair’s (1933) Naalukettu picturizes the feudalship and its associated struggles. The novel deals with the disparity that existed between the orthodox Muslims, and the progressive Muslims.ĭuring this time feudalism was the cause of social distancing, and many other social ills in different communities. Yet, another work of Basheer which has won international acclaim is ‘Ntuppaappaakkoraanendaarunnu’ (Me Grandad ‘ad an elephant) (1951). The passages in this novel are exquisite. Basheer’s Baalyakaala sakhi (Playmate of childhood) is a brilliant exposure of the fate of two young lovers. Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer with his unique style and rare humour wrote works portraying the Muslim community. The late forties was the time of “Progressive literature” in Kerala. Kochu Thresia (1964) by Joseph Mattom, also belong to this group. Latter Ponjikkara Rafi wrote Papikal in 1949. Novels on Christian life were written by Kochuthomman (1892), and Kocheeppan Tharakan. The first Malayalam novel that dealt with the socially backward classes was Saraswathy Vijayam by Kunjambu in 1892. Kerala Simham (1941) by K.M.Panikkar has an epic quality about it. Paarappuram by Kurukkal was the first political novel and Bhaskara Menon (1904) by Appan Thampuran was the first detective novel.Īppan Thampuran’s novel Bhuta Rayar (1923) is a portrayal of Kerala in the second century. C.V., thus was the person who paved the way for the historical novel. C.V.’s language was highly dramatic and intense that still it is considered to be a unique contribution in the annals of Kerala’s literary history. Marthanda Varma has in it both history and romance. in his novels portrays a time when Kerala was ruled by the princes and the nairs. It was followed by his other works, namely, Dharma Raja (1913), and Rama Raja Bahadur (2vols.) (1917-1920). Raman Pillai published his novel Marthanda Varma. Due to his death in 1899, Chandu Menon was not able to complete the second part of Sarada. The second novel of Chandu Menon was Sarada, which was published in 1892. The author has attacked the feudal lordship, and the Namboodiri-Nair marriage pact called Sambandham which was prevalent during those times. It was an attack against the Namboodiri community which was steeped in conservatism. Indulekha was a strong critique of the existing social situation of the time. The second Malayalam novel was Indulekha (1889) which has taken an English novel as its model. Even before that Malayalam translations of English works were becoming popular.

Kundalatha published in 1887, is considered to be the first Malayalam novel.
