Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai – Malayalam Writer Also Known as Kerala’s Maupassant

Month of April – it’s significant to all Malayalam readers who admire great writer Thakazhi’s works. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, fondly called Thakazhi; both birth and death anniversary fall on this month, quite co-incidence.  His works are mostly concentrated on the lower class people; and a sketch of the economic and social status of Kerala when those works were written. He sketched in detail, poverty and hatred prevailed in the society during mid-1900s, and how lower classes were ignored. So definitely his works can be categorized as books which fought against social evils and injustice shown towards poor.

Thyaagathinte Prathibhalam – His first novel

His first written novel was Thyaagathinte Prathibhalam, and ‘Vellapokkathil’ – from his first story collection got noticed almost the same time when he wrote his first novel. ‘Randidangazhi’ is widely regarded as one of his greatest works, and he told the life of Kuttanad people through this famous novel which portrayed three generations of a working-class family engaged in Alleppey as scavengers.

Chemmeen – Screen adaption of his famous novel with the same name

Chemmeen achieved cult classic status in Malayalam cinema, and anonymously regarded as one of the greatest films ever made in Mollywood. Thakazhi told the story of fishermen through his classic novel, which was later adapted on big screen and earned several awards at national level. The movie also earned him international fame as a writer. The novel published in 1956 also bagged him Kendra Sahitya Academy Award. Among all Malayalam novels, Chemmeen holds the distinction of being translated to other languages maximum number of times.

His other major works – Kayar, Enippadikal and many more

Kayar is widely regarded as his masterpiece which helped him to bag many major literary awards including the Jnanpith, India’s highest literary honour, and Vayalar award. He sketched 250 years and 5 generations through this single work which took long three years to complete. He traced days from ‘Kandezhuth’ law during King’s rule to the latest mid-twentieth century of Travancore Kingdom and man’s bonding with land in different generations through the second biggest novel of Malayalam literature – Kayar.

His famous work, Enippadikal also later adapted to big screen and earned several accolades at state and national level. State Academy Award winning book – Enippadikal told the story of a clerk who reaches till the position of Chief Secretary. Chukku, Thottiyude Makan, Ente Vakkeel Jeevitham and Anubhavangal Paalichakal are other major works.

He also wrote short stories, dramas and travelogues

Many of his novels have been adapted to silver screen, including Chemmeen, Anubhavangal Paalichakal, Enippadikal and Randidangazhi. Apart from novels, stories, dramas and travelogues, he also wrote auto biographies.

He is also known by the titles – Kerala’s Maupassant and Legend of Kuttanad (Kuttanadinte Ithihaasam). He passed away on April 10 1999, just one week before his 87^th birthday and his home, Shankara Mangalam is now preserved as museum by state government of Kerala.

An easy method to by-heart Thakizhi’s famous works

This trick can help you to memorize majority of Thakizhi’s works easily. Have a look. Extremely sorry, if you can’t read Malayalam. Apologies.

Read a few more articles on some of the stalwarts of Malayalam literature belonging to different eras. Here is the page link. Click on the images in the gallery to read