Kesavan's Lamentations

Last updated

Kesavan's Lamentations
Author M. Mukundan
Original titleKesavante Vilapangal
TranslatorA. J. Thomas
CountryIndia
Language Malayalam
GenreNovel
Publisher DC Books, Rupa & Co.
Publication date
1999 (1999)
Published in English
2006 (2006)
Awards Vayalar Award
Crossword Book Award

Kesavan's Lamentations (original title: Kesavante Vilapangal) is a 1999 Malayalam novel written by M. Mukundan. [1] The novel tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad.

Contents

Plot summary

Written as a story within a story, the book recreates the internal and external chaos involved in the process of Kesavan's writing, as he pens his book, Appukkuttan's Lamentations. The story deals with the life and death of Kesavan as well as with the life and obsessions of the protagonist of Kesavan's book, the boy called Appukkuttan, who deifies E. M. S. Namboodiripad, under whose portrait's gaze he slept and woke as a child. The narrative travels back and forth between Kesavan and Appukkuttan.

Awards

Reviews

Citation for the Crossword Book Award by H. S. Shiva Prakash, Subashree Krishnaswamy and Dilip Kumar:

"Kesavan’s Lamentations is a widely acclaimed work of contemporary fiction in Malayalam, which examines the mystique around E M S Namboodiripad, one of the major icons of Kerala politics. By telescoping divergent narrative positions and techniques in a variety of language registers, Mukundan has created a deeply fascinating novel. Serious and humorous at once, it appeals at different levels to a wide cross-section of readers - an achievement that has earned him the Hutch Crossword Book Award second time around. A J Thomas, well-known translator from Malayalam and an Indian English poet, has recreated successfully in English the resonances and nuances of the source text." [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalam literature</span> Literary traditions of the Malayali people of India

Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. The first travelogue in any Indian language is the Malayalam Varthamanappusthakam, written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar in 1785. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6 Jnanapith awards, the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. K. Balakrishnan</span> Indian novelist and critic

Panikkassery Keshavan "P.K." Balakrishnan was an Indian novelist and critic. A doyen of Malayalam literature, he is best known for his novel, Ini Njan Urangatte, a novel based on Mahabharata as well as a number of critical studies which include Chandu Menon Oru Padanam, Novel Siddhiyum Sadhanayum, Kavyakala Kumaranasaniloode, and Ezhuthachante Kala: Chila Vyasabharatha Patanangalum. His Jathivyavasthayum Kerala Charitravum is a work in social history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N. S. Madhavan</span> Indian writer of Malayalam literature (born 1948)

N. S. Madhavan is an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Known for his novel, Lanthan Batheriyile Luthiniyakal and a host of short stories such as Higuita, Thiruthu, Chulaimedile Shavangal and Vanmarangal Veezhumpol, Madhavan also writes football columns and travel articles. He is a distinguished fellow of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and a recipient of several major awards including Odakkuzhal Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Muttathu Varkey Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, Crossword Book Award and Kerala State Students Federation Sahithyolsav Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O. V. Vijayan</span> Indian writer and cartoonist

Ottupulackal Velukkuty Vijayan, commonly known as O. V. Vijayan, was an Indian author and cartoonist, who was an important figure in modern Malayalam language literature. Best known for his first novel Khasakkinte Itihasam (1969), Vijayan was the author of six novels, nine short-story collections, and nine collections of essays, memoirs and reflections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. Mukundan</span> Indian author

Maniyambath Mukundan is an Indian author of Malayalam literature and former diplomat. He worked as a cultural attaché at the Embassy of France in Delhi from 1961 to 2004, while concurrently working as an author. Many of his early works are set in Mahe (Mayyazhi), his homeland, which earned him the moniker Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran. He is known to be one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature. Some of his best known works include Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil, Daivathinte Vikrithikal, Kesavante Vilapangal, and Pravasam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anand (writer)</span> Indian writer

P. Sachidanandan, who uses the pseudonym Anand, is an Indian writer, writing primarily in Malayalam. He is one of the known living intellectuals in India. His works are noted for their philosophical flavor, historical context and their humanism. He is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and three Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards. He is also a recipient of Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Vayalar Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Muttathu Varkey Award, Vallathol Award and Yashpal Award. He did not accept the Yashpal Award and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel.

<i>Randamoozham</i> 1984 drama novel by M.T Vasudevan Nair

Randamoozham is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language mythological drama novel written by the Indian author M. T. Vasudevan Nair, widely credited as his masterpiece. The work won the Vayalar Award, given for the best literary work in Malayalam, in 1985. It also won the Muttathu Varkey Award in 1994. The novel has been translated to multiple languages. It was translated into English as Second Turn by P. K. Ravindranath in 1997. Another English translation by Gita Krishnankutty published in 2013 is titled Bhima: Lone Warrior.

Moorkkanaat Krishnankutty Menon, better known by his pen name Vilasini, was an Indian writer from Kerala who wrote in Malayalam-language. He is the author of India's longest novel, Avakasikal, for which he won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981 and Vayalar Award in 1983. His first novel Niramulla Nizhalukal won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1966.

<i>Khasakkinte Itihasam</i> 1968 novel by O. V. Vijayan

Khasakkinte Itihasam is the Malayalam debut novel by Indian writer O. V. Vijayan (1930–2005). It was first serialised in 1968 and published as a single edition in 1969. The novel has been translated from Malayalam into French by Dominique Vitalyos.

A. J. Thomas is an Indian poet, translator and editor writing in English. He is best known as editor of Indian Literature, the bimonthly English journal of Sahitya Akademi which he edited till 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subhash Chandran</span> Indian writer

Subhash Chandran is a Malayalam novelist, short story writer and journalist from Kerala, India. His work includes the 2010 novel Manushyanu Oru Aamukham and the stories "Vadhakramam", "Sanmargam", "Parudeesa Nashtam" and "Gotham", which have been adapted into films. Chandran is the only writer to receive Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for both his debut story collection (2001) and debut novel (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. R. Meera</span> Indian writer

K. R. Meera is an Indian author and journalist, who writes in Malayalam. She was born in Sasthamkotta, Kollam district in Kerala. She worked as a journalist in Malayala Manorama but later resigned to concentrate more on writing. She started writing fiction in 2001 and her first short story collection Ormayude Njarambu was published in 2002. Since then she has published five collections of short stories, two novellas, five novels and two children's books. She won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009 for her short-story, Ave Maria. Her novel Aarachaar (2012) is widely regarded as one of the best literary works produced in Malayalam language. It received several awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2013), Odakkuzhal Award (2013), Vayalar Award (2014) and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (2015). It was also shortlisted for the 2016 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.

Daivathinte Vikrithikal is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Lenin Rajendran, who also co-wrote the screenplay with M. Mukundan, based on Mukundan's novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Alphonso, a man who chooses to suffer a slow, torturous life in his little village, Mahe, in preference to fortunes and pleasures away from it. The film stars Raghuvaran, Srividya, Rajan P. Dev and Malavika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sethu (writer)</span> Indian writer

A. Sethumadhavan, popularly known as Sethu, is a Malayalam fiction writer. He has published more than 35 books. He won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for the work Adayalangal. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards in 1982 and 1978 for his works Pandavapuram and Pediswapnangal; and Vayalar Award for Adyalangal in 2006. He also won Odakkuzhal award for his novel Marupiravi. Sethu's other literary works include Velutha Koodarangal, Thaliyola, Kiratham, Niyogam, Sethuvinte Kathakal and Kaimudrakal. He also served as the chairman and CEO of the South Indian Bank. In 2022, he won the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, highest literary honour of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benyamin (writer)</span> Indian writer

Benny Daniel, better known by his penname Benyamin, is an Indian writer in Malayalam from Kerala. He is the author of about thirty books in various genres – from short stories to novels and memoirs. For his novel Goat Days (Aadujeevitham), he won the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and JCB Prize, and was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize. The novel Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal won the Vayalar Award in 2021. Beyond novel writing, in 2023, he made his debut in the Malayalam film industry as a screenwriter by co-writing the script of the film Christy with novelist G. R. Indugopan. And also, his magnum opus novel Aadujeevitham has been adapted by director Blessy into a film,The Goat Life. Which will be releasing on 28th March 2024.

<i>Delhi Gadhakal</i> 2011 novel by M. Mukundan

Delhi Gadhakal is a Malayalam language novel by M. Mukundan. It was first published as a book by D. C. Books in November 2011. The novel portrays the various events that greatly influenced the author's life during the 40 years spent in New Delhi, since 1962. The novel has as protagonist a leftist Kerala youth, named Sahadevan, who had the shock of his life when he landed in Delhi to hear the news of Chinese attack on India. It was translated from Malayalam by Fathima E. V. and Nandakumar K. under the title Delhi: A Soliloquy.

<i>Kayar</i> 1978 novel by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

Kayar (transl.Coir) is a 1978 Malayalam epic novel written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. Widely considered one of the most seminal works in Malayalam literature, Kayar received many major literary awards, including the Vayalar Award.

The Malayalam novel is an important part of Malayalam literature. This article focuses on novels, written in Malayalam language, a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. J. James</span> Author

V. J. James is an Indian writer who primarily writes in Malayalam language. His first book, Purapaadinte Pusthakam, was published by DC Books as the winning work in the novel competition conducted as a part of its 25th anniversary celebration in 1999. His novel Nireeshwaran, which explores the clashes between theism and atheism, won several awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Vayalar Award.

<i>Ini Njan Urangatte</i> 1973 novel by P. K. Balakrishnan

Ini Njan Urangatte is a Malayalam-language novel written by P. K. Balakrishnan in 1973. The novel's inspiration is the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. It may be regarded as a historically notable Malayalam-language novel as it has become a yardstick for epic Malayalam fiction, spawning many Mahabharata based-novels.

References

  1. Prema Jayakumar (12 February 2007). "EMS Apart: Book review - M Mukundan's Kesavan's Lamentations". India Today . Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  2. "Vayalar award presented to Mukundan". The Hindu . 28 October 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Kesavan's Lamentations" Archived 2015-02-24 at the Wayback Machine . Crossword Bookstores. Retrieved 2 July 2013.