VaikomMuhammad Basheer, popularly referred to as Beypore Sulthan, was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, a humanist and an Indian independence activist. He was a novelist and short story writer noted for his path-breaking, down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well as the common man. His notable works include Balyakalasakhi, Shabdangal, Pathummayude Aadu, Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu, Mathilukal, Janmadinam and Anargha Nimisham and the translations of his works into other languages have earned him worldwide acclaim. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honor of the Padma Shri in 1982. He was also a recipient of the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship, and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He was a recipient of the Vallathol Award in 1993.
Premalekhanam is Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's first work (1943) to be published as a book. The novel is a humorous story of love. Through the hilarious dialogs, Basheer attacks religious Conservatism and the dowry system.
Pathumma's Goat is a 1959 Malayalam novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The characters of the novel are members of his family and the action takes place at his home in Thalayolaparambu. The goat in the story belongs to his sister Pathumma. Basheer begins the novel with an alternative title for the book, Pennungalude Buddhi.
Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love each other passionately. Despite being imprisoned and separated by a huge wall that divides their prisons, the two romance each other.
Shabdangal ("Voices") is a 1947 novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer which talks about war, orphanhood, hunger, disease and prostitution. The whole length of the novel is a dialogue between a soldier and a writer. The soldier approaches the writer and tells him the story of his life. The writer takes down notes and asks questions to the soldier, and gives answers of his own to the soldier's questions. The novel faced heavy criticism at the time of its publication for its violence and vulgarity.
Thalayolaparambu is a town situated in Kottayam district in Kerala, India. Spanning over an area of 19.3 square kilometres with a population of 22,571 people, this mini-town is home to some of the well-known personalities such as the former Chief minister of Travancore-Cochin A. J. John, Anaparambil, the late Malayalam novelist/writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, the former Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan,and KK. Thalayolaparambu also hosts the major market established during the administration of Velu Thampi Dalawa, and is one of those few Keralite markets that still retains its old-world charm till date.
Balyakalasakhi is a 1967 Malayalam film, directed by J. Sasikumar. It is an adaptation of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's famous novel of the same name. Basheer himself wrote the screenplay and dialogues. Balyakalasakhi and Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) are the only films for which Basheer has written the screenplay. The film's story revolves around Majeed and Suhra, who have been in love with each other from childhood.
Mathilukal (transl. Walls) is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language film written, directed, and produced by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The film focuses on the prison life of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and the love between him and Narayani, a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the film. Mammootty plays the role of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer while K. P. A. C. Lalitha gives voice to Narayani. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival.
Mucheettukalikkarante Makal is a novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1951. Written in the colloquial tongue and filled with exceptional humour, the novel remains a best seller in Malayalam literature.
Anuragathinte Dinangal is a book by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1983. The author himself has traced Anuragathinte Dinangal to the diary he had kept of a Hindu girl's love for him frustrated by the objection from her parents and Basheer's refusal to hurt them. The book was originally titled Kaamukante Diary but was changed later on the suggestion of author M. T. Vasudevan Nair.
Anargha Nimisham is a collection of short stories by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1946. Unlike other works by Basheer which are filled with humour and satire, stories of Anargha Nimisham mostly deal with philosophical and spiritual aspects.
"Ente Thankam" is a short story written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It is his first published work. Originally published in the now-defunct newspaper Jayakesari in 1937, it was later published in the collection Vishappu under the name "Thankam". A path-breaker in Malayalam romantic fiction, it had its heroine a dark-complexioned hunchback.
Visappu (Hunger) is a collection of short stories by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1954. The collection includes Basheer's first story "Ente Thankam" which is titled "Thankam" in the book. This story originally appeared in the Ernakulam-based newspaper Jayakesari in the year 1937. The other stories include "Visappu" (Hunger), "Marunnu" (Medicine) and "Pishachu" (Devil). Visappu is considered as a modern classic in south Asian literature.
Ormayude Arakal is a collection of memoirs by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer originally serialised in Chandrika Weekly and published as a book by National Book Stall in 1973. It is a rambling, incomplete kind of autobiography by the noted Malayalam author. The book also includes Basheer's conversations with Sreedharan, B. M. Gafoor, P. K. Muhammad, M. A. Hakim, K. K. Amu, I. V. Sasi, and Punalur Rajan.
Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakahalam is a book by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1992. The book includes the speech given by Basheer on the occasion of being conferred the Doctor of Letters by University of Calicut on 19 January 1987. It was the last book of Basheer published during his lifetime.
Balyakalasakhi is a 2014 Malayalam language film adaptation of the famous novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The romantic musical drama film was written and directed by debutante Pramod Payyannur and stars Mammootty, Isha Talwar, Meena, Seema Biswas, KPAC Lalitha and Mamukkoya in lead roles.
Ronald Eaton Asher was a British linguist and educator specialised in Dravidian languages. He was a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1964), a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1991), and an honorary fellow of the Sahitya Akademi.
Manthrikappoocha is a short novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1968. It is one of the most famous among his works. The story of this novel revolves around a cat came to basheer's house. Also events happened in his and neighbours house with this cat. The narration of the story is filled with pleasant humour and anecdotes from Muslim and Hindu religious lore.
"Vishwavikhyathamaya Mookku" is a short story written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and published in 1954 in an anthology of the same name. The story is regarded as a classic in Malayalam literature.
"Neelavelicham" is a short story written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Beginning with the introduction of one of the miracles of the narrator's life, the story is about the tender relationship that develops between a young writer who must live in a house notorious for being haunted and the ghost of a girl who is believed to haunt the house. The story is included in the collection Pavapettavarude Veshya.
