Zero Degree is a 1998 postmodern, transgressive, lipogrammatic novel by Tamil author Charu Nivedita, who is based in India. It was later translated into Malayalam and English.
Zero Degree is a 1998 postmodern, transgressive, lipogrammatic novel by Tamil author Charu Nivedita, who is based in India. It was later translated into Malayalam and English.
Zero Degree follows the life of a protagonist who navigates through a series of surreal and chaotic events. The narrative is non-linear and fragmented, reflecting the protagonist's fragmented psyche. The story delves into themes of identity, sexuality, and existential angst, with vivid and often disturbing imagery. The protagonist encounters various characters and situations that challenge conventional norms and societal expectations.
The novel is known for its experimental style, incorporating elements of phone sex conversations, nightmarish torture scenes, tender love poems, numerology, mythology, and compulsive name-dropping of Latin American intellectuals. It's a journey through the deepest psychic wounds of humanity, exploring the boundaries of human experience and consciousness.
| Year | Awards and accolades | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Jan Michalski Prize [1] [2] | Longlisted for the 2013 edition |
| 2013 | 50 Writers, 50 Books - The Best of Indian Fiction | Book published by HarperCollins [3] [4] |
| 2014 | important novel in the Metafiction genre [5] | Considered by The Sunday Guardian |
| 2017 | Fifteen lesser known but incredible Indian novels. [6] | Selected in by Mensxp.com |
Keeping with the numerological theme of Zero Degree, the only numbers expressed in either words or symbols are numerologically equivalent to nine (with the exception of two chapters). This Oulipian ban includes the very common word one (only in Tamil edition).
Constrained writing is a literary technique in which the writer is bound by some condition that forbids certain things or imposes a pattern.
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.
Rakesh Roshan is an Indian film producer, director, screenwriter and actor who works in Hindi films. He had appeared in 84 films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As an actor, he was mostly known for his supporting roles in big-budget films. Later, his prominence increased, and he achieved fame for directing films with titles beginning with the letter "K" since 1987.
The Lawrence School, Lovedale, is a fee-charging co-educational public boarding school located at Lovedale, a hill station on the Nilgiri Mountains in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Charu Nivedita aka Charu is a Tamil writer based in Chennai, India.
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon was an Indian poet of Malayalam literature. Known for his works such as Kudiyozhikkal, Kannikkoythu and Mambazham, Menon was the founder president of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, an organisation of Kerala-based artists, writers and art and literature enthusiasts. He was a recipient of several honours including Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry, Vayalar Award and Odakkuzhal Award.
R. Leela Devi was an Indian writer, translator, and teacher who wrote in English, Malayalam, and Sanskrit. She was from the state of Kerala.
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri was an Indian writer and scholar of Malayalam literature. Known primarily for his poems, Namboothiri also contributed to other genres such as essays, translations and children's literature. Swathanthrathe Kurichu Oru Geetham, Bhoomigeethangal, Indiayenna Vikaaram and Charulata count among his notable works. The Government of India honored him with the fourth highest civilian award of the Padma Shri in 2014 and the Government of Kerala awarded him the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary award in Malayalam, the same year. He was also a recipient of Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions, Asan Prize, Sahitya Akademi Award and Odakkuzhal Award.
Uday Prakash is a Hindi poet, scholar, journalist, translator and short story writer from India. He has worked as administrator, editor, researcher, and TV director. He writes for major dailies and periodicals as a freelancer. He has also received several awards for his collection of short stories and poems. With Mohan Das he received Sahitya Academi Awards in 2011. He is the first author to return his Sahitya Akademi award on September 3, 2015 against the killing of M. M. Kalburgi that initiated a storm of national protests by writers, artists, scholars and intellectuals.
Chemmeen is a Malayalam novel written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai in 1956. Chemmeen tells the story of the relationship between Karuthamma, the daughter of a Hindu fisherman, and Pareekutti, the son of a Muslim fish wholesaler.
New generation films is a Malayalam film movement developed in the early 2010s, characterized by fresh and unusual themes and new narrative techniques. Films of the new wave differ from conventional themes of the past two decades and introduced several new trends and techniques to the Malayalam film industry. While the new generation formats and styles are deeply influenced by global trends, their thematics are firmly rooted in Malayalee life and mindscapes.
Swapaanam is a 2014 Indian Malayalam film directed by Shaji N. Karun and produced by M. Rajan for Horizon Entertainments. The film features Jayaram and Kadambari in the lead roles, alongside Siddique, Vineeth, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy in supporting roles. The music was composed by Sreevalsan J Menon, while the script was written by Harikrishnan and Sajeev Pazhoor, based on Shaji’s own story. The film was screened in the Dubai International Film Festival.
100 Degree Celsius is a 2014 Malayalam film written and directed by Rakesh Gopan. A women-centric thriller scripted by Rakesh Gopan, it stars Shwetha Menon, Meghna Raj, Bhama, Ananya, and Haritha Parokod. Based on a real-life incident, 100 Degree Celsius revolves around the lives of five women – a housewife, banker, IT professional, TV reporter, and a college student. The film started shooting in June 2013. 100 Degrees Celsius will be Malayalam cinema's first two-part film. It is produced under the banner of R.R. Entertainments. The film's cinematographer is Satyanarayanan and music director is Gopi Sundar.
Thathamangalam Damodaran Ramakrishnan is an Indian novelist, translator, and retired Chief Controller in Southern Railway. He has authored two best-selling Malayalam novels: Francis Itty Cora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki. He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Vayalar Award.
Ente Mezhuthiri Athazhangal is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Sooraj Tom. It was written by Anoop Menon who also stars in the lead role alongside Miya. The film also features an ensemble supporting cast that includes Dileesh Pothan, Lal Jose, Baiju, Alencier Ley Lopez, V. K. Prakash, Hannah Reji Koshy, Srikant Murali and Nisa NP, The songs featured in the film are composed by M. Jayachandran. Anoop Menon signed Rahul Raj to compose the background score of the movie. The movie was released on 27 July 2018 to theatres and was well acclaimed.
G. Balasubramanian served as the Vice-Chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, India, from 4 October 2018 to 3 October 2021.
Lion is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language political thriller film written by Udaykrishna-Sibi K. Thomas and directed by Joshiy. The film stars Dileep, Kalasala Babu, Kavya Madhavan and Vijayaraghavan alongside a supporting cast that include Jagathy Sreekumar, Innocent, Sai Kumar, Shammi Thilakan, Riyaz Khan and Karthika. The film was produced by Noushad and distributed by Shan Entertainment. The film received positive reviews and was a blockbuster at the box office. It was remade in Tamil as Nam Naadu and in Telugu as Evadaithe Nakenti.
V. Anil Kumar popularly known as Anil Vallathol is a Malayalam language writer and academic from Kerala, India. Anil hails from the family of the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon.