THAKAZHI SIVASANKARA PILLAI

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

         Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (17 April 1912 - 10 April 1999) was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to historic detail. He has written several novels and over 600 short stories. His most famous works are Kayar (the Rope, 1978), Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956; film adaptation, 1965), Enipadikal (1964) and Randidangazhi (1948). He was awarded the Indian government's highest literary award, the Jnanpith in 1984.

Born in the village of Thakazhi, in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district of Kerala, he studied law at Thiruvananthapuram. Kesari A. Balakrishna Pillai whom he met there was his literary mentor.

Thottiyude makan (1947) is considered a pioneer work in Malayalam realistic novel. It is about modernity challenging the rationale of the caste system, that one's profession should depend on pedigree. Thakazhi has been known to often write an entire novel within one weekend. The novel Chemmeen, for example, was written within one weekend.

His novels and short stories basically discussed various aspects of societies in Kerala in the mid-20th century. His novel Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947) is considered a pioneer work in Malayalam realistic novel. It is about modernity challenging the rationale of the caste system, that one's profession should depend on pedigree.

His political novel, Randidangazhi, (Two Measures, 1948) projected the evils of the feudal system that prevailed in Kerala then, especially in Kuttanad. The film adaptation, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam from a screenplay by Thakazhi himself, received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards in 1958.

His love epic Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956) which was a departure from his earlier line of realism, met with immense popularity. It told a tragic love story set in the backdrop of a fishing village in  Alapuzha.The novel and its film adaptataion, also titled Chemmeen (1965) earned him national and international fame. Chemmeen was translated into 19 world languages and adapted as film in 15 countries. Chemmeen won for Thakazhi the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1958. The film adaptation, directed by  Ramu kariat won the  National Film Award  for Best Film in 1965.

Despite the populairy of Chemmeen, his novel Kayar (Coir, 1978) is quite widely considered as his masterpiece.

Details of his works

 Novels

• Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947
• Randidangazhi (Two Measures, 1948
• Thentivargam (The Beggar Clan, 1950)
• Chemmeen (Prawns,
• Enippadikal (Footsteps, 1964
• Anubhavangal Palichakal (Experiences and Failures, 1967)
• Kayar (Coir, 1978; transl. into English, New Delhi, 1997)
• Erinjadangal (Extinguishing, 1990)

Short stories

• Theranjetuttha Kathakal (Selected Short Stories, 1965)
• Inguilab (1952)
• Pathivratha (Chaste Wife, 1946)
• Njaan Piranna Natu (The Land Where I was Born, 1958)
• Kure Kathapaathrangal (A number of Characters, 1980)

 Autobiographies

• Ente Balykala Katha (My Childhood Story, 1967)
• Ormayude Theerangalil (On the Shores of Memory, 1985)
• Oru Kuttanaatan Katha (A Story of Kuttanad, 1992)
• Jeevithathinte Oru Edu (A Page of Life, 1993)

                                                              Prof. John Kurakar