Mali Madhavan Nair

V. Madhavan Nair (1914–1994) more popularly known as Mali Madhavan Nair was an Indian lawyer, journalist, sportsman, musicologist, kathakali playwright, dramatist, editor and a pioneer in radio broadcasting. Other posts he held include editorial board member of ''Free Press Journal'' (Mumbai), editor of National Book Trust, station director of All India Radio, director of cultural affairs of Travancore Devaswom Board, chief editor of Kerala Nirmithi Kendram. As a journalist he wrote on arts, literature, Indian architecture and sports for a variety of English publications like ''The Hindu'', ''The Statesman'' and Malayalam periodicals like '' Mathrubhumi''.

He is more famous for his children's books he wrote under pseudonym "Mali".

Early life

Mali was born on 6 December 1914 in Thiruvananthapuram to T. K. Veluppillai and Bhagavathiyamma. His father, also known as Sadasya Thilakan, was the first elected Deputy Speaker of the Travancore Legislative Assembly, Emeritus Professor of the Law College and member of the Senate of Travancore and Madras Universities. As a youth he was a good tennis player.

Career as Kathakali dramatist

His work ''Karnashapatham'', is the most successful kathakali play written in the 20th century.
It saw more than 5000 stage performances during Mali's lifetime. It is deemed a classic by virtue of its theme and the innovative ingredients woven together. Compared to other kathakali plays, ''Karnasapatham'' is short, about three and half hours. Typical kathakali plays go on from dusk to dawn. The use of simple Malayalam in the lyrics or ''padams'' and the use of ragas such as Reethigowla and Hindolam, some of them for the first time in kathakali, added to its popular appeal. All the padams were written and tuned by Mali himself. It was first sung on stage by Vaikom Thankappan Pillai.

Children's author

He wrote about fifty novels and short stories for children. He was also editor of ''Malika'' a magazine for children. His retelling of Mahabharatha and Ramayana for children made him a household name. His novels ''Circus'' and ''Porattam'' were standard reading for the Kerala 7th standard syllabus.

Major works

*''Unnikale Katha Parayam'' (1954)
*''Unnikalkku Janthukathakal'' (1957)
*''Unnikkathakal'' (1967)
*''Mali Ramayanam'' (1962)
*''Mali Bhagavatham'' (1968)
*''Karnashapatham Attakkatha''( 1969)
*''Jeevanulla Prathima'' (1979)
*''Mali Bharatham'' (1979)
*''Mandakkazhutha'' (1979)
*''Circus'' (1979)
*''Sarvajithum Kallakkadathum'' (1979)
*''Thenali Raman'' (1981)
*''Vikramaditya Kathakal'' (1981)
*''Purana Katha Malika'' (1981-12 volumes)
*''Aitihya Lokam'' (1986)
*''Kishkindha''
*''Anchu Minute Kathakal''

Death

Mali, who suffered from various ailments, died on 2 July 1994 aged 79 at Thiruvananthapuram. His body was cremated with full state honours.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Mali Madhavan
Indian children's writers
1914 births
1994 deaths
People from the Kingdom of Travancore
Malayalam-language writers
Writers from Thiruvananthapuram
20th-century Indian novelists
Indian male novelists
Novelists from Kerala
20th-century Indian male writers
Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award