Kizhakkepainummoodu Easo Mathai, better known by his
pen name
A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...
Parappurath (1924–1981), was an Indian novelist, short story writer and screenwriter who wrote in the
Malayalam language
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...
. His body of work comprises 20 novels, 14 short story anthologies and 15 screenplays. He was a recipient of the
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story (1966),
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel
The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a novel of literary merit. It is one of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award#Awards, twel ...
(1968) and
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Story is an honour, begun in 1969, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Award of India to a writer for the best story in a Malayalam film. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Departme ...
(twice 1970 and 1972), amongst other honours.
Biography
K. E. Mathai was born on 14 November 1924 in Kunnam, a small village near
Mavelikkara in
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district (), is one of the 14 Districts of Kerala, districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to ''Alapp ...
of the south Indian state of
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
to Kizhakkepainummoottil Kunjunaina Easo and Sosamma.
His early schooling was at the local primary school in Kunnam and later, he joined
Chettikulangara High School but he could not complete his education as his father died in 1939, leaving Mathai to take over the responsibility of the family. Subsequently, he joined the
Indian Army
The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...
in 1944 as a
havildar
Havildar or havaldar ( Hindustani: or (Devanagari), (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry and armoured units, where the equivalent is daffadar.
Like a British sergea ...
in
Pioneer Corps.
He served the army for 21 years before superannuating from service in 1965. On his return to Kerala, he founded ''Saritha Press'', in Mavelikkara.
Mathai was married to Ammini, the marriage taking place in 1952. He died on 30 December 1981, at the age of 57.
Legacy
Parappurath, who earned the moniker "story teller of
Onattukara" after his birthplace, wrote 20 novels and 14 short story anthologies;
his 21st novel, ''Kaanaapponnu'', was incomplete at the time of his death and was later completed by
K. Surendran.
His multiple award-winning novel, ''
Ara Nazhika Neram'', was later adapted as a
movie under the same name. Six of his other novels (''
Omana'', ''
Panitheeraatha Veedu'', ''
Ninamaninja Kaalppaadukal'', ''
Aadyakiranangal'', ''
Makane Ninakku Vendi'' and ''
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla'') were also made into films.
He also wrote a play, ''Velicham Kuranja Vazhikal'' and a memoirs, ''Marikkatha Ormmakal''.
Parappurath was involved with literary organizations such as the
Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (SPCS), where he sat on the Board of Directors from 1974 to 1977, and again from 1980; in 1981, he was elected as its president, a position he held at the time of his death.
His film career covered 15 screenplays, of which 14 were based on his own stories.
Altogether, he wrote dialogues for 19 films and acted a small part in ''Aranazhika Neram''.
Awards and honours
Parappurath received the ''Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham Award'' for his work, ''Naalalu Naaluvazhi'' in 1965. When
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
The Kerala Sahitya Akademi or Academy for Malayalam Literature is an autonomous body established to promote the Malayalam language and Malayalam literature, literature. It is situated in the city of Thrissur, Kerala in India.
History
The acad ...
instituted an
annual award for the best short story in 1966, his ''Naalalu Naaluvazhi'' was again selected for the inaugural award.
Two years later, Akademi honoured him again with the
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel
The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a novel of literary merit. It is one of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award#Awards, twel ...
in 1968, ''
Ara Nazhika Neram'' earning him the award.
He received the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Story is an honour, begun in 1969, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Award of India to a writer for the best story in a Malayalam film. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Departme ...
twice, in 1970 for
Aranazhika Neram and in 1972, for
Panitheeratha Veedu.
He was also a recipient of the M. P. Paul Literary Prize.
Bibliography
Novels
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Short stories
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Play
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Memoirs
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Translations
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Movies
Screenplay
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Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
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Anweshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
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Manaswini (1968)
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Aparaadhini (1968)
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Anadha (1970)
* Sthree (1970)
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Karinizhal (1971)
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Makane Ninakku Vendi (1971)
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Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972)
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Akkarappacha (1972)
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Omana (1972)
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Panitheeraatha Veedu (1973)
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Thottavadi (1973)
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Ee Manoharatheeram (1978)
Story
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Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
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Aadyakiranangal (1964)
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Anweshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
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Manaswini (1968)
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Anadha (1970)
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Aranazhika Neram (1970)
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Makane Ninakku Vendi (1971)
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Akkarappacha (1972)
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Omana (1972)
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Panitheeraatha Veedu (1973)
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Thottavadi (1973)
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Ee Manoharatheeram (1978)
Dialogue
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Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
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Tharavattamma (1966)
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Anweshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
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Manaswini (1968)
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Aparaadhini (1968)
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Anadha (1970)
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Moodalmanju (1970)
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Aranazhika Neram (1970)
* Sthree (1970)
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Karinizhal (1971)
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Makane Ninakku Vendi (1971)
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Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972)
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Akkarappacha (1972)
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Omana (1972)
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Panitheeraatha Veedu (1973)
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Thottavadi (1973)
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Makkal (1975)
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Ee Manoharatheeram (1978)
Acting
*Aranaazhikaneram (1970).... Chacko
References
External links
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{{authority control
Malayali people
Writers from Alappuzha district
Novelists from Kerala
Malayalam-language novelists
Malayalam short story writers
Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
Malayalam screenwriters
Male actors from Kerala
1981 deaths
20th-century Indian novelists
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Indian male film actors
Indian male novelists
20th-century Indian short story writers
Screenwriters from Kerala
20th-century Indian male writers
1924 births
20th-century Indian screenwriters