Check back every Thursday for a new set of five! Today we have Mukundan, Pottekkatt, Perumbadavam Sreedharan, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan and Lalithambika Antharjanam.
Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil by M. Mukundan
Widely regarded as the author's magnum opus, the novel explores the political and social background of Mahé (Mayyazhi), the former French colony, through the ideological divisions within the families at the time. The elders were loyal to the French rulers and believed in the romantic charm of the colonial rule, while the new generation, led by Kanaran and Dasan, wanted to merge with India. It was also translated into English and French.
Oru Theruvinte Katha by S. K. Pottekkatt
Winner of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, the novel deals with a different set of characters in each chapter. But they are tied back to Kuruppu, a newspaper street vendor, because they are all a part of the exclusive group that is sold a particular ‘Gandharvan’ magazine, which appears to be a local version of a men's magazine.
Oru Sankeerthanam Pole by Perumbadavam Sreedharan
Set in the city of Saint Petersburg, it deals with the life of the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his love affair with Anna who would later become his wife. The book was translated into many Indian and foreign languages including Hindi and English.
Verukal by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
Translated as Roots by V. Abdulla
The novel tells the story of a family of Tamil speaking Iyers who settled in Kerala. Driven by the return of its protagonist, Raghu to his native village after a lapse of several years, it traces his journey to raise money for the construction of a city mansion after selling his ancestral home under the influence of his shrewish and domineering wife.
Agnisakshi by Lalithambika Antharjanam
Translated as Agnisakshi by Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan
The novel tells the story of a Nambudiri woman who is drawn into the struggle for social and political emancipation but cannot easily shake off the chains of tradition that bind her. Concerned with the implied criticism of aspects of social structure and behaviour, it won Antharjanam the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.
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