# Perumbadavam Sreedharan

Perumbadavam Sreedharan (born 12 February 1938) is a Malayalam author from Kerala, India. He is former chairman of Kerala Sahitya Akademi. He has written several novels and short stories. One of his best known novels is Oru Sankeerthanam Pole (1993) for which he won the Vayalar Award in 1996. He got Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Ashtapadi. In 2006, he was awarded the Malayattoor Award for his novel, Narayanam.
Born in the village of Perumpadavam, in Elanji Panchayath Piravom, Ernakulam district of Kerala, Perumpadavam (as he is often called) started his literary career by writing poetry. He later shifted to short stories and novels. Perumpadavam has also authored scripts for 12 Malayalam films. He has been noted for his connection with the Russian language and is recognised by some as a doyen of Malayalam literature.

## Oru Sankeerthanam Pole

The novel Oru Sankeerthanam Pole was first published in 1993 and was released in its 37th edition on 1 November 2008 after setting publishing records in 2005. It is a story based on the life of famous Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his wife Anna. This highly successful novel has sold over 100,000 copies in about 12 years. This is a record in Malayalam literature. The book surpassed 100th edition, with above 200,000 copies in about 24 years.

## List of works

Perumpadavam's works include:

### Novels

| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
| 1959 | Aval Oru Hoori Ayirunnu | Champakulam: BKM | |
| 1963 | Anthivelichavum Kumkumapookkalum | Champakulam: BKM | |
| 1963 | Chillu Kottaram | Kollam: Sreeramavilasom | |
| 1963 | Poovu Kaanatha Kaavukal | Tiruvalla: Southern | |
| 1963 | Sarppakavu | Champakulam: BKM | |
| 1967 | Abhayam (The Shelter) | Kottayam: SPCS | Based on the life of writer Rajalakshmi Adapted into the 1970 film of the same name |
| 1970 | Ente Vazhi Ninte Vazhi | Kottayam: NBS | |
| 1970 | Nilavinte Bhangi | Irinjalakuda: Janmabhumi | |
| 1971 | Ayilyam | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1971 | Kaalvariyilekku Veendum | Moovattupuzha: Victory | |
| 1974 | Ashtapadi | Kottayam: SPCS | Adapted into the 1983 film of the same name |
| 1975 | Aayiram Katham Doore | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1975 | Sooryadaham | Kottayam: DC Books | Adapted into the 1981 film of the same name |
| 1976 | Jalahomam | Kottayam: Priyamvada | |
| 1977 | Anthiveyilile Ponnu (The Gold in the Dusk) | Kottayam: SPCS | Adapted into the 1982 film of the same name |
| 1977 | Greeshmajwalakal (The Flames of Summer) | Kottayam: SPCS | Adapted into the 1981 film Greeshma Jwala |
| 1978 | Yakshippala | Trivandrum: Prabhatham | |
| 1979 | Karpooram | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1979 | Kallinmel Kallu Sheshikathe | Cochin: CICC | |
| 1981 | Padayani | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1981 | Pinneyum Pookkunna Kadu (The Forest That Bloom Again) | Kottayam: NBS | Adapted into the 1982 film of the same name |
| 1981 | Hridayathile Venal (The Summer in The Heart) | Konni: Venus Book Depot | |
| 1981 | Pakalpooram | Thrissur: Current | |
| 1981 | Iruttil Parakkunna Pakshi (The Bird That Fly in Dark) | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1981 | Yathra (The Journey) | Konni: Venus Book Depot | |
| 1983 | Arkkavum Ilaveyilum | Kottayam: SPCS | Short novels |
| 1983 | Ormakkoru Poomaram | Kottayam: Current | |
| 1983 | Smrithi | | |
| 1984 | Aaranya Geetham | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1984 | Thevaram | Calicut: Poorna | |
| 1985 | Idinju Polinja Lokam | Trivandrum: Vijayodaya | |
| 1986 | Kanneerppaadangal | Moovattupuzha: Victory | |
| 1986 | Gandharvan Kotta | Kottayam: SPCS | New edition titled Kadalkkarayile Veedu (1998) |
| 1987 | Nishagandhi | Konni: Venus | |
| 1987 | Meghachaya | Kottayam: DC Books | |
| 1987 | Sooryane Aninja Sthree (The Woman Who Adorned the Sun) | Trivandrum: Parvathi | |
| 1988 | Ottachilambu (Single Anklet) | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1988 | Thrishna | Cochin: Poompatta | |
| 1989 | Ente Hridayathinte Udama (The Master of My Heart) | Kottayam: DC Books | Adapted into the 2002 film of the same name |
| 1989 | Ezhamvaathil (The Seventh Gate) | Kottayam: NBS | |
| 1989 | Neerpola | Moovattupuzha: Victory | |
| 1990 | Pradakshina Vazhi | Kottayam: SPCS | |
| 1990 | Mazhanilavu | Trivandrum: Prabhatham | Adapted into the 2002 film of the same name |
| 1991 | Asthamayathinte Kadal | Trivandrum: Prabhatham | |
| 1993 | Oru Sankeerthanam Pole (Like a Hymn) | Kottayam: NBS | With an introduction by V. Rajakrishnan Based on the life of Dostoyevsky and his wife Anna Adapted into the 2016 film In Return: Just a Book |
| 1993 | Idathavalam | Calicut: Poorna | |
| 1993 | Gopurathinu Thazhe | Trivandrum: Prabhatham | |
| 1998 | Aroopiyude Moonnam Pravu | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | |
| 1998 | Kadalkkarayile Veedu | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | New edition of Gandharvan Kotta (1986) |
| 2001 | Vaalmunayil Vacha Manassu | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | |
| 2003 | Sankhumudrayulla Vaal | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | |
| 2004 | Narayanam | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Based on the life of Sri Narayana Guru |
| 2007 | Oru Keeru Akasam | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Based on the life of C. J. Thomas |
| 2007 | Snehathinteyum Maranathinteyum Athiru | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Short novel |
| 2011 | Kadal Pole Kadal | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of two short novels: Sodom Gomorrah, Karutha Nilavu |
| 2020 | Aswaaroodante Varavu | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Based on the life of Alexander the Great |

### Short story collections

| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
| 1961 | Oru Kettuthaliyum Kure Ormakalum (A Wedding Necklace and Many Memories) | Kollam: Sreeramavilasom | Collection of 7 stories |
| 1975 | Parayi Petta Panthirukulam | Kottayam: Vidyarthi Mithram | |
| 1979 | Venalil Pookunna Maram (The Tree That Blossom in Summer) | Kottayam: SPCS | Collection of 25 stories |
| 1997 | Ninte Koodarathinarike (Near Your Tent) | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 6 stories |
| 1996 | Ilathumbukalile Mazha (The Rain at the Leaf's End) | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 20 stories |
| 1998 | Kripanidiyude Kottaram | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 24 stories |
| 2000 | Doorangal Kadannu (A Long Long Way) | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 23 stories |
| 2000 | Daivathinte Kattile Orila (A Leaf from the God's Forest) | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 18 stories |
| 2011 | December | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | |

### Children's literature

| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
| 1965 | Kalampatta Pookkal | Kottayam: Vidyarthi Mithram | 21 stories for children |
| 1968 | Kalidasa Katha | Kottayam: SPCS | Based on the life of Kalidasa |
| 1965 | Virunnu | Kottayam: Vidyarthi Mithram | 39 stories for children |
| 1975 | Yavanapuranathile Aaromunni | Kottayam: SPCS | Based on the story of Theseus |
| 1993 | Nilavinte Bhangi | Trivandrum: Bala Sahitya Institute | With illustrations by G. V. Sreekumar |
| 2000 | Daivathinte Kalippattangal | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | |

### Other works

| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
| 1966 | Bodhivriksham | Thrissur: Current | Play |
| 1966 | Ponpara Kondu Snehamalannu | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 14 essays and 13 memoirs |
| 2004 | Hridaya Rekha | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of 32 essays written in Deepika |
| 2005 | Otta Sikharathinte Maram | Kollam: Sankeerthanam | Collection of essays |

## Awards

* 1975: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel (Ashtapadi)
* 1980: Kerala State Film Award for Best Story (Surya Daham)
* 1980: Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Story (Surya Daham)
* 1983: Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Story (Ashtapadi)
* 1996: Vayalar Award (Oru Sankeerthanam Pole)
* 1996: Bala Sahitya Award by Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature (Nilavinte Bhangi)
* 2013: Vallathol Award
* 2020: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
* 2006: Malayattoor Award (Narayanam)
* 2014: Thakazhi Award
* 2020: Benigna Award