O. Chandu Menon wrote the Malayalam book Indulekha. It was the first important novel in Malayalam when it was released in 1889. It was a watershed moment in Malayalam writing, ushering in novels as a new and flourishing form. The story is set in the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and centers on the life of its protagonist, Indulakkum Channan, who is known by only one name. Chandu Menon was an Indian writer who lived in the late 19th century. He was born on 2 April 1856 in Alang, present-day Rajasthan state, into a middle-class family. His father was a lawyer who served as a judge in the district court at Kota. Chandu Menon had his early education in Alang and Delhi. He then moved to Calcutta to study law, but gave up after a few years to write full time. He published his first work, a collection of poems titled Manoramaiyil Oomaiyathu, in 1879. The following year he published another collection of poems, this time under the pseudonym V. Nagamani. In 1883 he published his first short story titled Nadhiya, which was widely acclaimed by critics and readers. This was followed by other stories that were also well received by the audience.