Socrates K. Valath
Socrates Krishnan Valath, (born 1963) is an Indian novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, director and a journalist, primarily working in Malayalam literature, television and cinema. He is known for "Aanandalahari", his novel, and a number of short story anthologies including "Tag Number 3", "Veronica @ 15" and "Jaya He". His short story anthology, "Nyayavithi", was selected for the Padmarajan Award in 2014. He is also a recipient of the Kerala State Television Award in 2003, C. Ayyappan Award in 2015 and a Certificate of Merit at the Annual Akashvani Awards in 2017. Biography. Socrates Valath was born in  1963 to the noted writer, historian and toponymist, V. V. K. Valath and his wife, Krishodhari, as the youngest of their three sons, in Ernakulam district of the south Indian state of Kerala. His entry into Malayalam literature was with a short story, "Vala", published in Mathrubhumi weekly in 1987. It preceded a number of books which include his novel, "Aanandalahari", and six short story anthologies with the latest one, "Tag Number 3", getting released in 2019. He has also published a book of interviews, "Kathaantharangal", which features a number of interviews he had with his fellow writers including S.  Hareesh, Thomas Joseph, Unni R., Santhosh Echikkanam and E. Santhosh Kumar and V. J. James. Valalth's entry into films was in 2003, when he directed "Harappa to Pokhran", a children's film which was aired in Surya TV. Subsequently, he wrote the screenplay and dialogues for two films, "Thavalam" in 2008 and "KQ" in 2013. He has also directed a documentary, "And the Fight Goes On", on the quadriplegic writer and historian, MP Anil Kumar. Besides, he has compiled stories for "Crime File" for Surya TV and Jeevan TV, created content for the programmes, "Vipani" for Doordarshan, "Business Watch  for Asianet, and Haritha Keralam" for Jeevan TV and scripted the tele-serials, "Adaminte Santhathikal" for Asianet and Ente Kuttikalude Achan for Mazhavil Manorama. Valath lives in North Paravur, in Ernakulam district. Awards and honours. "Harappa to Pokhran", a Saljith P. R. production directed by Valath, was selected for the award for the best children's programme at the 2003 Kerala State Television Awards. A decade later, his short story anthology, "Nyaayavithi", fetched him the Padmarajan Award in 2014. He received the C. Ayyappan Award for short story in 2015 and "Janala" (The Window), a radioplay he wrote for the  Thrissur station of the All India Radio, was selected for the "Certificate of Merit" at the Akashvani annual competition in 2017.