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Books written By :
Mali - V. Madhavan Nair |
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| Novels: |
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Circus |
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Porattam |
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Janthustan |
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Krishkindha |
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Sarvajit Himalayathil |
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Sarvajithinte Samudrasnacharam |
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Sarvajithum Kallakadathum |
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| Short Stories: |
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Unnikale Kathaparayam |
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Unnikale Iniyum Kathaparayam |
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Unnikalku janthukathakal |
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Jeevanulla pratima |
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Anchu minute kathakal |
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| Great Epics and puranas of India retold: |
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Mali Ramayanam |
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Mali Bhagavatham |
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Mali Bharatham |
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Purana Kathamalika |
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Kathakalku Pinnil |
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| Story of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala: |
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Kuttikalku Ayyappa Charithram |
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| Biographies: |
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Gandhi Charitam |
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Sri Ramakrishna Charitam |
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Christhucharitam |
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| Drama |
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Maveli varunnu |
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| History |
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Kuttikalkku India charithram |
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| ANDERSON’S TALES |
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Tiranjedutha Anderson Kathakal |
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| LAY STORIES OF INDIA |
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Kathasarit sagaram |
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Vikramadityan kathakal |
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Tennali Raman kathakal |
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Madanakamarajan Kathakal |
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| MYTHS AND LEGENDS |
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Aithihya Lokam |
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| “MALI” The legend lives on… |
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| Family Background |
V. Madhavan Nair ‘Mali’ was born on the 6th December 1915. He was the eldest son of ‘Sadasya Thilakan’ T.K. Velu Pillai, who was among other things, the first elected Deputy Speaker of the Travancore Legislative Assembly, Emeritus Professor of the Law College and member of the Senate of Travancore and Madras Universities. ‘Sadasya Thilakan's’ monumental work in 4 volumes; the Travancore State Manual still occupies unassailable pre-eminence as an authoritative reference book on matters pertaining to the erstwhile princely state. It is worth recalling here that Sri Sooranad Kunjan Pillai, who attained fame in later years as a prodigious scholar and man of letters, was Sadasyatilaka’s assistant in this venture.
Mali grew up with all the advantages inherent in an affluent and influential family. Scholars and statesmen were frequent visitors to his house. Their presence as well as the cultured atmosphere at home helped in no small measure to mould his tastes and aptitudes in later life. He did his schooling at the Model School, Trivandrum, and obtained his BA degree from the Law College, Trivandrum, and though he enrolled at the Bar, did not continue to practice law. |
| Sports |
| This was Mali’s earliest sphere of activity. He excelled in all games but was especially outstanding in tennis and high jump. In both events he was ranked No.1 in the State. With little or no coaching, he evolved a perfect copy book style that combined grace, power and accuracy. On the sports field, Mali was a delight to watch. He also won many tournaments in other games such as basket ball, volleyball and table tennis. A cupboard full of silver trophies bear testimony to his prowess in various events. |
| Journalism |
| Mali started his official career as a journalist in the Free Press journal and the British Ministry of Broadcasting. Few people know that he also edited and published a magazine from Madras, “Keralodayam’. |
| Broadcasting |
| Mali joined All India Radio, Trivandrum in the officer’s cadre in 1950. He worked tirelessly to build up programmes for the newly formed station. Many of the programmes devised by him are still in vogue, eg. Balalokam, rashmi. He also was the authority for approving music artistes. He unearthed the works of numerous Kerala composers like Irayinman Tampi, Kuttikunju Thankachi and K.C. Kesava Pillai, had them notated, broadcast and popularised all over Kerala. It is a little known fact that the movement for inclusion of Malayalam songs in concerts and radio programmes started with him. He also introduced kathakali music and folk music to radio. He wrote and produced many radio plays which are still regarded as classics. During his tenure in AIR he produced several programmes based on classical and semi classical music. |
| Music |
| Mali loved all types of music but Carnatic Music occupied the pride of place in his heart. A day without music was a dull day indeed for him. The service he rendered to Kerala music and musicians as detailed above is invaluable. His artisitic temperament was complemented by a zeal for deep study and a penchant for perfection. This is evident in his outstanding work ‘Kerala Sangeetham’, which is comparable to any doctoral thesis. It is unique and authoritative study of the origin and development of music in Kerala and has been a reference book for serious students of music. |
| Literature for Children |
| This is the field in which Mali is best known. Ironically, he embarked upon this rather late in life. He approached the subject with a deep sense of responsibility. His books are the result of scholarship with a vivid and child like imagination. His original novels ‘Circus’, ‘Porattam’, ‘kishkindha’, ‘Jantustan’ and the Sarvajith trilogy and his innumerable short stories have delighted children for years. His ‘Mali Ramayanam’, ‘Mali Bhagavatham’ and other volumes of puranic stories have been many a child’s first introduction to our glorious heritage. In these he is acknowledged as a master of condensation. Most of his books (over 53) are in Malayalam. Some of them he himself has translated into English. His style is distinct, simple and beautiful. It is unique. His books have encouraged the reading habit and inculcated a sense of values in generations of children. |
| Story Telling |
| Mali was a master storyteller in person. He conducted many, many sessions during which hundreds of children would listen, spellbound, to stories he wove in his inimitable way. Especially noteworthy is the fact that every story Mali told (or wrote) contained within it a core of Indian values. |
| Kathakali |
| Love for Kathakali coursed through Mali’s veins. In the early 50’s he wrote innumerable scholarly articles about kathakali in prominent dailies such as “The Hindu’ and The Statesman’. These undoubtedly served to bring the glories of the art to discerning art lovers scattered all over India. Mali’s love for Kathakali also fructified in his play “Karna Sapatham’ which had already become a classic during his lifetime. Mali wrote the play with absolute awareness of the impact he would create and was not in the least surprised by the play’s success. Karnasapatham has been enacted over 10000 times. |
| Adult's Literature |
Mali wrote several books and articles for adults as well. His play “Iravikkutty Pillai’ played to a capacity audience in Madras. His rendering of Valmiki Ramayanam and Mahabharatham are marked by the dignity and grandeur of the subject matter and the majesty of the Malayalam language. His radio plays are still unrivalled. His last works included a book on architecture and one on sports.
Mali’s incredibly active mind brimming with ideas was stilled on the 2nd July’94. But his name and work continue to enthrall and inspire. The legend lives on…… |
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