Kottayam Pushpanath Detective Novels Malayalam
Harriet Wehrenberg
Kottayam Pushpanath: The Father of Malayalam Detective Fiction
Kottayam Pushpanath, also known as Pushpanath Pillai, was an Indian author who wrote over 300 novels in Malayalam, mainly in the genres of detective fiction, science fiction, and horror fiction. He was born in 1937 in Kottayam district of Kerala and started his writing career as a school student. He later worked as a teacher of history in various government schools before becoming a full-time writer. He died in 2018 at the age of 80.
Kottayam Pushpanath is widely regarded as the pioneer of detective fiction in Malayalam literature. He created many popular characters such as Marxin, Pushparaj, and Sudheer, who solved mysteries and crimes in different settings and situations. His novels were known for their thrilling plots, suspenseful twists, and scientific explanations. Some of his famous novels include Chuvanna Manushyan (The Red Man), Draculayude Makal (Dracula's Daughter), Yakshikavu (The Temple of the Yakshi), Brahmarakshass (The Brahmin Demon), and Devil's Corner.
Kottayam Pushpanath was also influenced by the works of international authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe. He translated some of their novels into Malayalam, such as The Hound of the Baskervilles and Dracula. He also wrote his own novels based on Dracula, such as Dracula Kotta (Dracula's Fort) and Dracula Parinayam (Dracula's Wedding). He also experimented with other genres such as fantasy, horror, and science fiction, incorporating elements of mythology, folklore, and supernatural phenomena.
Kottayam Pushpanath's novels were widely read and appreciated by the Malayalam readers. His novels were also translated into other Indian languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Gujarati, and Bengali. His novels have been adapted into films, television series, comics, and audio books. His grandson Rayan Pushpanath has taken up the responsibility of preserving and promoting his literary legacy. He runs the publishing house Kottayam Pushpanath Publications and has also written some novels in the same genre.
Kottayam Pushpanath is a legend in the field of Malayalam detective fiction. He has inspired generations of readers and writers with his creative imagination and captivating storytelling. He is rightly called the "father of Malayalam detective fiction" and the "Arthur Conan Doyle of India".
Sources:
- [Kottayam Pushpanath - Wikipedia]
- [Malayalam detective fiction writer Kottayam Pushpanath passes away]
- [Malayalam detective novelist Kottayam Pushpanath dies at 80]
- [ആറുവരൽ (Aaruviral): കട്ടയ പുഷ്പനഥ് (Kottayam Pushpanath) (Pushparaj Series Book 3) (Malayalam Edition)]
- [Amazon.in: Kottayam Pushpanath: Books]