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Malayalam
is a member of the Dravidian family of languages. It provides ample
evidence of the impact of various cultures on the people of Kerala.
Malayalam is probably the most sanskratised of all the languages. Though
only around 10% of Sanskrit words are used in the spoken language, the
written language contains more than 40% of them, including direct
borrowals and derivatives.
Malayalam, the dominant language of the state, has three major dialects:
southern, northern and central. The language has 54 alphabets. Literary
works in Malayalam are believed to be in existence from the 13th century
onwards.
The earlier forms of literature include a rich collection of folk songs
and ballads. The literary works of that period were in 'Manipravalam', a
mixture of Malayalam and Sanskrit languages. It is interesting to note
that Tamil, the language spoken in the nearest state is supposed to be the
least sanskratised among all Indian languages. Malayalam shows evidence of
influence by Pali (Magadhi), the official language of Buddhism.
It also contains many Portuguese, Dutch, English, Arabic, Marathi and
Persian loan words. In the 16th century, Thunchathu Ramanujam Ezhuthachan
gave a distinct style to the language with his 'Adhyatma Ramayanam' and
'Mahabharatham', regional adaptations of the great Indian Epics.
He is considered to be the father of Malayalam language. The growth of
Kathakali as an art form in
the 17th century created another branch of literature known as
'Attakatha', the narrative based on which
Kathakali is performed.
Unnai Warrier's 'Nalacharithum Attakatha' is considered a classic.
Ramapurathu Warrier's 'Vanchippattu' (Boat songs) and Kunchan Nambiar's
'Thullalppattu' formed two other literary branches. The European
colonisation gave a new dimension to the realm of literature.
The advent of printing promoted the concept of newspapers. Dr. Herman
Gundert, a German missionary, compiled the first Malayalam-English lexicon
and started the first Malayalam newspaper. The golden age of Malayalam
poetry dawned in the early 20th century, the era of the trinity of
Malayalam poets: Kumaranashan, Ulloor and Vallathol.
Apart from them, Changampuzha Krishna Pillai's romantic verses captured
the hearts of Malayalees over the years. In the early seventies, K. Ayappa
Panicker introduced modernist and post modernist strains to Malayalam
poetry.
Even though the first Malayalam novel, 'Kundalatha' was published in 1887
AD, significant contributions to prose came about only in the 20th
century. Ponkannam Varkey, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, P. Kesavadev and
Vaikom Mohammad Basheer contributed to the prose literature. Kerala has
also produced a number of other talented writers in all branches of
literature.
Though relatively small in number, the women writers and poets such as
Nalappat Balamaniamma, Kamala Das, Lalithambika Antharjanam and
K.Saraswathiamma made significant literary contributions.
In 1945, the Sahitya Pravarthak Sahakarana Sangham (SPCS), the first ever
cooperative society of litterateurs, was formed under the stewardship of
Prof. M.P. Paul and Karoor Neelkantha Pillai.
The SPCS was instrumental in providing economic stability to the writers.
Four writers from Kerala have bagged the Gnanpith Award, the highest
literary award in India. The contribution of D.C.Kizhakkermuri, the doyen
of Malayalam publishing, also deserves special mention.
Malayalam novels and stories are published in weeklies and magazines
along with the sketches and caricatures. A Malayalam translation of any
masterpiece of Indian or international literature is available either as
books or magazine serials.