Profile |History | Rules of Procedure | Governors | Chief Ministers | Council of Ministers since 1957 | Presiding Officers Since 1957 | Deputy Presiding Officers since 1957 | Deputy Speakers Secretaries | President's Rule | Duration of Assemblies | Telephone Numbers | Right to Information Act

LITERATURE

Literature and learning in both Tamil and Sanskrit, flourished from the 2nd century A.D. onwards. The Malayalam language, though an off shoot of Tamil, has absorbed the best in Sanskrit and has a prolific literature. Notable names in Malayalam poetry are Thunchath Ezhuthachan and Kunchan Nambiar and Cherusseri among classical poets, and Vallathol Narayana Menon, Kumaran Asan, Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Edappalli Raghavan Pillai, Gnanapeetham Award Winner G. Sankara Kurup, Vennikulam Gopalakurup, P. Kunhiraman Nair, Edasseri Govindan Nair, Vyloppalli Sreedhara Menon, Balamani Amma, Vayalar Rama Varma and P. Bhaskaran  among the later luminaries. The literateurs who contributed much in enriching the language were Kerala Varma Valia Koyil Thampuran and A.R. Raja Raja Varma who is also known as Kerala Panini. The German Missionary Dr. Herman Gundert's name stands out as he published the first English-Malayalam dictionary in 1872. Among the contemporary geniuses in the field of poetry, the names of O.N.V. Kurup, A. Ayyappan, Sachithanandan, Sugatha Kumari and Kamala Das stand out.

The first Malayalam novel was Appu Nedungadi's "Kundalatha" published in 1887. The novel "Indulekha" by O. Chandu Menon came two years later. The greats among the Malayalam novelists include C.V. Raman Pillai, Thakazhi Sivashankara Pillai (Gnanapeetham Award Winner), P. Kesava Dev, Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer, P.C. Kuttikrishnan (Uroob), S.K. Pottekkat (Gnanapeetham Award Winner) Ponkunnam Varkey, K.E. Mathai (Parappuram), M.K. Menon (Vilasini), G. Vivekanandan, M.T. Vasudevan Nair(Gnanapeetham Award Winner), C. Radhakrishanan, O.V. Vijayan, M. Mukundan and George Varghese (Kakkanadan).

In the field of drama, Thoppil Bhasi, K.T. Mohammed, G. Sankara Pillai, N.N. Pillai, S.L. Puram Sadanandan, T.N. Gopinathan Nair and Jagathi N.K. Achari and many others have contributed much in reflecting the socio-political development in the State.

ARTS AND CINEMA

Kathakali, Thullal and Mohiniyattom are the best known classical dance forms of Kerala. Other unique dance forms include Koodiyattom, Chakyarkoothu, Yakshaganam and Chavittu Natakam. Kerala is famous for its martial arts too. Kalarippayattu, Parishakali and Velakali are the main such martial arts.

In the realm of fine arts, Swati Thirunal, the 19th century royal composer made signal contributions to classical Karnatic music of South India, while the artist Raja Ravi Varma was renowned for his oil paintings.

The first Malayalam film "Vigathakumaran", a silent movie, was released in 1928. The first talkie was "Balan", released in 1938. "Neelakuyil" released in the fifties won the President's Silver Medal and "Chemmeen" released in the sixties won the President's Gold Medal. Other gold medal winning Malayalam films are "Swayamvaram", "Nirmalyam" and "Chidambaram". Malayalam cinema has advanced considerably over the years both in technical excellence and artistic innovations. Chitranjali Studio at Thiruvananthapuram in the public sector has been playing a major role in this endeavour.

>> NEXT