World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

C. Radhakrishnan

シー・ラーダクリシュナン

C. Radhakrishnan

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1939-02-15 （Chamravattam (Tirur), Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Malappuram, Kerala, India)）
Nationality
Indian
Languages
Malayalam, English

Career

Occupations
Writer, Film director, Researcher, Editor
Active Years
1959-2022
Affiliations
Madhyamam Daily (former chief editor), School of Bhagavad Gita (editor of magazine 'Piravi')
Influenced By
Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan (ancestral / literary influence)

Awards

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
1962
Work: Nizhalppadukal (Patches of Shade)
Organization: Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Result: 受賞
Moortidevi Award
2013
Work: Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram (Churning a Sea of Fire)
Organization: Bharatiya Jnanpith
Result: 受賞
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
2016
Organization: Government of Kerala
Result: 受賞
Mathrubhumi Literary Award
2015
Organization: Mathrubhumi
Result: 受賞
K. P. Kesava Menon Memorial Award
2016
Organization: K. P. Kesava Menon Memorial
Result: 受賞
Nalappadan Award
2016
Category: 文学への総合的貢献
Organization: Nalappadan Memorial Cultural Society (NMCS)
Result: 受賞
Thrikkavu Devi Puraskaram (and others)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nizhalppadukal (Patches of Shade)

1962 Novel

An early major work by Radhakrishnan. A novel written in his youth combining observation and social themes; first serialized and later published to wide acclaim.

Coming of ageSocial critique
Translations
  • Patches of Shade (English translation, 1987)
  • Fragments D' Ombre (French translation, 1998)

Agni

1963 Novel

A novel with motifs of fire and passion. Adapted into a film of the same name in 1978.

PassionDestruction and renewal
Adaptations
  • [Film] Agni (1978)
Translations
  • Agni (English translation, 2013)

Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram (Churning a Sea of Fire)

2005 Biographic novel

A biographic novel based on the life of Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, reflecting interest in classical Indian literature and lineage.

Tradition and lineageLiterary history
Translations
  • Hindi translation 'Agnisagar Se Amrut' (2017)

Ullil Ullathu (Deep Within)

2002 Science fiction

A science fiction novel incorporating scientific themes and cosmological ideas. Later translated into English as 'Deep Within'.

CosmologyScience and philosophy
Translations
  • Deep Within (English translation, 2018)

Bibliography

  • Nizhalppadukal (Patches of Shade)
  • Agni
  • Science in Everyday Life
  • Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram (Churning a Sea of Fire)
  • Ullil Ullathu (Deep Within)

Adaptations

  • Agni — adapted into a film (1978)
  • Thevidissi — adapted as the film 'Priya' (1975)
  • Ottayadipathakal — adapted into a film (1990)
  • Pin Nilavu — adapted into a film (1983)

Translations of Works

  • Zero (English translation, 1974)
  • Patches of Shade (English translation, 1987)
  • Maybe Another Day (English translation, 1993)
  • Agni (English translation, 2013)
  • Birds That Fly Ahead (English translation, 2015)
  • Heart-Rending Times (English translation, 2015)
  • Now for a Tearful Smile (English translation, 2015)
  • Bhagavad Gita (modern reading / English, 2016)
  • Deep Within (English translation, 2018)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Narrative and philosophical style within modern Malayalam literatureBlend of scientific concepts with mythic and religious motifs
Recurring Motifs
Family and lineageDeath and rebirthCosmology and ontologyMythic motifs

Legacy

C. Radhakrishnan is an important figure in Malayalam literature, bridging literature and thought through decades of novels, essays and scientific writings. Multiple film adaptations and numerous translations have broadened his readership.

In Popular Culture

  • Several works adapted to films, influencing Kerala popular culture

Trivia

  • He began writing his first novel Nizhalppadukal at age 21, which later became a major success.
  • He was told that Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan was an ancestor in his lineage; this influenced his biographic novel Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram.
  • Served as chief editor of Madhyamam Daily from 1999 to 2001.
  • Has published works on cosmology and scientific topics in addition to literary works.