Common intermediate Malayalam Literature Grammar Language
Malayalam Language & Literature: Grammar, Authors, Works for Kerala PSC
Malayalam grammar basics, major literary works, authors, awards, and language-related facts tested in Kerala PSC exams. Essential for both SSLC and Graduate Level papers.
Published: 14 Apr 2026 Relevant for: LDC, Last Grade Servants, Graduate Level Prelims, Secretariat Assistant
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Malayalam language and literature questions appear in every Kerala PSC exam — typically 5-10 questions. They test knowledge of literary works, authors, grammar rules, and the evolution of Malayalam. This guide covers the most tested facts.
Malayalam Language — Basic Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Language family | Dravidian (South Dravidian branch) |
| Script | Malayalam script (evolved from Grantha script) |
| Classical language status | Declared a Classical Language of India in 2013 |
| 8th Schedule | Malayalam is one of 22 official languages in the 8th Schedule |
| Total letters | 53 (16 vowels + 37 consonants in traditional count) |
| Official language of | Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| Speakers | ~38 million (2011 Census) |
PSC favourite: Malayalam was declared a Classical Language in 2013 (along with Odia). Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), and Telugu (2008) received the status earlier.
Father Figures of Malayalam
| Title | Person | Key contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Father of Malayalam literature | Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan | Wrote Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu; standardised Malayalam script using Arya Ezhuthu |
| Father of Malayalam prose | Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar | Wrote Varthamanappusthakam (1785) — first travelogue in Malayalam |
| Father of Malayalam poetry | Cherusseri Namboothiri | Wrote Krishnagatha |
| Father of Malayalam grammar | Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan (also Raja Raja Varma for modern grammar) | A.R. Raja Raja Varma wrote Keralapanineeyam — definitive Malayalam grammar |
| Father of modern Malayalam novel | O. Chandu Menon | Wrote Indulekha (1889) — first major Malayalam novel |
| Father of Malayalam short story | Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar | Pioneered the short story form |
Most tested:
- Father of Malayalam literature = Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
- First travelogue = Varthamanappusthakam (Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar, 1785)
- First novel = Indulekha (O. Chandu Menon, 1889)
- Kundalatha by Appu Nedungadi (1887) is sometimes cited as the first novel, but Indulekha (1889) is the first widely recognised literary novel
Major Malayalam Literary Works and Authors
Classical/Early Works
| Work | Author | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Ramacharitam | Cheeraman | Earliest extant literary work in Malayalam (12th century) |
| Unniyachi Charitam | Unknown | Early manipravalam work |
| Lilatilakam | Unknown | 14th century treatise on grammar and poetics (manipravalam) |
| Krishnagatha | Cherusseri | Landmark devotional poem; Cherusseri = Father of Malayalam poetry |
| Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu | Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan | Retelling of Ramayana; defined modern Malayalam |
| Jnanappana | Poonthanam | Devotional poem on futility of worldly knowledge |
| Narayaneeyam | Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri | 1036 verses summarising Bhagavatam; written at Guruvayur |
Modern Literary Works (Most Tested)
| Work | Author | Year | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varthamanappusthakam | Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar | 1785 | First travelogue |
| Indulekha | O. Chandu Menon | 1889 | First major novel |
| Kundalatha | Appu Nedungadi | 1887 | Early novel |
| Marthanda Varma | C.V. Raman Pillai | 1891 | First historical novel |
| Dharmaraja | C.V. Raman Pillai | 1913 | Historical novel |
| Duravastha | Kumaranasan | 1922 | Poem — caste criticism |
| Chandalabhikshuki | Kumaranasan | 1922 | Poem — Buddha and untouchable girl |
| Veena Poovu | Kumaranasan | 1907 | Poem — “fallen flower” — transience of life |
| Oru Deshathinte Katha | S.K. Pottekkatt | 1971 | Novel (Jnanpith 1980) |
| Chemmeen | Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | 1956 | Novel — fishing community |
| Kayar | Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | 1978 | Novel (Jnanpith 1984) |
| Randamoozham | M.T. Vasudevan Nair | 1984 | Novel — Mahabharata retelling from Bhima’s view |
| Khasakkinte Ithihasam | O.V. Vijayan | 1969 | Novel — landmark modernist work |
| Balyakalasakhi | Vaikom Muhammad Basheer | 1944 | Novel — childhood romance |
| Pathummayude Aadu | Vaikom Muhammad Basheer | 1959 | Novel — humour |
| Mathilukal | Vaikom Muhammad Basheer | 1965 | Novella — prison love story |
| Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku | V.T. Bhattathirippad | 1929 | Autobiography — women’s emancipation |
| Malabar Manual | William Logan | 1887 | Historical study (in English, about Malayalam-speaking region) |
Kerala Jnanpith Award Winners (Complete List)
| Year | Author | Winning work/Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | G. Sankara Kurup | First Jnanpith for Malayalam; poetry collection “Odakkuzhal” |
| 1973 | S.K. Pottekkatt | Novels and travelogues |
| 1980 | Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | Novel “Kayar” and body of work |
| 2007 | O.N.V. Kurup | Poetry |
| 2014 | M.T. Vasudevan Nair | Body of work across novels, stories, screenplays |
Memorise all 5 Jnanpith winners:
- G. Sankara Kurup (1965) — first
- S.K. Pottekkatt (1973)
- Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1980)
- O.N.V. Kurup (2007)
- M.T. Vasudevan Nair (2014) — latest
Malayalam Grammar Basics (PSC Level)
Parts of Speech (Vachakapadangal)
| Malayalam term | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Naamam (നാമം) | Noun | Veedu (house), Raman |
| Sarvanaamam (സർവ്വനാമം) | Pronoun | Avan (he), Aval (she), Athu (it) |
| Kriya (ക്രിയ) | Verb | Odunnu (runs), Ezhuthunnu (writes) |
| Viseshnam (വിശേഷണം) | Adjective | Nalla (good), Valiya (big) |
| Kriya Viseshnam | Adverb | Vegam (quickly) |
Vibhakthikal (Cases) — 7 Cases in Malayalam
| Case | Name | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nirdeshika (Nominative) | — | Raman |
| 2nd | Prathigrihika (Accusative) | -e | Ramane |
| 3rd | Samyojika (Instrumental) | -aal | Ramanaal |
| 4th | Udeshika (Dative) | -kku | Ramanakku |
| 5th | Sambandha (Possessive) | -nte/ude | Ramante |
| 6th | Adhikarana (Locative) | -il | Ramanil |
| 7th | Sambodhana (Vocative) | -e | Ramane! |
Sandhi (Junction Rules)
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lopa Sandhi | A letter is dropped | Maha + Ishwaran = Maheshwaran |
| Agama Sandhi | A letter is added | Thiru + Onam = Thiruvoonam |
| Adesa Sandhi | A letter is substituted | — |
| Dirgha Sandhi | Short vowel becomes long | — |
Alankaram (Figures of Speech)
| Alankaram | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Upama | Simile | Chandran pole mukham (Face like the moon) |
| Utpreksha | Fancy/imagination | — |
| Roopakam | Metaphor | Mukham thaamara (Face IS a lotus) |
| Athisayokti | Hyperbole | Exaggeration for effect |
| Slesha | Pun / double meaning | Word with two meanings |
Malayalam Newspapers and Periodicals (Historically Important)
| Publication | Founded | By | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajyasamacharam | 1847 | Hermann Gundert | First newspaper in Malayalam |
| Paschimodayam | 1847 | Hermann Gundert | Started same year |
| Kerala Kaumudi | 1911 | C.V. Kunhiraman | Major daily |
| Mathrubhumi | 1923 | K.P. Kesava Menon | Major daily; supported freedom movement |
| Malayala Manorama | 1888 | Kandathil Varghese Mappillai | Largest circulated Malayalam newspaper |
| Swadeshabhimani | 1905 | Vakkom Moulavi | Advocated reform; editor K. Ramakrishna Pillai was exiled |
| Deepika | 1887 | — | One of the oldest newspapers |
| Deshabhimani | 1946 | Communist Party | Party newspaper |
PSC favourites on newspapers:
- First Malayalam newspaper: Rajyasamacharam (1847, Hermann Gundert)
- Swadeshabhimani editor exiled: K. Ramakrishna Pillai (by Dewan of Travancore)
- Largest circulation: Malayala Manorama (1888)
Important Literary Associations and Awards
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1958 |
| Awarded for | Best literary works in Malayalam |
| Categories | Novel, Short Story, Poetry, Drama, Criticism, Children’s Literature |
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What | Highest literary honour given by Kerala government |
| Named after | Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan |
| First recipient | S.K. Pottekkatt (1993) |
Vayalar Award
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Named after | Vayalar Ramavarma (poet-lyricist) |
| Given for | Best literary work in Malayalam |
Famous Malayalam Poets and Their Pen Names
| Pen name | Real name |
|---|---|
| Kumaranasan | N. Kumaran Asan |
| Changampuzha | Changampuzha Krishna Pillai |
| Vailoppilli | Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon |
| Edappally | Edappally Raghavan Pillai |
| Sugathakumari | Sugathakumari (real name same) |
| Akkitham | Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri |
Quick Revision — 25 Malayalam Literature Facts
- First Malayalam newspaper: Rajyasamacharam (1847)
- First travelogue: Varthamanappusthakam (1785)
- First novel (widely accepted): Indulekha (O. Chandu Menon, 1889)
- First historical novel: Marthanda Varma (C.V. Raman Pillai, 1891)
- Father of Malayalam literature: Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
- First Jnanpith: G. Sankara Kurup (1965)
- Latest Jnanpith: M.T. Vasudevan Nair (2014)
- Classical language status: 2013
- Chemmeen author: Thakazhi
- Khasakkinte Ithihasam author: O.V. Vijayan
- Balyakalasakhi author: Basheer
- Randamoozham author: M.T. Vasudevan Nair
- Keralapanineeyam author: A.R. Raja Raja Varma
- Ramacharitam: Cheeraman (earliest work)
- Narayaneeyam: Melpathur (at Guruvayur)
- Jnanappana: Poonthanam
- Krishnagatha: Cherusseri
- Veena Poovu: Kumaranasan
- Swadeshabhimani editor: K. Ramakrishna Pillai
- Malayala Manorama founded: 1888
- Mathrubhumi founded: 1923
- Ezhuthachan Award first: S.K. Pottekkatt (1993)
- Malabar Manual: William Logan (1887)
- Adhyatma Ramayanam: Ezhuthachan
- Oru Deshathinte Katha: S.K. Pottekkatt
Notes compiled from Kerala PSC previous year questions (2015-2024) and standard Malayalam literature references. Updated April 2026.
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