Language and Literature

Malayalam the language of Kerala has its origin in 'Pazhamthamil', which got split in to different dialects. The grains of Sanskrit and Tamil is visible, as centuries passed, it attained its own structure and personality. The literature in 'Manipravala', a combination of Malayalam and Sanskrit, is one of the striking features in the early history of Malayalam.

In course of time the literature found a confluence in the two types of songs and the 'Manipravala' (a curious mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam) in the works of the great masters of the 15th and 18th centuries like Cherussery and the Kannasapanikers. Ezhuthachan, who is revered as the 'father of Malayalam literature', carried their tradition to perfection. His major works, the 'Adhyathmaramayanam' and 'Mahabharatha', were adopted from Sanskrit and weare composed in the form of 'Kilippattu.

The contributions by Unnaiwarier and Kunchan Nambiar marked the next stage in the development of Malayalam literature. 'Nalacharitham'' by Unnaiwarier a masterpiece of rare excellence, where charms of poetry; music and drama are harmoniously blended. The uniqueness of Kunchan Nambiar is his unrivalled ability to view puranic stories against the back-ground of contemporary life. What preceeded was a period of stagnation.

A.R Rajarajavarma and Keralavarma Valiyakoyithampuran contributed to the growth of malayalam literature The earlier decades of this century saw the mastery of the 'trio'-Kumaranasan, Vallathol Narayanamenon and Ulloor parameswara Iyer in poetry. Kumaranasan, the true representative of the cultural renaissance, introduced to Malayalam a new form of poetry 'Khandakavya', modeled on the minor poems and lyrical pieces of English literature. Considerable wealth has been accumulated to Malayalam literature, both in prose and poetry during the latter half of the 19th century. Drama as a popular art form blossomed, during the period the malayalam literature absorbed values from foreign literatures. While asserting its on individual qualities and had reached surprising heights. What strike one most are the rich variety of its literary forms and the originality of the malyali writers.

The love of the Malayali's for the good and beautiful things in life, their higher regard for spiritual and moral values, their sense of humor and frolic are all reflected in the literary works.