P. Surendran (born 4 November 1961) is an Indian writer, columnist, art critic and a philanthropist. He has published over 30 books, including works of fiction, travelogues and general writings, in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

and also a collection of short stories in English. He was a Malayalam teacher at Kumaranellur School, Palakkad district. He is a recipient of the

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1958, by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.

(2003, 2013).

Early life

P. Surendran was born in Pappinippara,

Manjeri Manjeri () is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is the fourth-most populous List of cities and towns in Kerala, municipality in the state. It is situated southeast of Calicut International Airport, Karipur ...

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

to Kumaran Nair and Sarojini Amma. He has two sisters and a brother. His family later shifted to Vattamkulam near

Edappal Edappal is a town which lies near to the town of Ponnani in Ponnani taluk, Malappuram district, Kerala, India. Edappal at the junction of Thrissur-Kuttippuram and Palakkad-Ponnani state highways, is located from Malappuram. Edappal lies in tw ...

. He did his schooling from Edappal. He retired from Kumaranellur School as a high position teacher in Palakkad district with a high salary of 52,000 rupees

Literary life

An accomplished writer and art critic in Malayalam, Surendran has won many awards including the

, Abu Dhabhi Shakthi Award, Odakkuzhal Award and Padmarajan Award among others. His book on the famous artist

A. Ramachandran Achutan Ramachandran Nair (1935 – 10 February 2024) was an Indian painter. He was born in Attingal, Kerala. In 2002, he was elected a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi and in 2005, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civ ...

won the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi's award for the best book on art criticism. His stories have been translated into English, Hindi and other Indian languages. Surendran came to the limelight of Kerala's literary circle after he won first prize in the short story competition conducted by ''

Mathrubhumi Weekly ''Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu'' () is an Indian general interest weekly magazine published by the Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company in Kozhikode. The Malayalam language magazine started publishing on 18 January 1932.''Mathrubhumi Illus ...

'' in 1981. His first collection of stories, ''Piriyan Govani'', was published in 1986. Surendran has published over 30 books, including fictions, travelogues and general writings, in Malayalam and also a collection of short stories in English. His latest novel, ''Greeshma Mapini'', roughly based on the life of former Kerala chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan, is published by

DC Books DC Books is a book publisher based in Kerala, India. It publishes books in Malayalam. DC Books DC Books is a publisher and bookseller with headquarters in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It has published over 6,500 titles, mainly literature in Malay ...

. His latest book on veteran artist Yusuf Arakkal, called ''Velichathinte Paryayangal'', is published by DC Books and Gallerie Sara Arakkal.

Works

Collections

* ''Abhayarthikalude Poonthottam'' (അഭയാർത്ഥികളുടെ പൂന്തോട്ടം) * ''Bermuda'' (ബർമുഡ) * ''Bhumiyude Nilavili'' (ഭൂമിയുടെ നിലവിളി) * ''Che'' (ചെ) * ''Chinese Market'' (ചൈനീസ് മാർക്കറ്റ്) * ''Haritha Vidyalayam'' (ഹരിത വിദ്യാലയം) * ''Jalasandhi'' (ജലസന്ധി) * ''Karutha Prarthanakal'' (കറുത്ത പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ) * ''Piriyan Govani'' (പിരിയൻ ഗോവണി) * ''Rashtriya Kathakal'' (രാഷ്ട്രീയ കഥകൾ) * ''Thiranjedutha Kathakal'' (തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത കഥകൾ)

Autobiography

* ''Elanchipoomanamulla Nattuvayikal'' (ഇലഞിപ്പൂമണമൂള്ള നാട്ടുവഴികൾ)

Novels

* ''Greeshmamapini'' * ''Kaveriyude Purushan'' * ''Jaivam'' * ''Mahayanam'' * ''Mayapuranam'' * ''Samoohyapatam''

Translations

* ''Synonyms for Sea'', Translated by Elzy Taramangalam and published by Rupa & Co.

Awards

He has published many award-winning books in Malayalam, including collections of short stories, novels, travel sketches and art criticism. He won the Kerala Lalitakala Akademi Award and

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a narrative, story of literary merit. It is one of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award#A ...

for his collection of short stories, ''Jalasandhi''. ''Gramapathakal'' won the

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Travelogue The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Travelogue is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a wikt:travelogue, travelogue of literary merit. It is one of the Kerala Sahity ...

in 2013. He has also won many other awards including V. P. Sivakumar Award, SBT award, Abu Dhabi Sakti award, Odakkuzhal award, Padmarajan Award, etc.

Personal life

P. Surendran is married to Sujatha. They have 2 sons. They live in Vattamkulam, Edappal.