V. J. James is an Indian writer who primarily writes 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 ...

language. His first book, ''Purapaadinte Pusthakam'', was 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 ...

as the winning work in the novel competition conducted as a part of its 25th anniversary celebration in 1999. His novel ''Nireeshwaran'', which explores the clashes between theism and atheism, won several awards including 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.

and

Vayalar Award The Vayalar Award is a literary award presented annually in Kerala, India, for the best literary work in Malayalam. It was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma (1928-1975). A ...

Life

V. J. James was born in

Changanassery Changanassery, () formerly Changanacherry, is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located south of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 ...

Kottayam Kottayam () is a city in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is the district headquarters of the district and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kottayam has a population of ...

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 ...

, India. He attended St. Theresa's Higher Secondary School,

Vazhappally Vazhappally is a suburb of Changanasserry, Changanasserry Municipality, Kottayam district, Kottayam District, in central Kerala. The famous Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple, Vazhappally Shiva Temple is situated in Vazhappally. Vazhappally is a part ...

and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School,

Champakulam Champakulam is a village in Kerala, India. It is in Alappuzha district. Champakulam is part of Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, and is resplendent in green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl. Champakulam is an important tourist spo ...

, before studying at

St. Berchmans College St. Berchmans College, most commonly known as SB College, is one of the first Autonomous Colleges, situated in Changanasserry, 17 km from Kottayam, in Kerala, India. Established in 1922, the college is considered to be one of the oldest ...

, Changanacherry. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from

Mar Athanasius College of Engineering Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (MACE) is a government aided engineering college located in Kothamangalam, Kerala state, India. The college is affiliated to the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University since its inception in 2015. One ...

. An engineer by profession, he worked at the

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India's satellite programme. It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, in the India ...

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...

Awards

* DC Silver Jubilee Award * Malayattoor Prize (1999), * Rotary Literary Award for ''Purappadinte Pusthakam'' * Thoppil Ravi Award for ''Nireeshwaran'' * Kerala Bhasha Institute Basheer Award (2015) for ''Nireeshwaran'' *Kerala Sahitya academy (2017) for ''Nireeshwaran'' * Basheer Puraskaram (2018) for ''Nireeshwaran'' *Thikkurissi award (2018) for ''Anticlock'' *O.V.Vijayan Award (2019) for ''Anticlock'' *

(2019) for ''Nireeshwaran'' * Shortlisted for the

JCB Prize JCB Prize for Literature is an Indian literary award established in 2018. It is awarded annually with prize to a distinguished work of fiction by an Indian writer working in English or translated fiction by an Indian writer. The winners will be an ...

2021 : ''Anti-Clock'' (Translated by Ministhy S) *Shortlisted for Atta Galatta-Banglore Literature Festival Book Prize 2021 : ''Chorashasathram'' (Translated by Morley J Nair) * Longlisted for the PFC VoW Book Award 2022 : ''Anti-Clock'' (Translated by Ministhy S) *Malayatoor Foundation Literary Award (2022) for ''Anticlock'' *

Padmarajan Award The Padmarajan Award (Padmarajan Puraskaram) is instituted by Padmarajan Memorial Trust in memory of author and filmmaker P. Padmarajan. The award was initially given for two categories—Best Short Story and Best Feature Film—but have since i ...

(2022) for ''Velli Kash'' *FOKANA Award for Literature 2023.

Writing

V. J. James has said that he observes everyday life closely, as it "helps him to narrate common man's life with authenticity". His novels are known for explaining serious subjects in simple language.

Published works

Novels

* 1999 - ''Purappadinte Pusthakam'' (പുറപ്പാടിന്റെ പുസ്തകം) * 2002 - ''Chorashasthram'' (ചോരശാസ്ത്രം) * 2005 - ''Dathapaharam'' (ദത്താപഹാരം) * 2006 - ''Leyka'' (ലെയ്ക) * 2013 - ''Ottakkaalan Kakka'' (ഒറ്റക്കാലൻ കാക്ക) * 2014 - ''Nireeshwaran'' (നിരീശ്വരൻ) * 2018 - ''Anticlock'' (ആന്റിക്ലോക്ക്)

Short story collections

* ''Shavangalil Pathinaraman'' (ശവങ്ങളിൽ പതിനാറാമൻ) * ''Bhoomiyilekkulla thurumbicha Vathayanangal'' (ഭൂമിയിലേക്കുള്ള തുരുമ്പിച്ച വാതായനങ്ങൾ) * ''Vyakulamathavinte Kannadikkoodu'' (വ്യാകുലമാതാവിന്റെ കണ്ണാടിക്കൂട്) * ''Pranayopanishath'' (പ്രണയോപനിഷത്ത്) *''VJ James kathakal'' (കഥകൾ – വി ജെ ജയിംസ്) *''Katha'' (കഥ) *''B Nilavara'' (ബി നിലവറ) ''

Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol ''Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol'' () is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language domestic drama film directed by Jibu Jacob and written by M. Sindhuraj. It is loosely based on the Malayalam short story "Pranayopanishath" by V. J. James. Produced and ...

'', a 2017 Malayalam family drama film directed by

Jibu Jacob Jibu Jacob is an Indian cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. ...

, written by Sindhu Raj, and starring

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil cinema, Tamil, Hin ...

and

Meena Meena () is a tribe from northern and western India which is sometimes considered a sub-group of the Bhil community. It used to be claimed they speak Mina language, a Spurious languages, spurious language. Its name is also transliterated as ' ...

, is loosely based on James' Malayalam

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

''Pranayopanishath'' (പ്രണയോപനിഷത്ത്).

English Translations (Novels)

*2021 - ''ANTI-CLOCK'' (Penguin Publishers) *2022 - ''NIREESWARAN'' (Penguin Publishers) *2022 - ''CHORASHASTRA :THE SUBTLE SCIENCE OF THIEVERY'' (Penguin Publishers) *2023 - ''DATAPAHARAM :CALL OF THE FOREST'' (Penguin Publishers)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:James, V J Malayalam-language novelists Year of birth missing (living people) Living people People from Changanassery Writers from Kottayam district Novelists from Kerala Engineers from Kerala Indian male novelists Indian male short story writers 20th-century Indian novelists Indian mechanical engineers Indian Space Research Organisation people 20th-century Indian engineers 20th-century Indian male writers