On the Banks of the Mayyazhi

One of the most reputed fiction writers in Malayalam today, M. Mukundan is the author of twenty-seven best-selling novels, novellas and collections of short stories, including Delhi, Haridwaril Manikal Muzhangunnu, Kesavante Vilapangal and Nrittam. Born in 1942, Mukundan made his literary debut when he was twenty-three, publishing his early short stories in the prestigious Mathrubhumi weekly and other periodicals. In 1989, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Daivathinte Vikruthikal (God’s Mischief). The novel was made into a feature film and it won the state award for the best film that year. Other awards and honours conferred on Mukundan include the First Crossword Award for Indian language fictions in English translation (Mayyazhipuzhayude Theerangalil, translated into English as On the Banks of the Mayyazhi by Gita Krishnankutty), the Kerala State Award and the Chevalier of the Arts and Letters from the French government. Mukundan lives in Delhi and is the Deputy Cultural Attach? at the French Embassy.