Profile

Padmanabhan, the distinguished short-story writer of Malayalam has carved a niche for himself in Malayalam literary world through his works, which portrays the human emotions in the truest possible form. Often compared with Hemingway, he cares less for the critics and presented his own views about life through his characters.

For Padmanabhan, life and art are both inseparable. His stories are his life and vice-versa. Through his characters, he speaks about his ideas and ideals about life. They always have their own character and existence.

Always a companion of controversies, Padmanabhan never chose to hide the fact that he is allergic to awards. He always treated the hollow concept of giving awards with contempt. He had refused them umpteen times.

However, strange things do happen in this world. The Vayalar award committee, which had never granted its prestigious accolade to the short story stream chose to honour Padmanabhan with Vayalar Award for the year 2001, and surprisingly the writer did not refuse it. But, he expressed his displeasure over the attitude of the committee, which had ignored this stream of literature for long.

Padmanabhan is a unique personality in the world of Malayalam short story. Writing since 1948, he has been highly successful in taking short story to the realm of poetry and music.

Padmanabhan emerged on the scene with a unique and highly individualistic idiom when the short story reached a saturation point due to repeated depiction of romantic idealism and social commitment. Suddenly short story became no more a means to spread ideologies. Social issues gave way to existential sorrows and individual problems.

And since then, this pioneer of modernism in Malayalam short story has been enthralling the Malayalee readers worldwide through his uniquely crafted world of words.