Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Malayalam writer

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (21st January 1908 - 05th July 1994) was one of the prominent Malayalam fiction writers. Born at Thalayolaparambu in Vaikom he is better known as Beypore Sultan. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and a short story writer.

Basher is known for his unconventional style of language in Malayalam literature. His characters were an output of his keen observance. He skillfully combined humour and pathos in his works. Love, hunger and poverty are recurring themes in his works.

Baalyakaalasakhi, Premalekhanam, Paaththummaayude aadu (Pathumma's Goat), Shabdangal, Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu and Mathilukal (Walls) are his major works.

The novel Mathilukal deals with the prison lives in the pre-independence days. It is a novel of sad irony set against a turbulent political backdrop. The novel was later made into a film (Mathilukal, 1989) by Adoor Gopalakrishnan with Mammootty playing as Basheer.

Courtesy: ‘Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’, Movie directed by Mr. M A Rahiman for Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

You can buy this DVD from Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.