C. V. Raman Pillai

C. V. Raman Pillai Biography

C. V. Raman Pillai was one among the greatest and earliest novelists of Malayalam literature who have significant contribution to novels and plays. Doyen of Malayalam literature, known as a novelist and playwright, his historic novels showcased the cultural and social life of Kerala of 19^th and early 20^th century and his works have been included in school and university curricular. He authored the historic trilogy of three rulers of Travancore through his three novels – Marthandavarma (1891), Dharmaraja (1913) and Ramarajabahadur (1918–1919), also known as CV's Historical Narratives. Critics hail Ramarajabahadur as the best novel ever written in Malayalam, which itself registers the greatness of this writer. Dharmaraja – marked him as a craftsman of Malayalam fiction.

His first novel, Marthandavarma – a historical romance was the first historical novel in Malayalam. Though completed in the year 1885, before Malayalam’s first two novels - Kundalatha and Indulekha were published; he couldn’t publish due to financial problems. It was published by Addison & Co in 1891, two years later the popular Indulekha was published. Similar to Indulekha, Marthandavarma too received the classic status and was a very popular novel indeed. Both these novels regarded as landmark works of Malayalam literature were included in school syllabus too. Malayalam literature or academic degrees are incomplete with C. V’s works! Kerala's folklore and Kathakali became an integral part of his works.

His social novel, Premamritam is the first satirical fiction in Malayalam. Passed away at the age of 63 in 1922, many of his works are unfinished. Dishtadamshtram (1922) and Premarishtam (1922) are those novels. His early plays - Candramukheevilasam (1884) and Mattavilasam (1885) were not published. Kurupillakalari (1909) was his first published play. Traces of Modern Malayalam plays can be seen in his plays. Marthandavarma was the first novel to be made to a feature film. He also served as a journalist and an editor of a few newspapers. His place in Malayalam literature is similar to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee of Bengali and Hari Narayan Apte of Marathi, and both were his contemporaries. A monumental lexicographic work of a single author  - CV's literary works was published titled C. V. Vyaakhyaana Kosham in four volumes of 400-odd pages. Perhaps the only book in world literature of this kind!

Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai, shortly called C. V was born in Arayoor, Thiruvananthapuram in 1858, then known as Travancore Kingdom. His father Neelakanta Pillai was a Sanskrit scholar. Both his parents worked as employees at the Palace of the Maharaja of Travancore. Raman entered the first English school in Thiruvananthapuram and later graduated from H. H. Maharaja's College in Thiruvananthapuram. He also took Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Madras University in 1881, securing 7^th rank.

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Updated: March 20, 2016