S. Ramakrishnan
S. Ramakrishnan is an influentially important writer of modern Tamil literature. He is a full-time writer who has been active over the last 27 years in diverse areas of Tamil literature like short stories, novels, plays, children's literature and translations. He has written and published 9 novels, 20 collections of short stories, 3 plays, 21 books for children, 3 books of translation, 24 collections of articles, 10 books on world cinema, 16 books on world literature including seven of his lectures, 3 books on Indian history, 3 on painting and 4 edited volumes including a Reader on his own works. He also has 2 collections of interviews to his credit.[1] He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2018 in Tamil language category for his novel Sanjaaram.
S. Ramakrishnan எஸ். ராமகிருஷ்ணன் | |
---|---|
Born | |
Spouse(s) | Chandraprabha |
Children | Hari Akash |
Parent(s) | N.Shanmugam S.Mangayarkarasi |
Website | sramakrishnan |
Writing career
About his first book he says: "I was not a writer when my first book 'veLiyil oruvan' was published. Until then I was just writing whatever I wanted to write, but I was not a writer; even after my first book came out…" and "…but now I know the direction, purpose and strength of the written word. I didn’t know that then. It is like how a child with a camera takes pictures of whatever she sees… I was like that child."[2]
His short stories and articles have been translated and published in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and French.
His novel Upa Paandavam, written after a deep research into Mahabharata, was selected as the best novel in Tamil. It was widely well received by the readers.
The novel Nedum Kuruthi, which spoke of the dark and tragic existential experiences of the tribe of oppressed people cruelly stamped as criminal tribe by the British, secured the Gnanavaani award for the Best Novel.
His novel Yaamam, written with Chennai city's three hundred years history as back drop, is another widely appreciated creation.
His Urupasi is a novel that conveys the stirring mental agonies of a young man who was unemployed because he took his degree majoring in Tamil language.
He became a celebrated author to lakhs of readers through his series of articles like Thunai Ezhuthu, Desandhri, Kathavilaasam, Kelvikuri and Siridhu Velicham which appeared in the highly circulated Tamil weekly, Ananda Vikatan. He is the first writer in Tamil to have created a broad circle of readers for his columns. The compilation book of the articles, Thunai Ezhuthu, has created a new history by selling almost a lakh of copies.
Writing style
His short stories are noted for their modern story-telling style in Tamil. He says in an interview: "As a storyteller, it’s vital that I observe people, their mannerisms and keep myself aware of present trends…” and “…I keep myself surrounded by youngsters who I learn a lot from. I think it is such company that keeps me revitalised to write more and more stories".[3]
He explains the magical nature of his stories quite simply – "The reason why my stories have a magical aspect is because I am unable to separate Magic from Realism."[4]
Literary activism
A great story-teller, he has organized over thirty story-telling camps for school children, all over Tamil Nadu. He has organized a special story-telling camp for children with dyslexia-related learning disabilities.
He says in an interview: "We have a rich tradition of PaaNans and Koothars going around places singing and creating poetry in the Sangam period. I am just a modern day PaaNan who goes to places, meets people, talks to them and tells their stories."[5]
He had, as Editor, brought out the literary publication, Atcharam for five long years.
His website www.sramakrishnan.com serves as a resource for serious literature for young readers. It has become an important website where contemporary literary innovations, world literature and world cinema congregate in a fertile ambience. It has secured 5 million visits from readers all over the world.
Publishing House 'Desanthiri'
In December 2017, he started his own publishing house in the name of one of his most famous books, Desanthiri. It was started to publish his own works, old ones which are not in print at present as well as his upcoming works.
Films and other adoptions (contributions in movie and theatre performances)
A connoisseur of world cinema, he has compiled an introductory compendium on world cinema with thousand pages called Ulaga Cinema. He has written ten important books on cinema such as Ayal Cinema, Pather Panchali, Chithirangalin Vichithirangal and Paesa Therindha Nizhalgal. Irul Inithu Oli Inithu, Chaplinudan Pesungal.
He has organized screenplay writing camps for short film directors and students of cinema creation in important cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, etc.
His collection of 9 plays, Aravaan (Uyirmmai Publications), 3 plays, Sindhubaadhin Manaivi (Kayalkavin Publications) and Sooriyanai sutrum boomi (translated plays, Kayalkavin Publications) create new possibilities for theater space on facing power, breaking up historical and cultural images and focusing on psychological eccentricities. These plays have received good appreciation while they were staged and have been performed at the national drama festival of Sangeetha Natak Academy. The play 'Aravaan', included in this collection has been translated in to English, Malayalam and Kannada.
The short film Karna Motcham with his screenplay won the National Award for Best Short Film and went on to win, so far, 27 important awards in Indian and International Film Festivals.
Another short film Matraval has won three coveted awards as the best Tamil Short Film.
He has worked as Screenplay and Dialogue writer in Tamil feature films like Baba, Album, Chandaikkozhi, Unnale Unnale, Bhima, Dhaam Dhoom, Chikku Bukku, Modhi Vilaiyadu, Yuvan Yuvathi and Avan Ivan, Samar and Idam PoruL EvaL.
Rewards and recognition
No | Award | Year | Remarks |
1 | Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award | 1993 | For Best Young playwright |
2 | Best Novel Award | 2001 | From Progressive Writers' Union |
3 | Gnanavaani Award | 2004 | For the best literary contribution |
4 | Best book Award | 2006 | From Tamil Nadu Government |
5 | Tagore Literary Award[6] | 2010 | For Yaamam novel |
6 | Wisdom Young Achiever Award | 2010 | For the best literary contribution |
7 | Salem Tamil Sangam award | 2010 | For the best literary contribution |
8 | Iyal award[7] | 2011 | For Lifetime achievement from the Tamil Literary Garden, Canada |
9 | Thisai Ettum Award | 2014 | Sponsored by Nalli |
10 | Periyar award | 2014 | For the best literary contribution |
11 | Maxim Gorky award | 2015 | For introduced the Russian literature |
12 | CKK Literary Award | 2015 | For the best literary contribution |
13 | Kannadasn Literary Award | 2015 | For the best literary contribution |
14 | Sahitya Akademi Award | 2018 | For the novel Sanjaaram |
Three Doctorates and 21 M.Phil. Degrees have been awarded to scholars for researching into his writings. His books have been prescribed as part of syllabi of 2 Universities and 9 Autonomous Colleges.
Bibliography
Novels
No | Title | தலைப்பு | Year of publication |
1 | Upapaandavam | உபபாண்டவம் | 2000 |
2 | Nedungurudhi | நெடுங்குருதி | 2003 |
3 | Urupasi | உறுபசி | 2005 |
4 | Yaamam | யாமம் | 2007 |
5 | Thuyil | துயில் | 2010 |
6 | Nimitham | நிமித்தம் | 2013 |
7 | Sanjaaram | சஞ்சாரம் | 2014 |
8 | Idakkai | இடக்கை | 2016 |
9 | Padhin | பதின் | 2017 |
10 | Oru Siriya Vidumurai kala kadhal kadhai | ஒரு சிறிய விடுமுறைக்கால காதல் கதை | 2019 |
Short stories
No | Title | தலைப்பு | Year of Publication |
1 | Veliyil Oruvan | வெளியில் ஒருவன் | 1990 |
2 | Kaattin Uruvam | காற்றின் உருவம் | 1993 |
3 | Veyilai Kondu Vaarungal | வெயிலைக் கொண்டு வாருங்கள் | 2001 |
4 | Paalyanadhi | பால்ய நதி | 2003 |
5 | Nadandu Sellum Neerootru | நடந்து செல்லும் நீருற்று | 2006 |
6 | Thaavarangalin Uraiyaadal | தாவரங்களின் உரையாடல் | 2007 |
7 | Peyarillaadha Oorin Pagalvelai | பெயரில்லாத ஊரின் பகல் வேளை | 2008 |
8 | Padhinettaam Nootraandin Mazhai | பதினெட்டாம் நூற்றாண்டின் மழை | 2008 |
9 | Nagulan Veettil Yaarumillai | நகுலன் வீட்டில் யாருமில்லை | 2009 |
10 | Appodhum Kadal Paarthukondirundhadhu | அப்போதும் கடல் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது | 2010 |
11 | Buddanaavadhu Sulabam | புத்தனாவது சுலபம் | 2011 |
12 | mazhai maan | மழைமான் | 2012 |
13 | gandhiyodu pesuven | காந்தியோடு பேசுவேன் | 2013 |
14 | kudhiraigaL pesa marukkinrana | குதிரைகள் பேச மறுக்கின்றன | 2013 |
15 | S.Ramakrishnan kadhaigaL Volume 1 | எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள் - I | 2014 |
16 | S.Ramakrishnan kadhaigaL Volume 2 | எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள்- II | 2014 |
17 | S.Ramakrishnan kadhaigaL Volume 3 | எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள்-III | 2014 |
18 | Neerilum Nadakkalaam | நீரிலும் நடக்கலாம் | 2014 |
19 | Enna Solgirai Sudare | என்ன சொல்கிறாய் சுடரே | 2015 |
20 | cycle kamalathin thangai | சைக்கிள் கமலத்தின் தங்கை | 2016 |
21 | Thanimaiyin veettirku nooru jannalgaL | தனிமையின் வீட்டிற்கு நூறு ஜன்னல்கள் | 2017 |
Plays
No | Title | தலைப்பு | Year of Publication |
1 | Aravaan | அரவான் | 2006 |
2 | Sindhubaathin manaivi | சிந்துபாத்தின் மனைவி | 2013 |
3 | Sooriyanai chutrum bhoomi | சூரியனை சுற்றும் பூமி | 2013 |
Children literature
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | ezhu thalainagaram | 2005 |
2 | kiRu kiRu vaanam | 2006 |
3 | kaal muLaitha kathaigaL | 2006 |
4 | neeLa naaku | 2011 |
5 | Pampazhaapam | 2011 |
6 | ezhudha therindha puli | 2011 |
7 | kaasu kaLLan | 2011 |
8 | thalaiyillaadha paiyan | 2011 |
9 | enaku ean kanavu varudhu | 2011 |
10 | laali pale | 2011 |
11 | Akkadaa | 2013 |
12 | sirikum vaguppaRai | 2013 |
13 | veLLai raaNi | 2014 |
14 | aNdasaraasaram | 2014 |
15 | Socrates in sivappu noolagam | 2014 |
16 | kaRpanai kudhirai | 2014 |
17 | padikka therindha singam | 2016 |
18 | meesaiyillaadha apple | 2016 |
19 | poonaiyin manaivi | 2016 |
20 | iRakai virikum maram | 2016 |
21 | ulagin miga chiRiya thavaLai | 2016 |
22 | eliyin password | 2017 |
Seven Lectures
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | Tolstoy | 2013 |
2 | Dostoyevsky | 2013 |
3 | Basho | 2013 |
4 | Shakespeare | 2013 |
5 | Hemingway | 2013 |
6 | Homer | 2013 |
7 | aayirathu oru araabia iravugaL | 2013 |
Essays on World Literature
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | vaakiyangaLin saalai | 2002 |
2 | vizhithirupavanin iravu | 2005 |
3 | nam kaalathu novelhaL | 2008 |
4 | adhe iravu adhe varigaL | 2008 |
5 | endRaar Borges | 2009 |
6 | Chekovin meedhu pani peigiradhu | 2010 |
7 | Galileo maNdiyidavillai | 2011 |
8 | enadharumai Tolstoy | 2011 |
9 | Kafka ezhudhaadha kaditham | 2014 |
10 | ulagai vaasippom | 2017 |
11 | novelenum symphony | 2017 |
Essays on Poetry
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | koozhaangaRkaL paaduginRana | 2011 |
Essays on Painting
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | chithirangaLin visithirangaL | 2008 |
2 | Picassovin kodugaL | 2012 |
3 | aayiram vaNNangaL | 2016 |
Essays on Cinema
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | padher paanjaali | 2006 |
2 | ayal cinema | 2007 |
3 | ulaga cinema | 2008 |
4 | pesatherindha nizhalgal | 2009 |
5 | Chaplinodu pesungal | 2011 |
6 | paravai konam | 2012 |
7 | Samuraigal kaathirukkiRaargal | 2013 |
8 | naangaavathu cinema | 2014 |
9 | irul inidhu oli inidhu | 2014 |
10 | kutrathin kangal | 2016 |
11 | Kaatchigalukku appaal | 2017 |
Anthologies of Essays
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | Thunaiyezhuthu | 2004 |
2 | Kadhaavilaasam | 2005 |
3 | Desandhri | 2006 |
4 | Kelvikuri | 2007 |
5 | ilaigalai viyakkum maram | 2007 |
6 | Aadhalinaal | 2008 |
7 | kaatril yaaro nadakkiraargal | 2008 |
8 | malaigal sapthamiduvathillai | 2009 |
9 | vaasaga parvam | 2009 |
10 | kurathi mudukkin kanavuga | 2010 |
11 | kaan enradhu iyarkai | 2010 |
12 | siridhu velicham | 2010 |
13 | rayileriya graamam | 2012 |
14 | Ialkkillaadha payani | 2013 |
15 | pullinum siriyadhu | 2014 |
16 | Hiroshimavil manigal olikkinrana | 2014 |
17 | unavu yuddham | 2014 |
18 | veedilla puthagangal | 2015 |
19 | India vaanam | 2016 |
20 | indrillai eninum | 2016 |
21 | Chekov vaazhgiraar | 2016 |
22 | nilam keattadhu kadal sonnadhu | 2016 |
23 | Nilavazhi | 2016 |
24 | ezhuthe vaazhkkai | 2017 |
25 | kadavulin naakku | 2017 |
History - Non fiction
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | kodugal illaadha varaipadam | 2008 |
2 | enadhu India | 2012 |
3 | maraikkapatta India | 2013 |
Interviews
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | eppodhumirukkum kadhai | 2007 |
2 | pesi kadandha thooram | 2011 |
Other books - Edited volumes
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | endrum sujatha | 2011 |
2 | S.Ramakrishnan ezhuthulagam | 2011 |
3 | Vaanengum paRavaigaL | 2012 |
4 | nooRu siRandha siRukadhaigaL | 2013 |
Translation
No | Title | Year of Publication |
1 | Alice in aRpudha ulagam | 1993 |
2 | nambikkaiyin parimaaNangaL | 1994 |
3 | paadhaiyillaadha payaNam | 2002 |
Filmography
No | Title | Language | Year of release |
1 | Baba | Tamil | 2002 |
2 | Album | Tamil | 2002 |
3 | Popcorn | Tamil | 2003 |
4 | Sandakozhi | Tamil | 2005 |
5 | Unnale Unnale | Tamil | 2007 |
6 | Bheemaa | Tamil | 2008 |
7 | Dhaam Dhoom | Tamil | 2008 |
8 | Modhi Vilayadu | Tamil | 2009 |
9 | Chikku Bukku | Tamil | 2010 |
10 | Pesu | Tamil | unreleased |
11 | Avan Ivan | Tamil | 2011 |
12 | Samar | Tamil | 2013 |
13 | Sandakozhi 2 | Tamil | 2017 |
14 | Idam Porul Eval | Tamil | unreleased |
15 | Jail | Tamil | unreleased |
Shortfilms
No | Title | Language | Year of Release |
1 | karNa motcham | Tamil | 2012 |
2 | tharamaNiyil karappaan poochigaL | Tamil | 2012 |
3 | matRavaL | Tamil | 2014 |
4 | Kokkarako | Tamil | 2014 |
5 | veettukaNakku | Tamil | 2014 |
6 | Pidaaran | Tamil | 2014 |
7 | Vaazhkkai | Tamil | 2014 |
8 | thingaL | Tamil | 2015 |
9 | oru koppai theneer | Tamil | 2015 |
10 | iru kumizhigaL | Tamil | 2015 |
11 | Clean bowled | 2016 |
References
- "Welcome to Sramakrishnan". www.sramakrishnan.com. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- "Interview". Puthagam pesudhu: 42. June 2011.
வெளியில் ஒருவன் என்று ஒரு புத்தகம் வரும்போது நான் எழுத்தாளன் இல்லை. அந்தப் புத்தகம் வரும்வரைக்கும் ஏதோ எனக்கு விருப்பமான விஷயங்களை எழுதிக்கொண்டிருந்த ஆளாக இருந்தேனே தவிர எழுத்தாளராக இல்லை. அந்தப் புத்தகம் வந்தபோதும் ஆகவில்லை’…… 'இப்போது எனக்கு எழுத்தின் திசை தெரியும். அதன் நோக்கம், வலிமை தெரியும். அன்றைக்கு அது தெரியாது. எப்படியென்றால் கையில் கேமரா உள்ள ஒரு குழந்தை கண்ணுக்குத் தட்டுப்படுவதையெல்லாம் படம் பிடிக்குமே… அதுமாதிரியான ஒரு ஆள்தான் (அப்போது).
- "Interview". ET Madras Plus. 3 February 2012.
- "Interview". Puthagam pesudhu: 37. June 2011.
என் கதைகளில் கூட மிகைத்தன்மை ஏன் இருக்கிறதென்றால், எதார்த்தத்தையும் மிகைத்தன்மையையும் என்னால் பிரித்துப்பார்க்க முடியவில்லை.
- "Interview". Puthagam pesudhu: 33. June 2011.
சங்க காலத்தில் பாணர்கள், கூத்தர்கள் ஊர் ஊராகச் சென்று பாடி இசைத்து கவிதை சொன்ன மரபு நமக்கு இருக்கிறது. நான் நவீன காலத்து பாணனாக இருக்கிறேன். நான் ஊர் ஊராகப் போய் மக்களைச் சந்தித்து பேசிப் பழகி அவர்களின் கதைகளைச் சொல்லக்கூடிய பாணன் தான்.
- "S Ramakrishnan on winning the Tagore Literary Award".
- "Welcome to Tamil Literary Garden". tamilliterarygarden.com. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
Video links
- Actor Rajinikanths speech at S.Ramakrishnan's felicitation function
- Vairamuthu speech at S Ramakrishnan felicitation function
- KARNAMOTCHAM-short film
- Kokkarako-short film
- Tharamaniyil Karapaanpoochigal-short film
- S.Ramakrishnan speech about Dostoyevsky
- S.Ramakrishnan speech about Hiroshima
- Ki.Ra is a True Indian Writer - S.Ramakrishnan Speech
- Karl Marx History - S.Ramakrishnan speech