Unni R.

P. Jayachandran (born 12 April 1971), better known by his stage name Unni R., is an Indian short-story writer and screenwriter, who is known for his work in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema. Born in Kudamaloor in Kottayam district, he is currently based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He studied in Kudamaloor LP school, CMS college High school, CMS College Kottayam and Baselius College, Kottayam. Unni R. won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for the film Charlie (2015). His notable screenplays include Munnariyippu, Kullante Bharya in 5 Sundarikal and Bridge in Kerala Cafe.

Unni R.
Born
P.Jayachandran

(1971-04-12) 12 April 1971
Kottayam, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation
  • short story writer
  • screenplay writer
Spouse(s)Anu Chandran
Children1
Parent(s)
  • N. Parameswaran Nair
  • K. A. Radhamma

Career

Reckoned as a non-conformist writer, Unni R. is known for his stories like Kaalinaadakam, Leela, Kottayam 17, Bahujeevitham, Oru Bhayankara Kaamukan etc. His unique writing style is appreciated for its fantasy elements often blended with the alarming depiction of otherwise ordinary human experiences. Deliberately relinquishing the conventional literary practices, his stories are experimental and multi-layered in essence, uncommon in theme and colloquial in narration. Profound expressions of social sensitivity, sensuality and unpredictability are the defining characters of his writing style embellished with elements of black humour. Ozhivudivasathe Kali was his first published short story collection. For the story of same name, he has received the prestigious Kerala Sahithya Academy Geetha Hiranyan Endowment, Anganam-E.P. Sushama Endowment and Thomas Mundasseri Award. Ozhivudivasathe Kali has been later made into the film of the same name by Director Sanal Shashidaran. It won the 46th Kerala State Award for Best Film in 2015. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards including K.A. Kodunalloor Award and T.P Kishore Memorial Award (both for Praanilokam); V.P. Shivakumar Memorial Award and SBT Award (both for Mudraraakshasam); as well as Abudabi Shakti Award and Ayanam C.V. Sriraman Award (both for Kottayam 17)

His works have been translated into English and other Indian languages such as Tamil. His Leela and Bhootam were translated for the Tamil monthly magazine Kaalachuvadu by Tamil poet Sukumaran. Kalinaadakam which was translated to Tamil has been widely read and noted Tamil writer Perumal Murukan opined in his 19th D.C. Kizhakemuri Memorial lecture that Unni R.’s stories have extensive readership in Tamil Nadu along with the veterans such as Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Madhavikutty. Several of his articles, including one on Nakulan and on Madhavikutty, were also translated to Tamil and English. Indian Literature, a bi-monthly journal of Sahitya Academy featured his translated stories – Catwalk (Vol.231/2006) and Pedestrian named Badushah (Vol 260/2010). Malayalam Literary Survey (Jan-Mar 2008) published the translation of his short story, The Kali Play.

Besides screen writing, he has also acted as supporting roles in Aparahnam, Chappakurishu, Munnariyippu etc. He started his career as a sub-editor in the Karpooram Weekly, Kottayam, Kerala (1994-1995). He also worked as a Producer in Asianet Satellite Communications for a long period of time (1995-2013).

Bibliography

Short story Collections

Other works
  • Chumbikkunna Manushyar Chumbikkatha Manushyar (Essays)[books 6]
  • Basheer (Editor, Essays)
  • Prathi Poovan Kozhi (Novel )

Filmography
YearFilmCredited asNotes
StoryScriptDialogue
2007Big BYes
2009Kerala CafeYesYesYesSegment: Bridge
2010AnwarYes
2011Chaappa KurishuYesYesCo-written with Sameer Thahir.
2012Bachelor PartyYesYesCo-written with Santhosh Echikkanam.
20135 SundarikalYesYesSegment: Kullante Bharya
2014MunnariyippuYesYes
2015Ozhivudivasathe KaliYesKerala State Film Award 2015 -Best Film[2]
2015CharlieYesYesYesScript and dialogues co-written with Martin Prakkat.[3]
Kerala State Film Award 2015 - Best Screenplay
2016LeelaYesYesYes[4]
2019 Prathi PoovankozhiYesYesYes[5]
TBAOru Bhayankara KamukanYesYesYes[6]
2020bilalYes

Awards and honours
  • Kerala State Film Award 2015 (Best Screenplay) - Charlie
  • Geetha Hiranyan Endovement - Ozhivu Divasathe Kali (2006)[7]
  • Thomas Mundasseri Award - Ozhivu Divasathe Kali
  • Ankanam E.P. Sushama Endovement- Ozhivu Divasathe Kali
  • Abudhabi Sakthi Award - Kottayam 17
  • Ayanam C.V. Sreeraman Award - Kottayam 17
  • K.A. Kodungalloor Story Award
  • T.P. Kishore Award
  • V.P. Sivakumar Memorial Keli Award
  • Mohan Raghavan Award for Best Script Charlie
  • IIFA Award for Best story Charlie
  • Freedia Entertainments North America Film Award for best Script Charlie

References
  1. See also the English translations of Ozhivu Divasathe Kali (An Off day Game) and Aliceinte Albuthalokam (Alice in Wonderland) available at http://madhatterworks.blogspot.com/2018/04/ozhivudivasathe-kali-and-alicinte.html.
  2. Young, Deborah (2 November 2015). "'An Off-Day Game': Mumbai Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  3. V.P., Nicy (15 June 2015). "'Charlie' First Poster: Dulquer Salmaan Spotted in Trendy New Look [PHOTOS]". International Business Times. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  4. Jayaram, Deepika (4 November 2015). "Biju Menon in Ranjith's Leela?". The Times Of India. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  5. James, Anu. "title not finalised next with Basil Joseph to go on floor in 2018".
  6. James, Anu (12 October 2016). "Oru Bhayankara Kamukan: Dulquer Salmaan's next with Lal Jose to go on floor in 2017". International Business Times. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  7. "Akademi fellowships, awards". The Hindu. 27 April 2007.

Notes
  1. R, Unni. Ozhivu Divasaththe Kali (in Malayalam). Chintha Publications. p. 100. ISBN 9382328513.
  2. Ār, Uṇṇi (2006). Kāḷināṭakaṃ (in Malayalam) (2 ed.). Kottayam: Ḍi. Si. Buks. p. 64. ISBN 9788126413713.
  3. Ār, Uṇṇi (2010). Kōṭṭayaṃ 17 (in Malayalam) (3 ed.). Kottayam: Ḍi. Si. Buks. p. 96. ISBN 9788126428366.
  4. Ār, Unni (2012). Kathakaḷ Uṇṇi Ār. = Kathakal Unni R. (in Malayalam) (8 ed.). Kottayam: DC Books. p. 184. ISBN 9788126434497.
  5. R, Unni (30 March 2016). Oru Bhayankara Kamukan (in Malayalam) (2 ed.). D C Books. p. 120. ISBN 9788126464739.
  6. R, Unni (11 December 2014). Chumbikkunna Manushyar Chumbikkatha Manushyar (in Malayalam) (1 ed.). D C Books. p. 288. ISBN 9788126452651.
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