Noted Malayalam writer Unnikrishnan Puthur, 81, passed away on Wednesday, owing to age-related illness. He breathed his last at 4.30 p.m. at the Muthuvatoor Rajah Hospital at Chavakkad near here.
Unnikrishnan was known for his simple depiction of the life of the common man.
He won the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for his debut novel ‘Balikkalu, which was about the poverty-stricken lives of the Devaswom employees associated with the Lord Sree Krishna Temple. Unnikrishan, who published more than 50 books, has 29 short-story collections and 15 novels to his credit. He also won the Guruvayoorappan Trust Odakuzhal award of the year 2010 for his novel ‘Anubhavangal Ner Reghakkal’. Born in the village of Engandiyoor, in Thrissur, Unnikrishnan worked as a newspaper correspondent in the early years of his career.
Later, he joined the Guruvayur Devaswom as a clerk, and retired as head of the Devaswom library in 1987. “Many of his popular novels, like ‘Nazhikamani’, ‘Manase Shathamaaku’ and ‘Aattukattil’ are about the struggles of the common man,” said Puthur Ramesh,” publisher and nephew of Unnikrishnan.
Unnikrishnan is survived by his wife and two sons. The cremation will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday.