V. K. N. Nair (1932-2004) was a Malayalam novelist. Apart from novels, he has written short stories, satirical pieces and political commentaries. What is so distinctive about the works is the dark humour, trenchant criticism of the political class, and unmatched ability in stretching the limits of language. V. K. N's works calls for an informed reader, who can track down the allusions and shift between languages (English, Hindi, Malayalam and the distinctive variety of Tamil spoken by the Iyer community in Palghat.) In most cases, the use of language other than Malayalam is immediately followed by a translation (in parenthesis), but these translations have little do with what they stand for in the original.

Like a good number of modern malayalam writers, such as O V Vijayan, Anand, and others, V. K. N. spent many years in New Delhi. The experiences of these years that also coincideded with the pre-adolescence of independent India finds a brilliant recreation in one of his greatest works Arohanam.

Works

Novels:

Arohanam (V. K. N. himself translated this work into English with the title Bovine Bugles)

Pithamahan

Adhikaram

Anantharam

Asuravani

Penpada

Kaavi

Collections of Short Stories:

Payyan Kathakal

Sir Chathuvinte Ruling

Hajyaru

Mananchira Test

V. K. N. Kathakal

Payyans

Ambathu Kathakal

Oru Nooru Mini Kathakal