Mathilukal Explained

Mathilukal (Malayalam: മതിലുകൾ, meaning Walls) is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965.^[3]

Theme

The theme of the novel, focuses on the love between Basheer, a prisoner, and a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the novel.^[4] In Mathilukal, though the broad frame is autobiographical and the narration is first person, the detailsseem to contain sprinkles of fantasy.^[5]

Translations

• Voices; The Walls. Translated by V. Abdulla. Bombay: Orient Longman. 1976.
• Walls. Translated by Nivedita Menon. New Delhi: Katha. 1996. pp. 43–72.

Film adaptation

See main article: Mathilukal (film). In 1989, a film adaptation of the novel was released, starring Mammootty as Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and K.P.A.C Lalitha as Narayani (voice only), and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The film was a major critical success, and gained many awards at national and international levels. Mammootty won the National Film Award for Best Actor.

External links

• Book review by Susan Mathen of Ingoodbooks.com

Notes and References

1. http://dcbookshop.net/php/bookSearchResult.php?val=Mathilukal&type=BUK "Mathikal by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer"
2. R.E.Asher. 24 January 1998. "Basheer and the freedom struggle". Frontline. The Hindu. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
3. P.K.Ajith Kumar. "Romantic interlude". The Hindu. 14 May 2010.
4. K.Rajan. "Of human bondage". The Hindu. 14 March 2008
5. P.M.Girish. "A Brief Examination of Three Widely-Acclaimed Malayalam Novels". Languageinindia.com. 3 March 2008.