Maythil Radhakrishnan


Maythil Radhakrishnan aka Rad Maythil is an all-rounder in Malayalam literature, who writes poetry and fiction as well as non-fiction. He was chosen for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions in 2016 which he refused.

Biography

Maythil graduated in Economics from the University of Kerala in 1968. For the next eight years, he researched insect ethology, while working as a freelance journalist.
From 1976 to 1984 he worked in Kuwait for a Norwegian shipping firm as EDP Coordinator. For the next three years, he ran his own computer aided design and drafting center in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Since 1987, except for a four-year stint as Editor for Youth Express of The New Indian Express group, at Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai, Maythil has spent his time mostly in writing; on occasions working as a freelance journalist, quizmaster and a web developer.
He writes popular columns in The Sunday Express and in Madhyamam Weekly.
Presently, he lives in Thiruvananthapuram. He is a widower and has a daughter named June and a son named Julian. June died on February 13, 2025.

Writing

Maythil's first novel, Sooryavamsam, published in 1970, announced the arrival of a major talent in Malayalam literature. Four novels and many stories and poems later, his is still a fresh voice. His oeuvre reflects the whole gamut of unrelated experience—from computers to insects—that he had acquired. The essence of his writing is summed up by K. Satchidanandan in the following words:

There are very few in Indian fiction who can compare with this author in artistic innovation, intellectual subtlety and original perception of things and of life. The three novellas here represent all that is newest in Indian fiction.

Maythil was awarded the 2015 annual award for his contributions to Malayalam literature by Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2016 which he refused, citing his distrust in academies.

Novels

  • Sooryavamsam, novel, 1970
  • Bra, novel, 1974
  • Chuvanna Vidooshakarute Anchampathi, novel, 1974
  • Hitchcockinte Itapetal, novel, 1994
  • Laingikathayekkurichu Oru Upanyasam, novel, 1995

Poetry

  • Penguin, poems, 1973
  • Bhoomiyeyum Maranatheyum Kurichu, poems, 1991

Short fiction

  • Naayakanmaar Shavapetakangalil, Short stories, 1994
  • Dylan Thomasinte Panth, Short stories, 1994
  • Sangeetham Oru Samayakalayaanu, Short stories, 1995
  • Sooryamalsyathe vivarikkal, Novella, 2017

Collected works in English

Collected works in Malayalam

  • Maythil Kathakal, Published by Mathrubhumi Books, 2013
  • Maythil Radhakrishnan - Pratikathakal: Vimatam, Published by DC Books, 2003

Non-fiction (Science)

  • Romam, 1981
  • Daivam, Manushyan, Yanthram 2001