Thiruvananthapuram: Malayali Tamil writer A Madhavan passed away at the age of 83. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital for a week. He breathed his last on Tuesday afternoon. The writer was residing at Kaithamukku in Thiruvananthapuram. He is a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for the collection of articles titled ‘Ilakkiya Chuvadukal’ in 2015.
Born to Avudanayakam Pillai and Chellammal in 1934, Madhavan received his initial from his father’s name. His family had migrated from Tirunelveli to Thiruvananthapuram. He started his literary career by translating the works of Victor Hugo from Malayalam to Tamil. Noted writers Pudhumaipithan and Sundara Ramaswamy were his contemporaries.
Madhavan has published over 500 short stories and 150 articles in various Tamil publications. He translated into Tamil ‘Sammanam’ by Karoor Neelakanta Pillai, ‘Ini Njan Urangatte’ by P K Balakrishnan and ‘Yakshi’ by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. He served as a member of the expert committee of Kendra Sahitya Akademi and was the founder and president of Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Sangham.
Madhavan was honoured with several awards including Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu government, Golden Jubilee Award of Kerala University Tamil Department, Golden Jubilee Award of Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Sangham and Mahakavi Ulloor Parameshwara Iyer Award. His works always included characters who speak Malayalam with a Tamil slang.
Late Santha was Madhavan’s wife. Kalai Shelvi, Malar Shelvi and late Govindarajan are their children. Last rites will be held at Thycaud community cemetery on Wednesday.
