Kanam EJ
Encyclopedia
Elavunkal Joseph Philip (13 June 1926 – 13 June 1982), popularly known by his pen name
Kanam EJ, was a Malayalam
novelist, short story
writer, and lyricist. Along with his contemporary, Muttathu Varkey
, he was known for his stories written with the common man in mind. Philip started the well known Malayalam weekly Manorajyam and served as its editor.
, a small village in Kottayam district
of Kerala
. He attended MHS Kangazha
and passed Malayalam Higher. After schooling he joined military service. He return to Kottayam
after the military service and joined CMS Middle School Kanam, as a teacher. Later he served as Malayalam Pandit in CMS schools of Mundakayam
, Kumpalampoika, and Kottayam
. Philip quit teaching and joined the popular Malayalam Weekly Malayala Manorama
as a journalist. In 1967 he resigned from Malayala Manorama and started his own Malayalam Weekly called Manorajyam. He later sold it to George Thomas of Keraladwani.
. He was a prolific writer and has written about 100 novels. Almost all of his novels were published in serial installments (Neendakatha) in Malayala Manorama
Weekly. One of his novels, Bharya, was adapted into a Malayalam film with the same title. The 1962 film was directed by Kunchacko
and starring Sathyan
and Ragini
. Kanam also wrote lyrics to few Malayalam films.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Kanam EJ, was a Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
novelist, short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer, and lyricist. Along with his contemporary, Muttathu Varkey
Muttathu Varkey
Muttathu Varkey was a Malayalam novelist, short story writer, and poet from Kerala state, South India.-Early life and career:...
, he was known for his stories written with the common man in mind. Philip started the well known Malayalam weekly Manorajyam and served as its editor.
Early life and career
Philip was born on 13 June 1926 as the son of Elavunkal Joseph in KanamKanam
Kanam is a village in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala.-Demographics: India census, Kanam had a population of 3400. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Kanam has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and...
, a small village in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He attended MHS Kangazha
Kangazha
Kangazha is a panchayath and village in the Changanacherry Taluk of the Kottayam District of Kerala State in India. It is a beautiful place with a serene atmosphere and is situated 26 kilometers east of Kottayam. It lies midway between the backwaters of Western Kerala and the misty mountains...
and passed Malayalam Higher. After schooling he joined military service. He return to Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
after the military service and joined CMS Middle School Kanam, as a teacher. Later he served as Malayalam Pandit in CMS schools of Mundakayam
Mundakayam
Mundakayam is a small town in Kottayam District of Kerala state, South India. It is the gateway to the high ranges of Kerala, and is at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts. It is here that the high ranges of south Kerala start. It is one of the most developed towns in Kerala, with rubber...
, Kumpalampoika, and Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
. Philip quit teaching and joined the popular Malayalam Weekly Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
as a journalist. In 1967 he resigned from Malayala Manorama and started his own Malayalam Weekly called Manorajyam. He later sold it to George Thomas of Keraladwani.
Literary career
Kanam emerged as one of the popular writer of Malayalam fiction during the 1960s and 1970s. He mainly wrote social novels based on the Christian community of KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He was a prolific writer and has written about 100 novels. Almost all of his novels were published in serial installments (Neendakatha) in Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
Weekly. One of his novels, Bharya, was adapted into a Malayalam film with the same title. The 1962 film was directed by Kunchacko
Kunchacko
Kunchacko was a Malayali Indian film producer and director who heavily influenced the Malayalam film industry by redefining the commercial film scenario. His venture Udaya Studios influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Madras, Tamil Nadu to Kerala...
and starring Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...
and Ragini
Ragini (actress)
Ragini was a South Indian danseuse and actress. She was the youngest of the famed Travancore Sisters: Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini. With sister Padmini, she started her acting career in the mid 1950s and has acted in movies of different Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu...
. Kanam also wrote lyrics to few Malayalam films.
Selected works
- Pampanathi Panjozhukunnu
- Ee Arayekkar Nintethanu
- Nee Bhoomiyude Uppakunnu
- Bharthavu
- Bharya