Titled ‘Paathraavali’, the directory is attached to https://thaalilakkam.in/, an open resource of Malayalam language and literature run by M.K. Praveen Varma, a retired schoolteacher and native of Balussery in the district.
A group of book readers and language enthusiasts from Kozhikode have joined hands to create a one-of-a-kind online directory of the main characters in noted Malayalam novels.Titled ‘Paathraavali’, the directory is attached to https://thaalilakkam.in/, an open resource of Malayalam language and literature run by M.K. Praveen Varma, a retired schoolteacher and native of Balussery in the district. U.K. Kumaran, Vayalar Award-winning author, opened the directory’s first phase at an event held at Providence Women’s College recently. Its content is prepared with the help of Sargavedi, a literary and cultural forum based in Balussery.Mr. Varma told The Hindu on Monday (September 29) that the new venture was part of his efforts to take the website, which is into its fifth year, to more general readers. “College and school students can familiarise themselves with some celebrated Malayalam novels through this. The description of characters in ‘Paathraavali’ is in such a way that they can follow it easily,” he said.On the website, the directory can be accessed in the section ‘Sahityam’ and under the sub-section ‘Puthiyava’. At present, profiles of some of the characters in Agnisakshi (Lalithambika Antharjanam), Aathreyakam (R. Rajasree), Kalam and Manju (M.T. Vasudevan Nair), Kuda Nannakkunna Choyi (M. Mukundan), Khasakkinte Ithihasam (O.V. Vijayan), Diaspora (V. Suresh Kumar), Thakshankunnu Swaroopam (Mr. Kumaran), Pattunoolppuzhu (S. Hareesh), Manushyanu Oru Aamukham (Subhash Chandran), Maranavamsam (P.V. Shajikumar), Maria Verum Maria (Sandhya Mary), and Munpe Parakkunna Pakshikal (C. Radhakrishnan) have been given.V.P. Elias, secretary, Sargavedi, said that at least 15 people, both forum members and others, wrote the descriptions. “Around 50 to 60 people are involved in the project, and more descriptions will be added in the coming days. There is a plan to rope in undergraduate students, as it will help them academically as well. The long-term aim is to cover most of the prominent novels in Malayalam,” he added. Published - September 29, 2025 07:29 pm IST
