Valsalam Vathussery

Valsalan Vathusserry is a noted screenplay writer, short story writer, novelist, documentary director, and critic predominantly in the Malayalam film industry. Also, he is a Professor at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala. He was born on 18 March 1963 in Edappally, Kochi, Kerala. His family included his father V.N. Appukkuttan, his mother V.K. Subhangi, three elder brothers, and one younger sister. He changed schools several times; he studied at Changampuzha Memorial School, Edappally, St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Kidangoor, Infant Jesus Public School Kidangoor, Brahmanandodayam Higher Senior Secondary School, Kalady. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Malayalam at U.C. College, Aluva, and completed his Master of Arts in Malayalam at Maharajas College Ernakulam. In 1987, he pursued his M.Phil degree at Kerala University and completed his research in the subject Elements of Fantasy in Malayalam Short Story with UGC JRF. In 1992, he got his Ph.D degree.

His journey as a lecturer started in 1989, when he joined Aligarh Muslim University, UP at the department of Modern Indian Languages. He worked at the Government College, Mahe under the government of Pondicherry for an extended period from 1991 to 2010. In 2010, he joined Sree Sankaracharya University, Kalady. From 2018 to 2020, he was the head of the department. Later, he resigned from the position of head of the department, and joined back as a teacher. In 1978, he published his first story in the college magazine of Sree Sankaracharya University. Also, he participated in many short story writing competitions and published several short stories. Some of his prominent story collections are “Guhachithrangngal” (Cave Paintings, 1996), “ Marupuram Click to look into! >> Read More... ” (Other Side, 2002), Gas Chamber (2006), “Chuvarezhuththu” (Wall Writings, 2011).

Some of these stories were translated into English and various Indian languages. He also published two novels “Varshikarekha” (2003), which was also translated to Tamil language by Sadasivan named Kalachirpiyin Kaikalil (2007), and “Vishamavrutham” (2017). Valsalan made his first debut in the industry by writing the screenplay along with Shaji N Kaurn for the Hindi film “Nishad” (2002), directed by Shaji N Karun. This film gained wide recognition and was screened at many International Film Festivals. Some of his other renowned works as a screenwriter are “Ankuram” (2014) and “Swanam” (2017), “Nakharam” (2011), all directed by T. Deepesh; he also wrote the screenplay for many short films, some of which include “Save” (first film based on his script), “Anyam,” “Type Writer,” “ Calendar Click to look into! >> Read More... ,” “Murivu,” “Anineyum Pennineyum Kurichu.” He showcased his multitasking skills by directing a documentary along with Shaji Palayad “Marayoor: Struggle for Survival” based on the protection of Sandalwood forests in Marayoor.

Some of his works as a critic include “Novelpadanangal” published by D C Books Kottayam; he wrote this book during his M.Phil research. “Ottayanmaarude Vazhi” (2001), his first collection of critical studies, “Kathayum Fantasiyum” (2004), “Kathayude Nucleus” (2007), “Pareekkutty Enna Vasco Da Gama” (2015), and “Malayala Sahithyaniroopanam Adarukal Adayalangngal” (2016). He published more than 60 articles as chapters in Anthologies. Valsalan Vathusserry has won many awards and accolades throughout his career, some of which include “Malayala ManoramaShort Story Prize” in 1983 and 1984, “V.T. Kumaran Poetry Award” in 1991, “Malayattoor Award” for his novel Varshikarekha in 2005, “State Television Award for Screenplay” for his short film Type Writer in 2007, “Edassery Award for Criticism” for Malyala Sathiya Niroopanam in 2017, “Appan Thampuran Award” for his novel Vishvamavrutham, “Script Writing for Best Children’s Film” Ankuram (2014) and Swanam (2018).