First of Malayalam Literature

Dec 2020|🟢Current|3 min read|61 entries

Key Takeaway

Malayalam is a comparatively young language in South India and its literature dates back to more than five centuries.

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com

First of Malayalam Literature(61)

Item	Detail
First of Malayalam LiteratureFather of Modern Malayalam Literature	Thunchath Ezhuthachan
First Malayalam Prose Work	Bhashakautiliyam(a commentary on Kautilya’s Arthasastra, written in the 12th century)
First Malayalam Grammar/Literary Treatise	Lilathilakam(compiled in the 14th century, is considered the pinnacle of Manipravalam style)
First Classic	Krishna Gatha(Cherusseri, 1500 AD)
First Travelogue	Varthamanapusthakam(Ente Roma Yathra, 1786, by Paramekkal Thomakathanar)
First Epic / Mahakavyam in Malayalam	Ramachandra Vilasam(Azhakath Padmanabha Kurup, 1907)
First Poet	Cheeraman
FirstVanchippattu	Kuchelavritham(Ramapurathu Warrier)
First Thullal Poem	Kalyanasaugandhikam(Kunjan Nambiar)
FirstChampu Poem in Malayalam	Unniyachi Charitham
First Elegy in Malayalam	Oru Vilapam(V. C. Balakrishna Panicker, 1902).**First Collection of Malayalam Poems–Vellinakshtram(M.P. Appan)
First Short Story in Malayalam	Vasanavikruthi(Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar, 1891)
First History of Kerala	Vaikath Pachu Moothath(1860)
First Autobiography in Malayalam	Vaikath Pachu Moothath(1871)
First Autobiography in Malayalam written by a Woman	Oru Vyazhavatta Smaranakal(B. Kalyani Amma, 1916)
First Serialized Autobiography in Malayalam	Ente Kadha(Madhavikutty)
First Work on the History of Malayalam literature	Malayala Bhasha Charithram(P. Govinda Pillai)
First Malayalam Journal from Travancore	Gnana Nikshepam(1848)
First Malayalam Book on Journalism	Vrithantha Pathrapravarthanam(വൃത്താന്ത പത്രപ്രവർത്തനം, Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai)
First monthly magazine that gave emphasis to Malayalam Literature	Vidyavilasini(1881)
First Malayalam magazine to be published entirely in poetry	Kavana Kaumudi
First Work in ‘Pachamalayalam’ Movement	Nalla Bhasha(Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran, 1891)
First Dictionary in Malayalam	Dictionarium Malabaricum(1746)
First Novels in MalayalamFirst Malayalam Novel	Kundalatha (Appu Nedungadi, 1887)
First Novel printed & released in Malayalam	Fulmoni Ennum Koruna Ennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha(ഫുൽമോനി എന്നും കോരുണ എന്നും പേരായ രണ്ടു സ്ത്രീകളുടെ കഥ, Rev. Joseph Peet, 1858)
First Major/Social Novel in Malayalam	Indulekha(O. Chandu Menon, 1889)First Historical Novel in Malayalam– Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai, 1891)
First Novel from Travancore	Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai)
First Malayalam Novel to be a part of a Trilogy	Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai)
First Malayalam Novel to have a Masculine Title	Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai)
First Historical Novel in any South Indian languages	Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai)
First Malayalam Novel to be adapted into film of same name (1933)	Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai)
First Detective Novel	Bhaskara Menon(Appan Thampuran, 1924)
First Satirical Novel	Premamrutam(C. V. Raman Pillai)
First Political Novel	Parappuram(K. Narayana Kurukkal; three parts; 1908)
First Cyber Novel	Nrittam(M. Mukundan)
First Malayalam Audio Novel	Ithanente Peru(Paul Zakariya)
First RealisticNovel in Malayalam	Dhoomakethuvinte Udayam(Sardar K.M. Panicker, 1929)
First Historical Novel translated into Malayalam	Akbar(Kerala Varma Valiya Koi Thampuran, 1894)
First Malayalam Novel to gain a readership outside Kerala	Chemmeen(Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, 1962)
First Malayalam Novel that dealt with the Socially Backward Classes(Pulaya)	Saraswathi Vijayam (Potheri Kunjambu, 1892)
First Malayalam novel written instream of consciousnessnarrative style	Swargadhoothan(Ponjikkara Rafi; 3 parts; 1958)
First Female Novelist in Malayalam	J. Parukkuttiyamma
First Dramas in MalayalamFirst Drama in Malayalam	Manipravala Shakunthalam(translation of Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam by Kerala Varma Valiya Koi Thampuran, 1882)
First Historical Drama	Seethalakshmi(E.V. Krishna Pillai)
First Musical Drama	Sangeetha Naishadam(T.C. Achuthamenon).*First Political Drama– Pattabakki(K. Damodaran)
First Social Drama	Mariamma(Polachirackkal Kocheeppan Tharakan, 1878)
First Sanskrit Drama	Ascharyachoodamani(Sakthibhadran)
First Psychological Drama	Bhagnabhavanam(N. Krishna Pillai)
First Women's Drama	Ajnathavasam(Kuttikunju Thankachi, 1890)
First Solo Play(ഏകാങ്ക നാടകം)	Munnattu Veeran(മുന്നാട്ടുവീരൻ,Appan Thampuran,1926).📝SideNotes:Muslim Kalidasa– Moyinkuti Vaidyar
Kesari	Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar
Kerala Ibsen	N. Krishna Pillai
Niranam Poets	Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar & Rama Panikkar
Kerala Panini	A. R. Raja Raja Varma
Preface to Kerala Panineeyam of A.R. Rajaraja Varma was written by	Kerala Varma Valiyakoithampuran
Preface to Ramachandra Vilasamwas written by	A.R. Rajaraja Varma
Kerala Scott	C. V. Raman Pillai(after writing the first historical novel in Malayalam, Marthandavarma)
First Mystic Poet in Kerala	G. Sankara Kurup
First Malayalam Language Critic	Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thampuran
First Woman Dramatist in Malayalam	Thottakkat Ikkavamma(Subhadrarjunam)
Most no. of travelogues in Malayalam were written by	S.K. Pottekkatt.Some references says it's Sadarama by K. C. Kesava Pillai, however Sadarama is a Tamil musical play.* Translation ofThomas Gray's'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard' by Vatakkeppatt Raman Menon can be considered as the first elegy in Malayalam literature

First of Malayalam LiteratureFather of Modern Malayalam Literature

Thunchath Ezhuthachan

First Malayalam Prose Work

Bhashakautiliyam(a commentary on Kautilya’s Arthasastra, written in the 12th century)

First Malayalam Grammar/Literary Treatise

Lilathilakam(compiled in the 14th century, is considered the pinnacle of Manipravalam style)

First Classic

Krishna Gatha(Cherusseri, 1500 AD)

First Travelogue

Varthamanapusthakam(Ente Roma Yathra, 1786, by Paramekkal Thomakathanar)

First Epic / Mahakavyam in Malayalam

Ramachandra Vilasam(Azhakath Padmanabha Kurup, 1907)

First Poet

Cheeraman

FirstVanchippattu

Kuchelavritham(Ramapurathu Warrier)

First Thullal Poem

Kalyanasaugandhikam(Kunjan Nambiar)

FirstChampu Poem in Malayalam

Unniyachi Charitham

First Elegy in Malayalam

Oru Vilapam(V. C. Balakrishna Panicker, 1902).**First Collection of Malayalam Poems–Vellinakshtram(M.P. Appan)

First Short Story in Malayalam

Vasanavikruthi(Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar, 1891)

First History of Kerala

Vaikath Pachu Moothath(1860)

First Autobiography in Malayalam

Vaikath Pachu Moothath(1871)

First Autobiography in Malayalam written by a Woman

Oru Vyazhavatta Smaranakal(B. Kalyani Amma, 1916)

First Serialized Autobiography in Malayalam

Ente Kadha(Madhavikutty)

First Work on the History of Malayalam literature

Malayala Bhasha Charithram(P. Govinda Pillai)

First Malayalam Journal from Travancore

Gnana Nikshepam(1848)

First Malayalam Book on Journalism

Vrithantha Pathrapravarthanam(വൃത്താന്ത പത്രപ്രവർത്തനം, Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai)

First monthly magazine that gave emphasis to Malayalam Literature

Vidyavilasini(1881)

First Malayalam magazine to be published entirely in poetry

Kavana Kaumudi

First Work in ‘Pachamalayalam’ Movement

Nalla Bhasha(Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran, 1891)

First Dictionary in Malayalam

Dictionarium Malabaricum(1746)

First Novels in MalayalamFirst Malayalam Novel

Kundalatha (Appu Nedungadi, 1887)

First Novel printed & released in Malayalam

Fulmoni Ennum Koruna Ennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha(ഫുൽമോനി എന്നും കോരുണ എന്നും പേരായ രണ്ടു സ്ത്രീകളുടെ കഥ, Rev. Joseph Peet, 1858)

First Major/Social Novel in Malayalam

Indulekha(O. Chandu Menon, 1889)First Historical Novel in Malayalam– Marthandavarma(C.V. Raman Pillai, 1891)

First Novel from Travancore