S. Ramakrishnan is a writer from Tamil Nadu, India. He is a full-time writer who has been active over the last 27 years in areas of Tamil literature like short stories, novels, plays, children's literature and translations. He has written and published 12 novels, 22 collections of short stories, 3 plays, 24 books for children, 3 books of translation, 24 collections of articles, 19 books on world cinema, 16 books on world literature including seven of his lectures, 3 books on Indian history, 3 on painting and 4 edited volumes including a Reader on his own works. He also has 2 collections of interviews to his credit. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2018 in Tamil language category for his novel Sanjaaram.
Writing career About his first book he says: "I was not a writer when my first book 'veLiyil oruvan' was published. Until then I was just writing whatever I wanted to write, but I was not a writer; even after my first book came out…" and "…but now I know the direction, purpose and strength of the written word. I didn't know that then. It is like how a child with a camera takes pictures of whatever she sees… I was like that child."
His short stories and articles have been translated and published in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and French.
His novel Upa Paandavam, written after a deep research into Mahabharata, was selected as the best novel in Tamil. It was widely well received by the readers.
The novel Nedum Kuruthi, which spoke of the dark and tragic existential experiences of the tribe of oppressed people cruelly stamped as criminal tribe by the British, secured the Gnanavaani award for the Best Novel.
His novel Yaamam, is a historical novel that portrays the social and cultural transformations of Chennai across different periods of its history.
His Urupasi is a novel that conveys the stirring mental agonies of a young man who was unemployed because he took his degree majoring in Tamil language.
He established a wide reader base in Tamil literature through his column series, including Thunai Ezhuthu, Desandhri, Kathavilaasam, Kelvikuri and Siridhu Velicham which were published in the Tamil weekly magazine Ananda Vikatan.
Writing style His short stories are noted for their modern story-telling style in Tamil. He says in an interview: "As a storyteller, it's vital that I observe people, their mannerisms and keep myself aware of present trends…" and "…I keep myself surrounded by youngsters who I learn a lot from. I think it is such company that keeps me revitalised to write more and more stories".
He explains the magical nature of his stories quite simply – "The reason why my stories have a magical aspect is because I am unable to separate Magic from Realism."
Literary activism
He has organized over thirty story-telling camps for school children, all over Tamil Nadu. He has organized a special story-telling camp for children with dyslexia-related learning disabilities.
He says in an interview: "We have a rich tradition of PaaNans and Koothars going around places singing and creating poetry in the Sangam period. I am just a modern day PaaNan who goes to places, meets people, talks to them and tells their stories."
He had, as Editor, brought out the literary publication, Atcharam for five long years.
His website www.sramakrishnan.com serves as a resource for literature aimed at a younger audience. It has secured 5 million visits from readers all over the world.
Publishing House 'Desanthiri' In December 2017, he started his own publishing house in the name of one of his most famous books, Desanthiri. It was started to publish his own works, old ones which are not in print at present as well as his upcoming works.
Films and other adoptions (contributions in movie and theatre performances) A connoisseur of world cinema, he has compiled an introductory compendium on world cinema with thousand pages called Ulaga Cinema. He has written ten important books on cinema such as Ayal Cinema, Pather Panchali, Chithirangalin Vichithirangal and Paesa Therindha Nizhalgal. Irul Inithu Oli Inithu, Chaplinudan Pesungal.
He has organized screenplay writing camps for short film directors and students of cinema creation in important cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, etc.
His collection of 9 plays, Aravaan (Uyirmmai Publications), 3 plays, Sindhubaadhin Manaivi (Kayalkavin Publications) and Sooriyanai sutrum boomi (translated plays, Kayalkavin Publications) create new possibilities for theater space on facing power, breaking up historical and cultural images and focusing on psychological eccentricities. These plays have received good appreciation while they were staged and have been performed at the national drama festival of Sangeetha Natak Academy. The play 'Aravaan', included in this collection has been translated in to English, Malayalam and Kannada.
The short film Karna Motcham with his screenplay won the National Award for Best Short Film and went on to win, so far, 27 important awards in Indian and International Film Festivals.
Another short film Matraval has won three coveted awards as the best Tamil Short Film.
He has worked as Screenplay and Dialogue writer in Tamil feature films like Baba, Album, Chandaikkozhi, Unnale Unnale, Bhima, Dhaam Dhoom, Chikku Bukku, Modhi Vilaiyadu, Yuvan Yuvathi and Avan Ivan, Samar and Idam PoruL EvaL.
Rewards and recognition No Award Year Remarks1Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award 1993For Best Young playwright2Best Novel Award2001From Progressive Writers' Union3Gnanavaani Award2004For the best literary contribution4Best book Award2006From Tamil Nadu Government5Tagore Literary Award2010For Yaamam novel6Wisdom Young Achiever Award2010For the best literary contribution7Salem Tamil Sangam award2010For the best literary contribution8Iyal award2011For Lifetime achievement from the Tamil Literary Garden, Canada9Thisai Ettum Award2014Sponsored by Nalli10Periyar award2014For the best literary contribution11Maxim Gorky award2015For introduced the Russian literature12CKK Literary Award2015For the best literary contribution13Kannadasn Literary Award2015For the best literary contribution14Sahitya Akademi Award2018For the Novel Sanjaaram
Three Doctorates and 21 M.Phil. Degrees have been awarded to scholars for researching into his writings. His books have been prescribed as part of syllabi of 2 Universities and 9 Autonomous Colleges.
Bibliography Novels
No Title தலைப்பு Year of publication1Upapaandavamஉபபாண்டவம்20002Nedungurudhiநெடுங்குருதி20033Urupasiஉறுபசி20054Yaamamயாமம்20075Thuyilதுயில்20106Nimithamநிமித்தம்20137Sanjaaramசஞ்சாரம்20148Idakkaiஇடக்கை20169Padhinபதின்201710Oru Siriya Vidumurai kala kadhal kadhaiஒரு சிறிய விடுமுறைக்கால காதல் கதை201911Mandiyidungal thanthaiyeeமண்டியிடுங்கள் தந்தையே202212Veedu thirumbathavalவீடு திரும்பாதவள்2025
Short stories No Title தலைப்பு Year of Publication1Veliyil Oruvanவெளியில் ஒருவன்19902Kaattin Uruvamகாற்றின் உருவம்19933Veyilai Kondu Vaarungal வெயிலைக் கொண்டு வாருங்கள்20014Paalyanadhiபால்ய நதி20035Nadandu Sellum Neerootruநடந்து செல்லும் நீருற்று20066Thaavarangalin Uraiyaadalதாவரங்களின் உரையாடல்20077Peyarillaadha Oorin Pagalvelaiபெயரில்லாத ஊரின் பகல் வேளை20088Padhinettaam Nootraandin Mazhaiபதினெட்டாம் நூற்றாண்டின் மழை20089Nagulan Veettil Yaarumillaiநகுலன் வீட்டில் யாருமில்லை200910Appodhum Kadal Paarthukondirundhadhuஅப்போதும் கடல் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது201011Buddanaavadhu Sulabamபுத்தனாவது சுலபம்201112Mazhai Maanமழைமான்201213Gandhiyodu Pesuvenகாந்தியோடு பேசுவேன்201314KudhiraigaL Pesa Marukkinranaகுதிரைகள் பேச மறுக்கின்றன201315S.Ramakrishnan KadhaigaL Volume 1எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள் - I201416S.Ramakrishnan KadhaigaL Volume 2எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள்- II201417S.Ramakrishnan KadhaigaL Volume 3எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் கதைகள்-III201418Neerilum Nadakkalaamநீரிலும் நடக்கலாம்201419Enna Solgirai Sudareஎன்ன சொல்கிறாய் சுடரே201520Cycle Kamalathin Thangaiசைக்கிள் கமலத்தின் தங்கை201621Thanimaiyin Veettirku Nooru Jannalgalதனிமையின் வீட்டிற்கு நூறு ஜன்னல்கள்201722Kutra Mugankalகுற்ற முகங்கள்2025
Plays No Title தலைப்பு Year of Publication1Aravaanஅரவான்20062Sindhubaathin manaiviசிந்துபாத்தின் மனைவி20133Sooriyanai chutrum bhoomiசூரியனை சுற்றும் பூமி2013
Children literature No Title Year of Publication1Ezhu thalainagaram20052Kiru kiru vaanam20063Kaal MuLaitha Kathaigal20064Neela Naaku20115Pampazhaapam20116Ezhudha Therindha Puli20117Kaasu Kallan20118Thalaiyillaadha Paiyan20119Enaku Ean Kanavu Varudhu201110laali Pale201111Akkadaa201312Sirikum Vagupparai201313Vellai Raani201414Andasaraasaram201415Socrates in Sivappu Noolagam201416Karpanai Kudhirai201417Padikka Therindha Singam201618Meesaiyillaadha Apple201619Poonaiyin Manaivi201620Irakai Virikum Maram201621Ulagin Miga Chiriya ThavaLai201622Eliyin Password201723Thabalpeti Ezhithiya Kaditham202424Bommaikalin Perarasan2025
Seven Lectures No Title Year of Publication1Tolstoy 20132Dostoyevsky20133Basho20134Shakespeare20135Hemingway20136Homer20137aayirathu oru araabia iravugaL2013
Essays on World Literature No Title Year of Publication1Vaakiyangalin Saalai20022Vizhithirupavanin Iravu20053Nam Kaalathu Novelhal20084Adhe Iravu Adhe Varigal20085Endraar Borges20096Chekovin Meedhu Pani Peigiradhu20107Galileo Mandiyidavillai 20118Enadharumai Tolstoy20119Kafka Ezhudhaadha Kaditham201410Ulagai Vaasippom201711Novelenum Symphony2017
Essays on Poetry No Title Year of Publication1Koozhaangarkal Paaduginrana20112Kavignum Kavithaiyum2023
Essays on Painting No Title Year of Publication1Chithirangalin Visithirangal20082Picassovin Kodugal20123Aayiram Vannangal20164Nirangalai Isaiththal20235Oliyin Kaikal2024
Essays on Cinema No Title Year of Publication1Padher Paanjaali20062Ayal Cinema20073Ulaga Cinema20084Pesatherindha Nizhalgal20095Chaplinodu Pesungal20116Paravai Konam20127Samuraigal Kaathirukkiraargal20138Naangaavathu Cinema20149Irul Inidhu Oli inidhu201410Kutrathin Kangal201611Kaatchigalukku Appaal201712Peyarattra Natchathiram201813Innoru Parathal201914Vennira Ninaivugal202015Arupathin Nadanam202016Thirai Engum Mugangal202117Nagarangaley Saatchi202318Thotram Solatha Unmai202319Manjal Tharunangal2025
Anthologies of Essays No Title Year of Publication1Thunaiyezhuthu20042Kadhaavilaasam20053Desandhri20064Kelvikuri20075Ilaigalai Viyakkum Maram20076Aadhalinaal20087Kaatril Yaaro Nadakkiraargal20088Malaigal Sapthamiduvathillai20099Vaasaga Parvam200910Kurathi Mudukkin Kanavuga201011Kaan Enradhu Iyarkai201012Siridhu Velicham201013Rayileriya Graamam201214Ialkkillaadha Payani201315Pullinum Siriyadhu201416Hiroshimavil Manigal Olikkinrana201417Unavu Yuddham201418Veedilla Puthagangal201519India Vaanam201620Indrillai Eninum201621Chekov Vaazhgiraar201622Nilam Keattadhu kadal Sonnadhu201623Nilavazhi201624Ezhuthe Vaazhkkai201725Kadavulin Naakku201726Rayil Nilayagalin Tholamai201827Siriya Unmaigal202228Vaan Ketkirathu202229Novel Vasikal2025
History - Non fiction No Title Year of Publication1kodugal illaadha varaipadam20082enadhu India20123maraikkapatta India2013
Interviews No Title Year of Publication1eppodhumirukkum kadhai20072pesi kadandha thooram2011
Other books - Edited volumes No Title Year of Publication1Endrum Sujatha20112S.Ramakrishnan Ezhuthulagam20113Vaanengum Paravaigal20124Nooru Sirandha Sirukadhaigal2013
Translation No Title Year of Publication1Alice in Arpudha Ulagam19932Nambikkaiyin Parimaanangal19943Paadhaiyillaadha Payanam2002
Filmography Year Title2002BabaAlbum2003Popcorn2005Sandakozhi2007Unnale Unnale2008BheemaaDhaam Dhoom2009Modhi Vilayadu2010Chikku Bukkuunreleased Pesu2011Avan Ivan2013Samarunreleased Idam Porul Eval2017Sandakozhi 22021 JailEnemy2023Ayothi
Short films No Title Year of release1Karna Motcham20122Tharamaniyil Karapaanpoochigal20123Matraval20144Kokkarako20145Veettu Kanakku20146Pidaaran20147Vaazhkkai20148Thingal20159Oru Koppai Theneer201510Iru Kumizhigal201511Clean Bowled2016
See also List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Tamil List of Indian writers List of Tamil-language writers
References