{{Short description|Indian writer (1931–1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox writer | name = P. R. Shyamala |image = | imagesize = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|7|4}} | birth_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1990|7|21|1931|7|4}} | death_place = Kerala | occupation = Novelist, short story writer | nationality = Indian | period = | genre = Fiction | subject = | spouse = Karoor Sasi | children = | parents = {{ubl|Parameshwaran Pilla|M. Rajamma}} | movement = | notableworks = {{ubl|''Sararanthal''|''Thulasikathirukal''|''Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu''|''Makayiram Kayal''}} | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = | website = }}

'''P. R. Shyamala''' (4 July 1931 – 21 July 1990) was an Indian novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. Known for novels such as ''Sararanthal'' and ''Makayiram Kayal'' and short stories compiled in ''Harishri'' and ''Ariyapedatha Peedanangal'', she was a member of the Sahitya Pravartaka Sahakarana Sanghom, the general council of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the advisory board of the Central Board of Film Certification. Three of her stories have been adapted into films and ''Sararanthal'' was an award winning television series made in 1991, based on her novel of the same name.

== Biography == P. R. Shyamala was born on 4 July 1931 in Thiruvananthapuram in the south Indian state of Kerala to Attara Parameshwaran Pilla, a justice and music scholar and his wife, Madhavavilasam Rajamma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PRShyamala/Html/Shyamalagraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-23 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> After schooling at Holy Angel's Convent Trivandrum, she completed graduated in music from the Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="Women Writers of Kerala">{{Cite web |url=http://womenwritersofkerala.com/author.php?author_id=567 |title=Women Writers of Kerala |date=2019-04-24 |website=womenwritersofkerala.com |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> The first of her stories was published in Kaumudi weekly and later she published her first novel, ''Yathrayil Maranna Patheyam'' in 1955. Later, when her novel, ''Durgam'' was serialised in ''Sindooram'' weekly, she got the opportunity to get acquainted with Karoor Sasi, the editor of the weekly, which led to their marriage in 1968.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

Considered among the modern novelists,<ref name="Towards Modernism - Novel in Malayalam literature">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/modern-novels/259 |title=Towards Modernism - Novel in Malayalam literature |date=2019-04-27 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> and short story writers of Malayalam,<ref name="Division">{{cite book|author=Publications Division|title=Women of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cSWaDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT207|publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting|isbn=978-81-230-2284-0|pages=207–|year=1958}}</ref> Shyamala authored around 35 novels and five short story anthologies.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PRShyamala/Html/PRShyamalaBooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-23 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> She was known to have portrayed human relationships and the angst of oppressed women in her writings.<ref name="Women Writers of Kerala" /> Her entry into films was in 1973 with ''Bhadradeepam'', directed by M. Krishnan Nair for which she wrote the story.<ref name="Bhadradeepam [1973]">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?1133 |title=Bhadradeepam [1973] |date=2019-04-27 |website=malayalasangeetham.info |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> Two more of her stories were adapted into films later, viz. Manassinte Theerthayathra<ref name="Manassinte Theerthayaathra [1981]">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?576 |title=Manassinte Theerthayaathra [1981] |date=2019-04-27 |website=malayalasangeetham.info |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> and Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu.<ref name="Sandhyaykku Virinja Poovu [1983]">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?1488 |title=Sandhyaykku Virinja Poovu [1983] |website=malayalasangeetham.info |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> Her novel, ''Sararanthal'', was made into a television series in 1991<ref name="Writer PF Mathews Interview: ‘When People Die, They Become Fiction’">{{Cite web |url=https://silverscreen.in/features/interviews/pfmathews/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113003853/https://silverscreen.in/features/interviews/pfmathews/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 January 2019 |title=Writer PF Mathews Interview: 'When People Die, They Become Fiction' |first=Aswathy |last=Gopalakrishnan |date=2018-05-22 |website=Silverscreen.in |language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> and it won a number of awards including the Kerala State Television Awards for best series, best direction and best screenplay.<ref name="Jude Attipetty - Spectroom">{{Cite web |url=https://www.spectroom.com/1025922404-jude-attipetty?v=7dc27a4bdb308f485c8104d2ef8a1170b0d866b652bf284c0e899c90aab5b3e0 |title=Jude Attipetty - Spectroom |date=2019-04-27 |website=www.spectroom.com |access-date=2019-04-27 |archive-date=27 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427082445/https://www.spectroom.com/1025922404-jude-attipetty%3Fv%3D7dc27a4bdb308f485c8104d2ef8a1170b0d866b652bf284c0e899c90aab5b3e0 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="P. F. Mathews - Veethi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/p._f._mathews-profile-4011-25.htm |title=P. F. Mathews - Veethi profile |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref>

Shyamala, who had fascination for gardening and home decor, was a member of the Sahitya Pravartaka Sahakarana Sanghom and she sat in the general council of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.<ref name="Women Writers of Kerala" /> In 1990, she was selected to be a member of the advisory board of the Central Board of Film Certification and she died on 21 July 1990,<ref name="books.puzha.com - Author Details">{{Cite web |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=557 |title=books.puzha.com - Author Details |date=2016-03-17 |access-date=2019-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317150412/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=557 |archive-date=17 March 2016 }}</ref> at the age of 59, which was the day her selection to the Film Censor Board was announced.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

== Selected bibliography == === Novel === {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * {{Cite book |title=Nirayum Puthariyum |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |publisher=SPCS |isbn=9788126450718 |location=Kottayam |date=1980 |oclc=892512223}} * {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=6215 |title=Makayiram Kayal |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1980 |publisher=MMC Books |isbn=9788126422029 |location=Kottayam }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=941 |title=Kavadiyattom |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |publisher=DC Books |year=2001 |archive-date=16 January 2005 |access-date=27 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050116054123/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=941 |url-status=dead }} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=80751&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520p%2520r%2520syamala |title=Nakshathrangalude paattu |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1988 |publisher=Prabhath Book House |location=Thiruvananthapuram}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=82921&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520p%2520r%2520syamala |title=Chandraayanam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1991 |publisher=S.P.C.S |location=Kottayam}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/71171 |title=Jwalayil oru panineerkkattu |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1971 |publisher=Current Books |location=Thrissur |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/74424 |title=Muthukkuda |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1972 |publisher=Current Books |location=Thrissur |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/76725 |title=Sandhya |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1965 |publisher=Prabhath Book House |location=Thiruvananthapuram |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/71163 |title=Durgam / |last=Syamala |first=P. R. |date=1971 |publisher=Current Books |location=Thrissur |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/219322 |title=Manal |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1982 |publisher=Poorna Publications |location=Kozhikode |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/213513 |title=Daivathil Viswasikkunnavar |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1982 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/213514 |title=Lasyasandyakal |last=Shyamala |first=P.R. |date=1983 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/224627 |title=Avan avante nizhal |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1985 |publisher=Vijayodaya Publications |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/216587 |title=Samandharam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1985 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/73614 |title=Shararanthal |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1970 |publisher=Venus Press & Book Depot |location=Konni |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/77310 |title=Manassinte theerthayathra |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1976 |publisher=Prabhath Book House |location=Thiruvananthapuram |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/305346 |title=Sandhyaykku virinja poovu |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1984 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=48604 |title=Ardhaviramam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1988 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=48389 |title=Nilkoo Oru Nimisham |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1991 |publisher=Prabhath Book House |location=Thiruvananthapuram |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47767 |title=Ee Vazhithirivil |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1974 |publisher=Deshabandhu |location=Thiruvananthapuram |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47231 |title=Valmeekam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1987 |publisher=Akshaya Books |location=Thiruvananthapuram |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=54462 |title=Shyamaranyam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1995 |publisher=Poorna Publications |location=Kozhikode |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=53466 |title=Kavadiyattam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=2001 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} {{div col end}}

=== Short story === * {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=2288 |title=Suvarnavalliyude Sankeerthanam |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |publisher=Prabhath Book House |year=2000 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/220993 |title=Katha - Shyamala |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1999 |publisher=Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sankham |location=Kottayam |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=41816 |title=Harishri |last=Shyamala |first=P. R. |date=1973 |publisher=Venus Press & Book Depot |location=Konni |language=ml}}

== Filmography == * Bhadradeepam (1973) * Manassinte Theerthayathra (1981) * Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu (1983)

== See also == {{Portal|India|Literature}} * List of Malayalam-language authors by category * List of Malayalam-language authors

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{Cite book |url=http://womenwritersofkerala.com/author.php?author_id=185&lang=en |title=Lakshmana Rekha Murichukadakkumbol |last=G. Hemalatha Devi |publisher=Pappion Books |year=2004 |location=Kozhikode}}

== External links == * {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PRShyamala/Html/PRShyamala.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-23 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-23}} * {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PRShyamala/Html/PRShyamalaScript.htm |title=Handwriting |date=2019-04-23 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-23}} * {{Cite web |url=https://malayalasangeetham.info/displayProfile.php?category=story&artist=PR%2520Shyamala |title=Profile of Malayalam Story Writer PR Shyamala |date=2019-04-27 |website=malayalasangeetham.info |access-date=2019-04-27}} * {{Cite web |url=https://m3db.com/artists/34005 |title=PR shyamala - M3DB.COM |date=2019-04-27 |website=m3db.com |access-date=2019-04-27}}

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shyamala, P. R.}} Category:Writers from Kerala Category:1931 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Malayali people Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram district Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:20th-century Indian short story writers Category:Indian women short story writers Category:Malayalam-language novelists Category:Malayalam short story writers Category:20th-century Indian women novelists