{{short description|Indian writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox writer | embed = | honorific_prefix = | name = S. Hareesh | honorific_suffix = | image = S. Hareesh Writer.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|5|15}} | birth_place = Neendoor, Kottayam, Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Writer, screenwriter | language = Malayalam | residence = | nationality = Indian | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | home_town = | period = | genre = Novel, short story, translations, films | subject = <!-- or: | subjects = --> | movement = | notableworks = ''Meesa'' | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = | awards = {{ubl|2020&nbsp;JCB Prize for Literature|2020&nbsp;Nandanar Award|2019&nbsp;Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel|2018&nbsp;Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story|2017&nbsp;Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay|2009&nbsp;Thomas Mundassery Award|2008&nbsp;Kerala Sahitya Akademi Geetha Hiranyan Endowment|V. P. Sivakumar Memorial Keli Award}} | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = 1995–present | module = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.org}} --> | portaldisp = <!-- "on", "yes", "true", etc; or omit --> }} '''S. Hareesh''' (born 15 May 1975) is an Indian writer, translator and screenwriter of Malayalam literature and cinema. He is best known for his short stories and his acclaimed but controversial debut novel, ''Meesa'', which explores caste in Kerala in the mid-20th century.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|date=2020-01-23|title=I drew on the stories I have been hearing from childhood to write 'Meesha', says author S Hareesh|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/s-hareesh-on-his-first-novel-meesha-which-is-getting-translated-into-english-as-moustache/article30633087.ece|access-date=2020-11-12|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The novel, initially serialized in the ''Mathrubhumi'' weekly, was withdrawn after protests by right-wing Hindutva groups and caste-community organizations for "maligning Hindu women and temple priests".<ref name=":0" /> It was later published as a full novel by DC Books.<ref name=":0" /> Hareesh is the recipient of several honours including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel and the Geetha Hiranyan Endowment of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. In November 2020, the English translation of ''Meesa,'' titled ''Moustache'', was selected for the JCB Prize for Literature, the Indian literary award with the highest prize money.<ref name="mangalam.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mangalam.com/news/detail/438125-latest-news-s-hareesh-bags-jcb-literature-award.html|title=എസ്. ഹരീഷിന്റെ മീശ നോവലിന് ജെ.സി.ബി സാഹിത്യ പുരക്‌സാരം}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=Malayalam author S Hareesh wins the JCB Prize for Literature 2020|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/s-hareesh-wins-the-jcb-prize-for-literature-2020-6996117/|access-date=2020-11-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Biography == S. Hareesh was born on 15 May 1975 at Neendoor in Kottayam district in the South Indian state of Kerala.<ref name="S Hareesh - Mathrubhumi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/mbifl2018/speakers/s-hareesh-1.2549784 |title=S Hareesh | publisher=Mathrubhumi |date=23 January 2018 | author=Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters | access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Who is S Hareesh? IE">{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-s-hareesh-5294127/ |title=Who is S Hareesh? IE |date=2018-08-06 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-US |access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref>

Hareesh published his first book in 2005, a short story anthology titled ''Rasavidyayude Charithram'' ('The History of Alchemy'), which won him the Geetha Hiranyan Endowment Award of Kerala Sahithya Akademi.<ref name=":0" /> This was followed by a Malayalam translation of ''The Last Lecture'' by Randy Pausch, which was published by DC Books in 2012.<ref name="Anthya Prabhashanam (The Last Lecture)">{{Cite web |title=Anthya Prabhashanam (The Last Lecture) |url=https://www.indulekha.com/anthyaprabhashanam-randy-pausch-the-last-lecture-malayalam |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=www.indulekha.com |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124032628/https://www.indulekha.com/anthyaprabhashanam-randy-pausch-the-last-lecture-malayalam |url-status=dead }}</ref> Four years later, he published his second short story collection titled ''Aadam,'' which won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award of 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-06|title=Who is S Hareesh?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-s-hareesh-5294127/|access-date=2020-11-13|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, his debut novel, ''Meesa'', was serialised in Mathrubhumi weekly, but he had to withdraw it due to pressures from Hindu right-wing groups.<ref name="Kerala Gets Its Own Perumal Murugan, Thanks (Again) to the Sangh Parivar">{{Cite web |title=Kerala Gets Its Own Perumal Murugan, Thanks (Again) to the Sangh Parivar |url=https://thewire.in/books/kerala-author-s-harish-withdraws-book-due-to-sang-parivar-threat |access-date=2020-12-19 |website=The Wire}}</ref> Later, the novel was published in book format by DC Books. The same year, he brought out another short story anthology, ''Appan''. ''Meesa'' was translated by Crossword Award winner, Jayasree Kalathil and the book was published under the title, ''Moustache'', by Harper Perennial India in 2020.<ref name="S Hareesh's Moustache is a diligently told story of a troubled yet awe-inspiring land">{{Cite web |title=S Hareesh's Moustache is a diligently told story of a troubled yet awe-inspiring land |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tag/s-hareesh |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=Firstpost}}</ref>

The 2018 film ''Aedan'' was based on one of the three stories in Hareesh's short story collection ''Adam''.<ref name="Aedan: Garden of Desire (2018) - IMDb">{{Cite web |title=Aedan: Garden of Desire (2018) - IMDb |website=IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5933698/fullcredits |access-date=2020-09-20}}</ref> The story ''Maoist'' from the collection has been adapted by Lijo Jose Pellissery for his film ''Jallikattu'',<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Anandan|first=S.|title=Who is S. Hareesh?|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/who-is-s-hareesh/article24603467.ece |access-date=5 August 2018|work=The Hindu|date=4 August 2018}}</ref> the film was India's official entry at the 2020 Academy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2020 |first=Janani |last=K. |title=Why Lijo Jose's Jallikattu deserves to be India's Oscars 2021 entry: An overview |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/why-lijo-jose-s-jallikattu-deserves-to-be-india-s-oscars-2021-entry-an-overview-1744314-2020-11-26 |access-date=2020-12-15 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Malayalam film Jallikattu is India's entry for 2021 Oscars">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-27 |title=Malayalam film Jallikattu is India's entry for 2021 Oscars |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/jallikattu-is-indias-entry-for-oscars-2021-7065545/ |access-date=2020-12-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

He is employed as a village assistant at Kaipuzha in Kottayam.<ref name=":0" />

== Awards and recognition == Hareesh won his first major honors in 2008 when he was selected the Geetha Hiranyam Endowment by Kerala Sahitya Akademi for his short story anthology ''Rasavidyayude Charithram''.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/pdf/Award%20Pages.pdf |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards |date=2019-03-23 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref> The next year, he received the Thomas Mundassery Award for short story.<ref name="S Hareesh- Speaker in Kerala literature Festival KLF –2019">{{Cite web |url=http://keralaliteraturefestival.com/speakers_more.aspx?id=Mjg3 |title=S Hareesh- Speaker in Kerala literature Festival KLF –2019 |date=2019-03-23 |website=keralaliteraturefestival.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref> He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the Best Story Writer for his anthology, ''Adam'' in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sahithya-akademi-awards-announced/article22819193.ece |title=Sahithya Akademi awards announced |author=Staff Reporter |date=2018-02-22 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2018-03-01}}</ref> He is also a recipient of the V. P. Sivakumar Memorial Keli Award<ref name="S. Hareesh - Veethi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/s._hareesh-profile-11672-25.htm |title=S. Hareesh - Veethi profile |date=2019-03-23 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref> as well as the Nandanar Award in 2020.<ref name="'മീശ' നോവലിന് അംഗീകാരം; എസ് ഹരീഷിന് നന്തനാര്&zwj; പുരസ്‌കാരം">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-20 |title='മീശ' നോവലിന് അംഗീകാരം; എസ് ഹരീഷിന് നന്തനാര്&zwj; പുരസ്‌കാരം |url=https://www.reporter.live/s-hareesh-got-nandanar-award/7557/ |access-date=2020-10-20 |website=Reporter Live |language=en-US |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021051916/https://www.reporter.live/s-hareesh-got-nandanar-award/7557/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="നന്തനാര്&zwj; സാഹിത്യപുരസ്‌കാരം എസ് ഹരീഷിന്">{{Cite web |last=www.dcbooks.com |date=2020-10-20 |title=നന്തനാര്&zwj; സാഹിത്യപുരസ്‌കാരം എസ് ഹരീഷിന് |url=https://www.dcbooks.com/s-harish-wins-nandanar-literary-award.html |access-date=2020-10-20 |website=DC Books |language=en-gb}}</ref> ''Aedan'', the film based on his short story for which he wrote the screenplay fetched him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay (adapted) in 2017.<ref name="Kerala State Film Awards: Debut films steal the show - Times of India">{{Cite web |title=Kerala State Film Awards: Debut films steal the show - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kerala-state-film-awards-debut-films-steal-the-show/articleshow/63226786.cms |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020 the English translation of ''Meesa,'' titled ''Moustache'', received the JCB Prize for Literature.<ref name="mangalam.com"/> The novel won another award, the 2019 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel which was announced in February 2021.<ref name="kerala sahithya academy award announced">{{Cite web |date=2021-02-15 |title=kerala sahithya academy award announced കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു; എസ്. ഹരീഷിന്റെ 'മീശ' മികച്ച നോവൽ |url=https://www.twentyfournews.com/2021/02/15/kerala-sahithya-academy-award-announced.html |access-date=2021-02-15 |website=www.twentyfournews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Bibliography == === Short story anthologies === * {{Cite book |title=Rasavidhyayude Charithram |date=2005 |publisher=Current Books}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://opac.cusat.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=9161 |title=Rasavidhyayude charithram |last=Hareesh |first=S. |date=2005 |publisher=Current books |access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref> * {{Cite book |title=Aadam |date=2016 |publisher=DC Books}} * {{Cite book |title=Appan |year = 2018|publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-8-126-47733-3 |page=130}}

=== Novels === * {{Cite book |title=Meesa |publisher=DC Books |year=2018 |isbn=978-8-126-47737-1 |page=328}} * {{Cite book | title=August 17 | publisher = DC Books | year=2022| isbn= 978-9-354-82575-0 | page=368}} * {{Cite book | title=Pattunool Puzhu | publisher = DC Books | year=2024| isbn= 978-9-364-87667-4 | page=290}}

=== Translations === * {{Cite book |author1=Randy Pausch |author2=Jeffrey Zaslow |title=The Last Lecture |trans-title=Anthyaprabhashanam |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-8-126-42672-0 |page=212 |language=ml |translator=S. Hareesh}}

=== Works available in English === * {{Cite book |author=S. Hareesh |title=Moustache |translator=Jayasree Kalathil |publisher=Harper Perennial India |year=2020 |isbn=978-9-353-57602-8 |page=360}}

== Filmography == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:75%" ! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:25%" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:15%" | Screenplay ! scope="col" style="width:15%" | Story ! scope="col" style="width:15%" | Dialogues ! scope="col" style="width:20%" | Director |- | 2018 || ''Aedan'' || {{Yes}}|| {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || Sanju Surendran |- | 2019 || ''Jallikattu'' || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || Lijo Jose Pellissery |- | 2021 || ''Churuli'' || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || Lijo Jose Pellissery |- | 2023 || ''Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam'' || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || Lijo Jose Pellissery |- | 2024 || ''Thekku Vadakku'' || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || Prem Shankar |}

== See also == {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * List of Malayalam-language authors by category * List of Malayalam-language authors {{div col end}} {{Portal|India|Literature}}

== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/889421/read-these-excerpts-from-malayalam-writer-s-hareeshs-novel-meesha-which-some-people-want-banned |title=Excerpts from Malayalam writer S. Hareesh's controversial novel 'Meesha' |last=Hareesh |first=S. |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US |access-date=2019-03-23}} * {{Cite web |date=December 11, 2020 |first=Bhavya|last=Dore |title=Speaking His Truth |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20201221-speaking-his-truth-1748785-2020-12-11 |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=India Today |language=en}} * {{Cite web |title=The best books of 2020 based on your mood |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/the-best-books-of-2020-based-on-your-mood |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=Vogue India |date=15 December 2020 |language=en-IN}} * {{Cite web |last=Pradeep |date=2020-12-18 |title=From Kuttanad's belly, Jallikattu writer Hareesh takes the bull by the horns |url=https://thefederal.com/the-eighth-column/from-kuttanads-belly-jallikattu-writer-hareesh-takes-the-bull-by-the-horns/ |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=The Federal |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |last=S.anandan |date=2020-12-04 |title=Master of the labyrinth: S. Hareesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/master-of-the-labyrinth-s-hareesh/article33246814.ece |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}} * {{Cite web |title=Interview: S Hareesh, author, Moustache, winner of the JCB prize 2020 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/interview-s-hareesh-author-moustache-winner-of-the-jcb-prize-2020/story-Rsj8T9VxLkuEPMZmLaaRdM.html |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=hindustantimes.com |date=20 November 2020 |language=en}}

== External links == * {{IMDb name|nm8340689}} * {{Cite web |title=മീശനാടിന്റെ കഥാകാരൻ - Interview _ എസ് ഹരീഷ് |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQftsHTfBcc |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=Media One TV - YouTube video}} * {{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2018-02-22 |title=Sahithya Akademi awards announced |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sahithya-akademi-awards-announced/article22819193.ece |access-date=2020-12-19 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}} * Malayalam Wiki * {{Cite web |title=In Conversation with S. Hareesh and Jayasree Kalathil (Moustache). - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk5BH-PSdPY |access-date=2020-12-19 |website=www.youtube.com}}

{{Vayalar Awards}} {{Malayalam Literature}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hareesh, S.Hareesh, Harish, SHareesh}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Kerala Category:Writers from Kottayam district Category:Indian male short story writers Category:Malayalam short story writers Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Category:Malayalam-language novelists Category:Indian male novelists