Chemmeen (novel) - Revision history

CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

2026-03-22T04:42:46Z

Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:12, 22 March 2026
Line 46:		Line 46:

	==Reception==		==Reception==
	The novel was an immediate success although the critical reaction was mixed. Some critics wrote that the novel is the best social novel written in Malayalam since [[O. Chandhu Menon]]'s ''[[Sarada (novel)\|Sarada]]''. Some thought that the central cord of superstition is a myth. Some critics wrote that the novel shows Thakazhi's decline as a progressive writer, as the story of ''Chemmeen'' is essentially romantic and does not bring in class struggle like Thakazhi's earlier novels ''Thottiyude Makan'' or ''[[Randidangazhi]]''.~~<~~ref~~>~~{{cite book \|last1=George \|first1=K. M. \|title=A survey of Malayalam literature \|date=1968 \|publisher=Asia Publishing House \|location=Bombay \|page=178 \|edition=1st}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~		The novel was an immediate success although the critical reaction was mixed. Some critics wrote that the novel is the best social novel written in Malayalam since [[O. Chandhu Menon]]'s ''[[Sarada (novel)\|Sarada]]''. Some thought that the central cord of superstition is a myth. Some critics wrote that the novel shows Thakazhi's decline as a progressive writer, as the story of ''Chemmeen'' is essentially romantic and does not bring in class struggle like Thakazhi's earlier novels ''Thottiyude Makan'' or ''[[Randidangazhi]]''.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=George \|first1=K. M. \|title=A survey of Malayalam literature \|date=1968 \|publisher=Asia Publishing House \|location=Bombay \|page=178 \|edition=1st}}</ref>

	==Inspiration and influences==		==Inspiration and influences==

	''Chemmeen'' is Pillai's best novel which expresses the aspirations, struggle and grief in the lives of the fishermen of Kerala. Chemmeen has so much to offer to the readers. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's (Malayalam) novel Chemmeen, accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] Collection of Representative Works - Indian Series, was translated by V.K.Narayana Menon, and published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1962. It was the first significant Malayalam novel to be translated into English after Independence or, rather, during the early post-colonial era.~~<~~ref~~>~~[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000822/082219eo.pdf "India: yesterday's heritage, tomorrow's hopes"]~~<~~/ref~~>~~		''Chemmeen'' is Pillai's best novel which expresses the aspirations, struggle and grief in the lives of the fishermen of Kerala. Chemmeen has so much to offer to the readers. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's (Malayalam) novel Chemmeen, accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] Collection of Representative Works - Indian Series, was translated by V.K.Narayana Menon, and published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1962. It was the first significant Malayalam novel to be translated into English after Independence or, rather, during the early post-colonial era.<ref>[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000822/082219eo.pdf "India: yesterday's heritage, tomorrow's hopes"]</ref>

	==Translations==		==Translations==
	Widely successful, ''Chemmeen'' was translated into [[English language\|English]], [[Hindi language\|Hindi]], [[Russian language\|Russian]], [[German language\|German]], [[Italian language\|Italian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]] and [[French language\|French]] along with several Indian languages.~~<~~ref~~>~~[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1989_Feb/ai_7546131/ "Anger of the Sea-Goddess - excerpt from Indian novel Chemmeen"]~~<~~/ref~~>~~ Three years after the original publication, a translated Hindi version, titled ''मछुवारे/Machhuware'' (lit. fisherfolks) was published. The translation was done by Bharati Vidyarthi.		Widely successful, ''Chemmeen'' was translated into [[English language\|English]], [[Hindi language\|Hindi]], [[Russian language\|Russian]], [[German language\|German]], [[Italian language\|Italian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]] and [[French language\|French]] along with several Indian languages.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1989_Feb/ai_7546131/ "Anger of the Sea-Goddess - excerpt from Indian novel Chemmeen"]</ref> Three years after the original publication, a translated Hindi version, titled ''मछुवारे/Machhuware'' (lit. fisherfolks) was published. The translation was done by Bharati Vidyarthi.

	''Chemmeen'' has been translated into English many times. Narayana Menon's translation titled ''Anger of the Sea-Goddess'' remains very popular even to this day. Another English translation is by [[Anita Nair]], titled ''Chemmeen'' as in Malayalam.~~<~~ref~~>~~[https://archive.today/20120707190115/http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/12/shinie-antony-recommends-must-reads-of-2011/ "Shinie Antony recommends: Must reads of 2011"]~~<~~/ref~~>~~ It has gone into several editions and is readily available at bookshops all over India.		''Chemmeen'' has been translated into English many times. Narayana Menon's translation titled ''Anger of the Sea-Goddess'' remains very popular even to this day. Another English translation is by [[Anita Nair]], titled ''Chemmeen'' as in Malayalam.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707190115/http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/12/shinie-antony-recommends-must-reads-of-2011/ "Shinie Antony recommends: Must reads of 2011"]</ref> It has gone into several editions and is readily available at bookshops all over India.

	The novel was translated into [[Gujarati language\|Gujarati]] by Kamal Jasapara, published in 1980.~~<~~ref name="Rao2004"~~>~~{{cite book\|last=Rao\|first=D. S.\|title=Five Decades: The National Academy of Letters, India : a Short History of Sahitya Akademi\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA48\|year=2004\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|location=New Delhi\|isbn=978-81-260-2060-7\|page=48}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~ ''Chemmeen'' has been translated into Arabic as well by Muhiyudheen Aluway titled as ''Shemmeen''.		The novel was translated into [[Gujarati language\|Gujarati]] by Kamal Jasapara, published in 1980.<ref name="Rao2004">{{cite book\|last=Rao\|first=D. S.\|title=Five Decades: The National Academy of Letters, India : a Short History of Sahitya Akademi\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA48\|year=2004\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|location=New Delhi\|isbn=978-81-260-2060-7\|page=48}}</ref> ''Chemmeen'' has been translated into Arabic as well by Muhiyudheen Aluway titled as ''Shemmeen''.

	==Film adaptation==		==Film adaptation==

DilKhus: Page refined with updated information

2026-01-15T05:15:36Z

Page refined with updated information

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:45, 15 January 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{short description\|1956 novel by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}
Line 23:		Line 24:
	}}		}}

	'''''Chemmeen''''' ({{~~lang-~~ml\|ചെമ്മീൻ}}, {{~~transl~~\|ml\|ISO\|cemmīn}} {{IPA-ml\|t͡ʃemmiːn\|}}, lit. prawn) is a [[Malayalam]] [[novel]] written by [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] in 1956. ''Chemmeen'' tells the story of the relationship between Karuthamma, the daughter of a [[Hindu]] fisherman, and Pareekutti, the son of a [[Muslim]] fish wholesaler. The theme of the novel is a myth among the fishermen communities along the coastal [[Kerala]] State in the Southern India. The myth is about chastity. If the married fisher woman was adulterous when her husband was in the sea, the Sea Goddess (''Kadalamma'' literally means Mother Sea) would consume him. It is to perpetuate this myth that Thakazhi wrote this novel. It was adapted into a [[Chemmeen\|film of same name]], which won critical acclaim and commercial success.		'''''Chemmeen''''' ({{langx\|ml\|ചെമ്മീൻ}}, {{transliteration\|ml\|ISO\|cemmīn}} {{IPA\|ml\|t͡ʃemmiːn\|}}, lit. prawn) is a [[Malayalam]] [[novel]] written by [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] in 1956. ''Chemmeen'' tells the story of the relationship between Karuthamma, the daughter of a [[Hindu]] fisherman, and Pareekutti, the son of a [[Muslim]] fish wholesaler.

	~~Thakazhi made a departure from his a vowed commitment to realism as it appeared in his works till then he brought in a fresh breeze~~ of ~~lyricism and romanticism. The~~ novel ~~acquires~~ the ~~quality of a fable in which life~~ in the ~~fishermen’s community~~ is ~~depicted with great emotional detail~~. ~~The customs~~, ~~taboos, beliefs, rituals and~~ the ~~day-~~to~~-day business~~ of ~~living through the pain of stark existence come alive magically through Thakazhi’s pen~~.		The theme of the novel is a myth among the fishermen communities along the coastal [[Kerala]] State in the Southern India. The myth is about chastity. If a married fisherwoman was adulterous when her husband was at sea, the Sea Goddess (''Kadalamma'' literally meaning Mother Sea) would consume him. It is to perpetuate this myth that Thakazhi wrote this novel. It was adapted into a [[Chemmeen\|film of same name]], which won critical acclaim and commercial success.

	''Chemmeen'' won the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam\|Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award]], India's second highest literary prize, in 1957.		Thakazhi made a departure from his a vowed commitment to realism as it appeared in his works till then he brought in a fresh breeze of lyricism and romanticism. The novel acquires the quality of a fable in which life in the fishermen's community is depicted with great emotional detail. The customs, taboos, beliefs, rituals and the day-to-day business of living through the pain of stark existence come alive magically through Thakazhi's pen.

			''Chemmeen'' won the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam\|Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award]], India's second highest literary prize, in 1957, becoming the first Malayalam novel to receive the national honor. ''Chemmeen'' was translated to more than 30 languages which include major Indian languages and foreign languages. The novel was accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] collection of Representative Works - Indian series.

	==Plot==		==Plot==

	Chembankunju's only aim in life is to own a boat and a net. He finally succeeds in buying both with the help of Pareekutty, a young Muslim trader, on condition that the fish hauled by the boat will be sold to him. Chembankunju's pretty daughter Karuthamma and Pareekutty love each other. Karuthamma's mother, Chakki, knows about it and reminds her daughter about the life they lead within the boundaries of strict social tradition. Karuthamma sacrifices her love for Pareekutty and marries Palani, an orphan discovered by Chembankunju in the course of one of his fishing expeditions. Following the marriage, Karuthamma accompanies her husband to his village, despite her mother's sudden illness and her father's repeated requests to stay. In his fury, Chembankunju disowns her. On acquiring a boat and a net and subsequently adding one more, Chembankunju becomes more greedy and heartless. With his dishonesty, he drives Pareekutty to bankruptcy. After the death of his wife, Chembankunju marries Pappikunju, the widow of the man from whom he had bought his first boat. Panchami, Chembankunju's younger daughter, leaves home to join Karuthama, on arrival of her ~~step mother~~. Meanwhile, Karuthamma has endeavoured to be a good wife and mother. But scandal about her old love for Pareekutty spreads in the village. Palani's friends ostracize him and refuse to take him fishing with them. By a stroke of fate, Karuthamma and Pareekutty meet one night and their old love is ~~awakened ..~~. Palani, at sea, alone and baiting a large shark, is caught in a huge whirlpool and is swallowed by the sea. ~~Next~~ morning, Karuthamma and ~~Parekutty~~, are also found dead hand in hand, washed ashore. At a distance ~~lie~~ the washed-up corpse of Palani's baited shark.		Chembankunju's only aim in life is to own a boat and a net. He finally succeeds in buying both with the help of Pareekutty, a young Muslim trader, on condition that the fish hauled by the boat will be sold to him. Chembankunju's pretty daughter Karuthamma and Pareekutty love each other. Karuthamma's mother, Chakki, knows about it and reminds her daughter about the life they lead within the boundaries of strict social tradition. Karuthamma sacrifices her love for Pareekutty and marries Palani, an orphan discovered by Chembankunju in the course of one of his fishing expeditions. Following the marriage, Karuthamma accompanies her husband to his village, despite her mother's sudden illness and her father's repeated requests to stay. In his fury, Chembankunju disowns her. On acquiring a boat and a net and subsequently adding one more, Chembankunju becomes more greedy and heartless. With his dishonesty, he drives Pareekutty to bankruptcy. After the death of his wife, Chembankunju marries Pappikunju, the widow of the man from whom he had bought his first boat. Panchami, Chembankunju's younger daughter, leaves home to join Karuthama, on arrival of her stepmother. Meanwhile, Karuthamma has endeavoured to be a good wife and mother. But scandal about her old love for Pareekutty spreads in the village. Palani's friends ostracize him and refuse to take him fishing with them. By a stroke of fate, Karuthamma and Pareekutty meet one night and their old love is revived. Palani, at sea, alone and baiting a large shark, is caught in a huge whirlpool and is swallowed by the sea. The next morning, Karuthamma and Pareekutty, are also found dead hand in hand, washed ashore. At a distance lies the washed-up corpse of Palani's baited shark.

	==Characters==		==Characters==
Line 40:		Line 43:
	* Karuthamma - Daughter of Chembankunju		* Karuthamma - Daughter of Chembankunju
	* Palani - Fisherman who marries Karuthamma		* Palani - Fisherman who marries Karuthamma
	* Panchami - Chembankunju's younger daughter ...		* Panchami - Chembankunju's younger daughter

			==Reception==
			The novel was an immediate success although the critical reaction was mixed. Some critics wrote that the novel is the best social novel written in Malayalam since [[O. Chandhu Menon]]'s ''[[Sarada (novel)\|Sarada]]''. Some thought that the central cord of superstition is a myth. Some critics wrote that the novel shows Thakazhi's decline as a progressive writer, as the story of ''Chemmeen'' is essentially romantic and does not bring in class struggle like Thakazhi's earlier novels ''Thottiyude Makan'' or ''[[Randidangazhi]]''.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=George \|first1=K. M. \|title=A survey of Malayalam literature \|date=1968 \|publisher=Asia Publishing House \|location=Bombay \|page=178 \|edition=1st}}</ref>

	==Inspiration and influences==		==Inspiration and influences==

	''Chemmeen'' is ~~Pillai’s~~ best novel which expresses the aspirations, struggle and grief in the lives of the fishermen of Kerala. Chemmeen has so much to offer to the readers. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Thakazhi Sivasankara ~~Pillai’s~~ (Malayalam) novel Chemmeen, accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] Collection of Representative Works - Indian Series, was translated by V.K.Narayana Menon, and published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1962. It was the first significant Malayalam novel to be translated into English after Independence or, rather, during the early post-colonial era.<ref>[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000822/082219eo.pdf "India: yesterday's heritage, tomorrow's hopes"]</ref>		''Chemmeen'' is Pillai's best novel which expresses the aspirations, struggle and grief in the lives of the fishermen of Kerala. Chemmeen has so much to offer to the readers. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's (Malayalam) novel Chemmeen, accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] Collection of Representative Works - Indian Series, was translated by V.K.Narayana Menon, and published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1962. It was the first significant Malayalam novel to be translated into English after Independence or, rather, during the early post-colonial era.<ref>[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000822/082219eo.pdf "India: yesterday's heritage, tomorrow's hopes"]</ref>

	==Translations==		==Translations==
	Widely successful, ''Chemmeen'' was translated into [[English language\|English]], [[Russian language\|Russian]], [[German language\|German]], [[Italian language\|Italian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]] and [[French language\|French]] along with several Indian languages.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1989_Feb/ai_7546131/ "Anger of the Sea-Goddess - excerpt from Indian novel Chemmeen"]</ref>		Widely successful, ''Chemmeen'' was translated into [[English language\|English]], [[Hindi language\|Hindi]], [[Russian language\|Russian]], [[German language\|German]], [[Italian language\|Italian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]] and [[French language\|French]] along with several Indian languages.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1989_Feb/ai_7546131/ "Anger of the Sea-Goddess - excerpt from Indian novel Chemmeen"]</ref> Three years after the original publication, a translated Hindi version, titled ''मछुवारे/Machhuware'' (lit. fisherfolks) was published. The translation was done by Bharati Vidyarthi.

	~~''Chemmeen'' has been~~ translated ~~into English many times. Narayana Menon's translation~~ titled ''~~Anger of the Sea-Goddess~~'' ~~remains very popular even to this day~~. ~~Another English~~ translation is by Anita Nair, titled ''Chemmeen''as in Malayalam.<ref>[https://archive.is/20120707190115/http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/12/shinie-antony-recommends-must-reads-of-2011/ "Shinie Antony recommends: Must reads of 2011"]</ref> It has gone into several editions and is readily available at bookshops all over India.

	~~The novel was~~ translated into [[~~Gujarati language\|Gujarati~~]] ~~by Kamal Jasapara~~, ~~published~~ in ~~1980~~.<ref ~~name="Rao2004">{{cite book\|last=Rao\|first=D~~. ~~S.\|title=Five Decades: The National Academy of Letters, India : a Short History of Sahitya Akademi\|url=https~~://books.~~google~~.com/~~books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA48\|year=2004\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|location=New Delhi\|isbn=978~~-81-~~260~~-~~2060~~-~~7\|page=48}}<~~/ref>		''Chemmeen'' has been translated into English many times. Narayana Menon's translation titled ''Anger of the Sea-Goddess'' remains very popular even to this day. Another English translation is by [[Anita Nair]], titled ''Chemmeen'' as in Malayalam.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707190115/http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/12/shinie-antony-recommends-must-reads-of-2011/ "Shinie Antony recommends: Must reads of 2011"]</ref> It has gone into several editions and is readily available at bookshops all over India.

	''Chemmeen'' has been translated into Arabic as well by Muhiyudheen Aluway titled as ''Shemmeen''.		The novel was translated into [[Gujarati language\|Gujarati]] by Kamal Jasapara, published in 1980.<ref name="Rao2004">{{cite book\|last=Rao\|first=D. S.\|title=Five Decades: The National Academy of Letters, India : a Short History of Sahitya Akademi\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA48\|year=2004\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|location=New Delhi\|isbn=978-81-260-2060-7\|page=48}}</ref> ''Chemmeen'' has been translated into Arabic as well by Muhiyudheen Aluway titled as ''Shemmeen''.

	==Film adaptation==		==Film adaptation==
Line 67:		Line 71:
	*https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085102/http://www.anukriti.net/ttoct/article4/page2.asp		*https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085102/http://www.anukriti.net/ttoct/article4/page2.asp

			{{Novels by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai}}
	{{UNESCO Collection}}		{{UNESCO Collection}}
	{{Malayalam Literature \|state=collapsed}}		{{Malayalam Literature \|state=collapsed}}

			{{Authority control}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemmeen (Novel)}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemmeen (Novel)}}
	~~[[Category:1956 novels]]~~
	[[Category:Indian novels adapted into films]]		[[Category:Indian novels adapted into films]]
	[[Category:Malayalam novels]]		[[Category:Malayalam novels]]
	[[Category:Novels set in Kerala]]		[[Category:Novels set in Kerala]]
	[[Category:Novels by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]]		[[Category:Novels by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]]
	[[Category:Sahitya Akademi ~~Award-winning~~ works]]		[[Category:Sahitya Akademi Award–winning works]]
	[[Category:DC Books books]]		[[Category:DC Books books]]
	[[Category:1956 Indian novels]]		[[Category:1956 Indian novels]]

>Vicharam: /* Translations */

2021-03-31T09:21:43Z

Translations

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Chemmeen
| title_orig = ചെമ്മീൻ
| translator =
| image = Chemmeen (novel) cover.jpg
| caption = First English edition cover
| author = [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| genre = [[Romance novel|Romance]], [[Drama]]
| publisher = National Book Stall, [[D. C. Books]]
| release_date = 1956
| english_release_date = 1962
| media_type =
| pages = 207
| isbn = 9788171305506
| preceded_by = [[Randidangazhi]]
| followed_by = Enippadikal
}}

'''''Chemmeen''''' ({{lang-ml|ചെമ്മീൻ}}, {{transl|ml|ISO|cemmīn}} {{IPA-ml|t͡ʃemmiːn|}}, lit. prawn) is a [[Malayalam]] [[novel]] written by [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] in 1956. ''Chemmeen'' tells the story of the relationship between Karuthamma, the daughter of a [[Hindu]] fisherman, and Pareekutti, the son of a [[Muslim]] fish wholesaler. The theme of the novel is a myth among the fishermen communities along the coastal [[Kerala]] State in the Southern India. The myth is about chastity. If the married fisher woman was adulterous when her husband was in the sea, the Sea Goddess (''Kadalamma'' literally means Mother Sea) would consume him. It is to perpetuate this myth that Thakazhi wrote this novel. It was adapted into a [[Chemmeen|film of same name]], which won critical acclaim and commercial success.

Thakazhi made a departure from his a vowed commitment to realism as it appeared in his works till then he brought in a fresh breeze of lyricism and romanticism. The novel acquires the quality of a fable in which life in the fishermen’s community is depicted with great emotional detail. The customs, taboos, beliefs, rituals and the day-to-day business of living through the pain of stark existence come alive magically through Thakazhi’s pen.

''Chemmeen'' won the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam|Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award]], India's second highest literary prize, in 1957.

==Plot==

Chembankunju's only aim in life is to own a boat and a net. He finally succeeds in buying both with the help of Pareekutty, a young Muslim trader, on condition that the fish hauled by the boat will be sold to him. Chembankunju's pretty daughter Karuthamma and Pareekutty love each other. Karuthamma's mother, Chakki, knows about it and reminds her daughter about the life they lead within the boundaries of strict social tradition. Karuthamma sacrifices her love for Pareekutty and marries Palani, an orphan discovered by Chembankunju in the course of one of his fishing expeditions. Following the marriage, Karuthamma accompanies her husband to his village, despite her mother's sudden illness and her father's repeated requests to stay. In his fury, Chembankunju disowns her. On acquiring a boat and a net and subsequently adding one more, Chembankunju becomes more greedy and heartless. With his dishonesty, he drives Pareekutty to bankruptcy. After the death of his wife, Chembankunju marries Pappikunju, the widow of the man from whom he had bought his first boat. Panchami, Chembankunju's younger daughter, leaves home to join Karuthama, on arrival of her step mother. Meanwhile, Karuthamma has endeavoured to be a good wife and mother. But scandal about her old love for Pareekutty spreads in the village. Palani's friends ostracize him and refuse to take him fishing with them. By a stroke of fate, Karuthamma and Pareekutty meet one night and their old love is awakened ... Palani, at sea, alone and baiting a large shark, is caught in a huge whirlpool and is swallowed by the sea. Next morning, Karuthamma and Parekutty, are also found dead hand in hand, washed ashore. At a distance lie the washed-up corpse of Palani's baited shark.

==Characters==

* Chembankunju - A Dishonest Fisherman
* Chakki - Spouse of Chembankunju
* Pareekutty - Muslim Trader who falls in love with Karuthamma
* Karuthamma - Daughter of Chembankunju
* Palani - Fisherman who marries Karuthamma
* Panchami - Chembankunju's younger daughter ...

==Inspiration and influences==

''Chemmeen'' is Pillai’s best novel which expresses the aspirations, struggle and grief in the lives of the fishermen of Kerala. Chemmeen has so much to offer to the readers. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s (Malayalam) novel Chemmeen, accepted as part of the [[UNESCO]] Collection of Representative Works - Indian Series, was translated by V.K.Narayana Menon, and published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1962. It was the first significant Malayalam novel to be translated into English after Independence or, rather, during the early post-colonial era.<ref>[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000822/082219eo.pdf "India: yesterday's heritage, tomorrow's hopes"]</ref>

==Translations==
Widely successful, ''Chemmeen'' was translated into [[English language|English]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[French language|French]] along with several Indian languages.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1989_Feb/ai_7546131/ "Anger of the Sea-Goddess - excerpt from Indian novel Chemmeen"]</ref>

''Chemmeen'' has been translated into English many times. Narayana Menon's translation titled ''Anger of the Sea-Goddess'' remains very popular even to this day. Another English translation is by Anita Nair, titled ''Chemmeen''as in Malayalam.<ref>[https://archive.is/20120707190115/http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/12/shinie-antony-recommends-must-reads-of-2011/ "Shinie Antony recommends: Must reads of 2011"]</ref> It has gone into several editions and is readily available at bookshops all over India.

The novel was translated into [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] by Kamal Jasapara, published in 1980.<ref name="Rao2004">{{cite book|last=Rao|first=D. S.|title=Five Decades: The National Academy of Letters, India : a Short History of Sahitya Akademi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA48|year=2004|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-260-2060-7|page=48}}</ref>

''Chemmeen'' has been translated into Arabic as well by Muhiyudheen Aluway titled as ''Shemmeen''.

==Film adaptation==
{{Main|Chemmeen}}
It was adapted into a film in 1965, which won critical acclaim and commercial success. The film, titled ''Chemmeen'' itself, was directed by [[Ramu Kariat]]. [[Sheela]], [[Madhu (actor)|Madhu]], [[Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair]] and [[Sathyaneshan Nadar|Sathyan]] played the lead characters in the film. It won the [[President of India|Indian President]]'s [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Gold Medal for the Best Film]] of 1965.

The screenplay was written by [[S. L. Puram Sadanandan]], with cinematography by [[Marcus Bartley]], and editing by [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] and K.D. George. Songs were set to music by [[Salil Chowdhury]], with lyrics by [[Vayalar Ramavarma|Vayalar]], and featuring voices of [[Manna Dey]], [[K. J. Yesudas]] and [[P. Leela]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085102/http://www.anukriti.net/ttoct/article4/page2.asp

{{UNESCO Collection}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemmeen (Novel)}}
[[Category:1956 novels]]
[[Category:Indian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Malayalam novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in Kerala]]
[[Category:Novels by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]]
[[Category:Sahitya Akademi Award-winning works]]
[[Category:DC Books books]]
[[Category:1956 Indian novels]]