<P> O. Chandhu Menon's Indulekha was the first major novel in Malayalam language . It was a landmark in the history of Malayalam literature and initiated the novel as a new flourishing genre . The title refers to the main character in this novel, a beautiful, well educated Nair lady of 18 years . The novel was written at a time when there was an emerging class of upper caste men (mostly Nairs) who received a Western style education, and were achieving prominent positions in British India . The response to Indulekha was so good, that Menon felt encouraged to write another novel . Thus he started writing Sarada and completed writing the first eight chapters in 1892 . He released the first volume of the book but the author could add only three more chapters before his death in 1899 . C.V. Raman Pillai's Marthandavarma (1891) had many distinctions: it was the first historical novel in any South Indian languages, first novel from Travancore, first Malayalam novel to be a part of a trilogy and the first Malayalam novel to have a masculine title . Marthandavarma was completed even before Indulekha but could not be published until 1891 owing to lack of finance . The novel recounted the history of Venad (Travancore) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma's reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma . The novel had a film adaptation of the same name in 1933 and was the first Malayalam novel to be adapted into film . </P> <P> The first Malayalam novel that dealt with the socially backward classes was Saraswathy Vijayam by Kunjambu in 1892 . Kochuthomman (1892) written by Kocheeppan Tharakan was one of the earliest novels on Christian life in Kerala . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Author </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Make </Th> <Th> Other notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fulmoni Ennum Koruna Ennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha (ഫുൽമോനി എന്നും കോരുണ എന്നും പേരായ രണ്ടു സ്ത്രീകളുടെ കഥ - Phulmōni ennuṁ kōruṇa ennuṁ pērāya ranṭu strīkaḷuṭe katha) </Td> <Td> Rev. Joseph Peet </Td> <Td> 1858 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> First novel printed and released in Malayalam First novel translated to Malayalam which was originally conceived in an Indian language Translation of The History of Phulmani and Karuna (English, 1853) by Hana Catherine Mullens which is a translation of Fulmoni O Korunar Biboron (Bengali, 1852) by Hana Catherine Mullens </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ghathakawadham (ഘാതകവധം - Ghātakavadhaṁ) </Td> <Td> Rev. Richard Collins </Td> <Td> 1877 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> First novel printed and published in Malayalam with a story based in Kerala and around Malayalees First novel translated to Malayalam which was originally conceived in English Translation of The Slayer Slain (English, 1864 - 1866) by Frances Richard Collins and Rev. Richard Collins </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pathminiyum Karunayum (പത്മിനിയും കരുണയും - Patmiṉiyuṁ karuṇayuṁ) </Td> <Td> <Anonymous Writer> </Td> <Td> 1884 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> First repeated translation of a novel to Malayalam Translation of The History of Phulmani and Karuna (English, 1853) by Hana Catherine Mullens which is a translation of Fulmoni O Korunar Biboron (Bengali, 1852) by Hana Catherine Mullens </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kundalatha (കുന്ദലത - Kundalata) </Td> <Td> Appu Nedungadi </Td> <Td> 1887 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> First novel conceived and published in Malayalam First novel by a Malayalee Keralite First novel from Malabar First Malayalam novel to have a story outside Kerala and without Malayali characters </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indulekha (ഇന്ദുലേഖ - Indulēkha) </Td> <Td> O. Chandhu Menon </Td> <Td> 1889 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> First social novel in Malayalam first novel made in Malayalam with Malayali characters and a story based in Malabar, Kerala </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indumathee Swayamvaram (ഇന്ദുമതീസ്വയംവരം - Indumatīsvayaṁvaraṁ) </Td> <Td> Padinjare Kovilakathu Ammaman Raja </Td> <Td> 1890 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Meenakshi (മീനാക്ഷി - Mīṉākṣi) </Td> <Td> C. Chathu Nair </Td> <Td> 1890 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Marthandavarma (മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ - Māṟttāṇḍavaṟmma) </Td> <Td> C.V. Raman Pillai </Td> <Td> 1891 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> First Historical novel in Malayalam, Kerala and South India First novel from Travancore First Malayalam novel to be a part of a trilogy First Malayalam novel to have a masculine title First Malayalam novel to have a film adaptation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saraswatheevijayam (സരസ്വതീവിജയം - Sarasvatīvijayaṁ) </Td> <Td> Potheri Kunjanbu </Td> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parishkarapathi (പരിഷ്ക്കാരപ്പാതി - Pariṣkārappāti) </Td> <Td> Kochuthomman Appothikari </Td> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parangodee Parinayam (പറങ്ങോടീപരിണയം - Paṟaṅṅōṭīpariṇayaṁ) </Td> <Td> Kizhakepattu Raman Menon </Td> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> First satirical novel in Malayalam </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sarada (ശാരദ - Śārada) </Td> <Td> O. Chandumenon </Td> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> First novel foretold to have sequels in a trilogy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lakshmeekeshavam (ലക്ഷ്മീകേശവം - Lakṣmīkēśavaṁ) </Td> <Td> Komattil Padu Menon </Td> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Naluperiloruthan (നാലുപേരിലൊരുത്തൻ - Nālupēriloruttan) </Td> <Td> C. Anthapayi </Td> <Td> 1893 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chandrahasan (ചന്ദ്രഹാസൻ - Candrahāsan) </Td> <Td> P. Krishnan Menon T.K. Krishnan Menon C. Govindan Eledam </Td> <Td> 1893 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Akbar (അക്ബർ - Akbaṟ) </Td> <Td> Kerala Varma Valiya Koi Thampuran </Td> <Td> 1894 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> First Historical novel translated to Malayalam Translation of Akbar (English, 1879) which is a translation of Akbar (Dutch, 1872) by Dr. P.A.S. van Limburg Brouwer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kalyani (കല്യാണി - Kalyāṇi) </Td> <Td> <Anonymous Writer> </Td> <Td> 1896 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> Published in Vidyāvinodini periodical </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sukumari (സുകുമാരി - Sukumāri) </Td> <Td> Joseph Mooliyil </Td> <Td> 1897 </Td> <Td> Original </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saguna (സഗുണ - Saguṇa) </Td> <Td> Joseph Mooliyil </Td> <Td> 1898 - 1899 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> Translation of Saguna (English, 1896) by Kirubai Sathyanathan Ammal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kamala (കമല - Kamala) </Td> <Td> C. Krishnan Nair </Td> <Td> 1899 </Td> <Td> Translation </Td> <Td> Translation of Kamala (English, 1896) by Kirubai Sathyanathan Ammal </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Author </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Make </Th> <Th> Other notes </Th> </Tr>

Malayalam novel in which characters have no name