S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, P. Kesavadev, Ponkunnam Varkey, and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer were writers who strongly criticised the decay of society as they perceived it. They upheld high values and suggested, through their stories, the ways and means to fight the degeneration of society. K. Saraswathi Amma, Lalithambika Antharjanam, P.C. Kuttikrishnan (Uroob), and Karoor Neelakanta Pillai followed soon after and wrote aesthetically apealing stories with powerful messages. Together, these writers were able to create the perfect golden era of Malayalam short story.
Many stories like Thakazhi’s Thahasildarude Achan, Vellappokkathil; S.K. Pottekkatt’s Nisagandhi, Ottakam; Ponkunnam Varkey’s Anthoni Neeyum Achanayoda?,Sabdikkunna Kalappa; Kesavadev’s Gusthi, Bassuyatra, Cool Drink; Basheer’s Neela Velicham, Thanka Mothiram, Aishukkutti are bright stars in the literary firmament of this era.
Other brilliant stories that can compare with these are Karoor’s Marappavakal, Poovan Pazham, Uthuppinte Kinar, Antharjanathinte Yatravasanam, Pratikara Devatha; K. Saraswathi Amma’s Penbuddhi, Ponnum Kutam, and Cholamarangal. Karoor’s stories, which espouse lofty ideas and explore the human psyche in depth, add splashes of brilliant colours to the golden era of short story.
Short story fast became a form of expression that ordinary readers could fully enjoy. Some of the writers who entered the field in the 1940s have played a formative role in turning short story into a people-friendly medium. Nagavalli R.S. Kurup, Vettoor Raman Nair, Ponhikkara Rafi, and T.K.C. Vatuthala are prominent among them.
Many writers enriched the arena after the 1940s too. Muttaathu Varkey, Nandanar, Chandrasekharan Nair, Cherukatu, I.K.K.M., M. Parameswaran Nair, Sukumaran, B. Madhava Menon, Perunna Thomas, G.M. Pottekkatt, S.K.R. Kammath, C. Achutha Kurup, E.M. Kovoor, M.N. Govindan Nair, Veloor Krishnan Kutti, P.K. Rajaraja Varma, N.P. Chellappan Nair, P.C. Koruth, V.T. Nandakumar, and Anandakkuttan are just a few to name.
