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{{Short description|Indian Malayalam-language writer and translator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Chathanath Achuthanunni
| image =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|03|10}}
| birth_place = [[Guruvayur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]], [[British India]]
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| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Academic, literary critic, poet and translator
| movement =
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children =
| awards = {{bullet list|[[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]] (2022)|[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] (2011)| [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1987)}}
| influences =
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}}
'''Chathanath Achuthanunni''' (born in 1939) is a polyglot, [[Malayalam language]] writer and translator from [[Kerala]], India. He received many awards including [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] (2011) [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1987) and Sahridayavedi Award (1988). In 2022 he received the [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]], a literary honour in India, presented by [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters. In 2024, he received the Kairali Global Lifetime Achievement Prize for Researchers Award, presented by the Kerala government.

== Biography ==
Chathanath Achuthanunni was born on March 10, 1939, Chathanath, [[Guruvayur]] in present-day [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]] to Menakaymal Vasudevanunnithan and Chathanath Madhavikuttyamma.<ref name="Sarva">{{Cite web |title=ചാത്തനാത്ത്, അച്യുതനുണ്ണി (1939 - ) - സര്‍വ്വവിജ്ഞാനകോശം |url=http://web-edition.sarvavijnanakosam.gov.in/index.php?title=%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D,_%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%BF_(1939%C2%A0-%C2%A0) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814103454/http://web-edition.sarvavijnanakosam.gov.in/index.php?title=%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D,_%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%BF_(1939%C2%A0-%C2%A0) |archive-date=2022-08-14 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=web-edition.sarvavijnanakosam.gov.in |publisher=[[Sarvavijnanakosam]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=ചാത്തനാത്ത് അച്യുതനുണ്ണി |url=https://keralaliterature.com/malayalam-writers-%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D/%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D-%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=14 October 2017 |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107071131/https://keralaliterature.com/maintenance.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Deshabhimani">{{cite news |title=സംസ്കൃത ജ്ഞാനത്തിന്റെ വിശ്വമാനവ മുഖം |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-malappuramkerala-28-04-2019/796431 |work=[[Deshabhimani]] |language=ml |access-date=2023-07-22 |archive-date=2023-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722051153/https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-malappuramkerala-28-04-2019/796431 |url-status=live }}</ref> His father Menakaimal, who was a polyglot scholar and poet, knew Malayalam, English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali languages.<ref name="SMV">{{Cite news |last=Mohanakrishnan |first=V. |date=17 May 2013 |title=യാത്രകൾ, കിഴക്കോട്ടും പടിഞ്ഞാട്ടും (Travels, East and West) |work=[[Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika]]}}</ref>

Achuthanunni holds degrees including Sahitya Visarada, M.A. Sanskrit, M.A. Malayalam and Ph.D.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> From 1957 to 1964 he was a teacher at the High School and from 1965 to 1971 at the Catholic College, [[Pathanamthitta]].<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><ref name="Deshabhimani"/> He then worked as a lecturer in the Malayalam department of the [[University of Calicut]] from 1971 and became a professor in 1983 and the head of the department from 1986.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> He later became Dean of the Faculty of Languages at the university.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> After his retirement in 2000, he also served as visiting professor at [[Kerala Kalamandalam]].<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>

Achuthanunni has also worked as the Founder Secretary of Vallathol Vidyapeeth (Shukapuram) and Vice Chairman of Tirur Thunchans Memorial.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

==Literary contributions==
Publishing poems and essays in periodicals since 1955,<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> Achuthanunni made remarkable contributions in the fields of linguistics, poetics and literary criticism.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> When he was 15, his first poetry collection 'Muraliganam' was published by Shanta Bookstall, a small publishing house in his birthplace Guruvayur.<ref name="SMV"/> They also selected and published drama songs written by him during that time.<ref name="SMV"/> He has also said that he had written and published a detective novel named 'Prethadurgam' in his youth.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/><ref name="SMV"/>

Achuthanunni's major literary contribution is his critical study of Indian literary theories with a contemporary perspective. His profound studies on Malayalam literary theories such as ''Kavyalankaram'', ''Kavi Kandabharanam'', and ''Vakrokthijeevitham'' are later published as more than fifty research articles and in his book ''Neethi Darshana'' published in 1983.<ref name="Sarva"/> His book ''Alarkarasastram Malayalathil'' (1984) is notable as the first attempt to comprehensively evaluate literary texts in Malayalam.<ref name="Sarva"/>

Achuthanunni has also written many poems in Sanskrit and Malayalam. His major poetry collections are ''Thirunadayil'' and ''Layam''.<ref name="Sarva"/>

==Selected works==
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Bharatheeya Sahithya Darshanam |date=2015 |publisher=[[National Book Stall]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/knu.43966 |language=ml}} Literary criticism.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Sahithya Meemamsa |date=1999 |publisher=[[DC Books|Current Books]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/knu.18511 |language=ml}} Literary criticism.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Tharathamya sahithya parichayam |date=2014 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.230042 |language=ml}} Literary study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Thirunadayil sahithya parichayam |date=1973 |location= |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.203233 |language=ml}} Poems.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Thiranjedutha kavithakal |date=1999 |publisher=[[DC Books|Current Books]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.206013 |language=ml}} Poetry collection.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Alankara shasthram Malayalathil |date=2003 |publisher=[[Kerala Bhasha Institute]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.210857 |language=ml |edition=Second}} Study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Bhasha oru padanam |date=1971 |publisher=[[National Book Stall]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.212681 |language=ml}} Study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Varthamana pusthakathinu oru avatharika |date=1967 |publisher=[[National Book Stall]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.212991 |language=ml}} [[Malayalam literature]] history and study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Swapnavasavadhatha |date=1967 |publisher=MS Book Depot |location= |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.214365 |language=ml}} Poetry.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Devantam priya |date=1967 |publisher=[[National Book Stall]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.216506 |language=ml}}
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Layam |date=1974 |publisher=[[National Book Stall]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.217113 |language=ml}} Poetry.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Kavya chintha |date=2001 |publisher=Lipi publications |location=Kozhikode |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.227023 |language=ml}} Poetry study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Reethi darshanam |date=1983 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.222694 |language=ml}} Poetry study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Sahithya darshanam - Prabandha rachanayude thathwangal|date=1981 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.222695 |language=ml}} Malayalam literature research.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Vangmayam |date=1999 |publisher=PK Brothers |location=Kozhikode |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.201572 |language=ml}} Study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Thatha paranja kathakal |date=1973 |publisher=Vidyarthimithram |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.224588 |language=ml}} Malayalam drama collection in the genre [[children's literature]].
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Edaaseri |date=2015 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.234337 |language=ml}} Literary criticism of poems of [[Edasseri Govindan Nair]].
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Rasadhwani- Vimarshathmaka sameepanam |date=2015 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.234372 |language=ml}} Sanskrit literature history and criticism.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Alankaram- Kalidasa kavithaye munnirthi oru saundaryavicharam |date=2016 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.235900 |language=ml}} Study on poem of [[Kalidasa]].
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Unnichirutheyi charitham |date=2017 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |location=Kottayam |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.236849 |language=ml}} Poetry.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Manipravala rathnavali |date=1969 |publisher=MS Book Depot |location= |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.214260 |language=ml}} Poetry study.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Shailee vijnanam |date=1984 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.224071 |language=ml}} Applied linguistics.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Gaveshanam - Prabandha rachanayude thathwangal |date=2006 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.226397 |language=ml}} Malayalam literature research.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Kokasandesham |date=2007 |publisher=Vallathol vidhyapeedam |location=Shukapuram |url=https://kalnet.kshec.kerala.gov.in/vufind/Record/uoc.229730 |language=ml}} Study on ancient poetry.
*{{cite book |last1=Achuthanunni |first1=Chathanath |title=Vamanacharyante Kavyalankara Sutra Vrithi |date=2007 |publisher= |location= |url= |language=ml}} Translated from Sanskrit (For this he received Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation).<ref>{{cite news |title=Prof M Thomas Mathew bags Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award; C Radhakrishnan becomes distinguished member |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/books/prof-m-thomas-mathew-to-get-central-sahitya-akademi-award-1.8156020 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=22 December 2022 |language=en |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722070831/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/books/prof-m-thomas-mathew-to-get-central-sahitya-akademi-award-1.8156020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{cite book |title=Anandha vardhante dhanyalokam |date=2021 |publisher=[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=9780000138675 |language=ml}}
*{{cite book |title=Linguistics - General and Dravidian |date=1970 |publisher=Asian Book Stall |isbn= |language=en}}

==Awards and honors==
In 1986, Achuthanunni received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his work "Alankarashastram Malayalathil" and in 1980, he received the Prof. C.N. Antony Award for his work "Reethidarshanam".<ref name="Sarva"/> He received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] in 2011,<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> and the Certificate of Honor Award from the President of India in 2019.<ref name="Janam">{{cite news |last1=Kanjirathil |first1=Renjith |title=ബാലാമണിയമ്മ പുരസ്കാരം ഡോ. ചാത്തനാത്ത് അച്യുതനുണ്ണിയ്ക്ക് |url=https://janamtv.com/80938667/ |work=[[Janam TV]] |date=5 November 2024 |language=ml-IN}}</ref> In 2022 he received the [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]], a literary honour in India, presented by [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters.<ref name=":6A">{{Cite web|url=https://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/pdf/Pressrelease_TP-2022.pdf|title=Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2022|website=www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in|access-date=2023-07-03|archive-date=2023-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601091230/https://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in/pdf/Pressrelease_TP-2022.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, Chathanath Achuthanunni received the Kairali Global Lifetime Achievement Prize for Researchers Award, presented by the Kerala government to prominent scientists for their comprehensive contribution.<ref name="Ma">{{Cite web |last=Karattel |first=Himesh |date=2024-10-25 |title=അംഗീകാര നിറവിൽ ചാത്തനാത്ത് അച്യുതനുണ്ണി {{!}} Chathanath Achuthanunni {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/local-news/malappuram/edappal/chathanath-achuthanunni-1343095 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}}</ref> In the same year he received the Professor S. Guptan Nair Award instituted by the Prof. S. Guptan Nair Foundation for teachers who have made major contributions to the field of culture.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Janmabhumi |date=2024-01-05 |title=എസ്.ഗുപ്തന്‍നായര്‍ പുരസ്‌ക്കാരം ഡോ.ചാത്തനാത്ത് അച്യുതനുണ്ണിക്ക് |url=https://janmabhumi.in/2024/01/05/3151903/news/kerala/guptan-nair-award-to-dr-chathanath-achuthanunni/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Janmabhumi |language=en-US}}</ref> For his comprehensive contribution to Malayalam literature, he received the Balamaniyamma Award presented by the Kochi International Book Festival Committee, in 2025.<ref name="Janam"/>

==Controversies==
In 2019, Chathanath Achuthanunni was accused of plagiarism.<ref name="news18">{{cite news |title=ചാത്തനാത്ത് അച്യുതനുണ്ണിയ്‌ക്കെതിരെ ആശയ മോഷണാരോപണം: വിവാദത്തിനില്ലെന്ന് വിമർശകൻ |url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/kerala/college-teacher-accuses-dr-chathanath-achuthanunni-of-idea-theft-update-tv-jbs-rv-178761.html |work=[[News18 Malayalam]] |date=29 November 2019 |language=ml |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722053345/https://malayalam.news18.com/news/kerala/college-teacher-accuses-dr-chathanath-achuthanunni-of-idea-theft-update-tv-jbs-rv-178761.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The allegation was made by Dr. Shuba K. S., a college teacher. It was alleged that, An article by Achuthanunni in the November–December 2019 issue of ''Sahithya Vimarshanam'' magazine entitled 'Abhidhamuladhwani: Asangadhamaya oru sankalppam' have plagiarized ideas from the book 'Rasadhwani Siddhantam Upekshikkuka' published in 2013 by Shuba K.S.<ref name="news18"/> She also said that Chattannath Achuthanunni has imitated her sentence structure as well.<ref name="news18"/> However, Achuthanunni, who said that he had read Shuba's book only two days ago, clarified that nothing he says in his article is in Shuba's book and doubts that Shuba does not know Sanskrit properly, and added he was not interested in the controversy.<ref name="news18"/>

==Personal life==
Achuthanunni and his wife Aivi lives in his house at [[Edappal]], [[Malappuram district]].<ref name="SMV"/> The couple have two children, Ashis and Ashwathy.<ref name="SMV"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Achuthanunni, Chathanath}}
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Translators to Malayalam]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:People from Guruvayur]]
[[Category:Writers from Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]

Chathanath Achuthanunni - Revision history

IrisClow72785038 at 03:11, 6 February 2026