Chandrika Balan (born 17 January 1954) is anIndian writer who has published books in English andMalayalam, under the pen nameChandramathi. She is a writer of fiction, translator,[1] andcritic in English and Malayalam.[2] Chandramathi has published four books in English and 20 in Malayalam, including 12 collections of short stories, an anthology of medieval Malayalam poetry, two collections of essays, two memoirs, and five books translated from English. The Malayalam filmNjandukalude Nattil Oridavela was based on her book.[3]
Chandramathi was born inThiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She graduated in English Language and Literature from theUniversity of Kerala in 1976. In 1988 she received her PhD, from the University of Kerala. She was Professor of English literature at All Saints' College, Thriuvananthapuram.[4] From 1993 to 1994 she served as Executive Editor ofMedieval Indian Literature.[1]She received the Professor Sivaprasad Foundation Award for Most Outstanding Teacher in 1999[5] and Alumni Association of St. Berchmans College's award for Best College Teacher in Kerala in 2002.[6] In 1998 she visited Sweden with a team of 10 Indian writers under theSahitya Akademi's cultural exchange programme. The visit inspired her to write the short story "Reindeer".[4]
Madhyakaala Malayala Kavitha. [Medieval Malayalam Poetry] (Co-Editor). New Delhi :National Book Trust, 1998.
Perilla Prasnangal. [ Problems without a Name]. Thrissur: Current Books, 2003.
Njandukalude Naattil Oru Idavela. [ An Interval in the Land of the Crabs : Cancer memoirs]. Kottayam: DC Books,2006.
Sooryarajaavinte Pranayini. [The Lover of the Sun-God]. Kottayam : DC Books, 2007.
Njan Oru Veedu. [I, A House]. (Childhood Memoirs). Trichur: H&C, 2010.Revised edition by H&C in 2022.
Oliverude Diarykkurippukal. [ Ruskin Bond's novel Mr. Oliver's Diary ].Kottayam: DC Books,2011.
The latest Malayalam movie of Nivin Pauly—Njandukalude Nattil Oru Idavela is based on Chandramati's well-known memoirs titled Njandukalude Nattil Oru Idavela which is an autobiographical story of her long fight with cancer and survival.
Lenin Rajendran's award winning movie രാത്രിമഴ (Night Rain) is based on her short story "Website"
