Biriyani (Malayalam Edition)

DETAILS :

• Author : Santhosh Echikkanam
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC Books
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 January 1920
  
• Edition ‏ : ‎ 14th
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ Malayalam
  
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 104 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8126473827
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9788126473823
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 200 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Biriyani is a powerful and critically acclaimed collection of short stories by the contemporary Malayalam writer Santhosh Echikkanam. The title story, Biriyani, became a sensation in Kerala's literary and social landscape, sparking intense debates about class divide, hunger, and the ironies of a consumerist society.

Echikkanam is known for his "sharp-as-a-scalpel" storytelling, where he takes mundane, everyday incidents and peels back the layers to reveal the underlying systemic rot or human vulnerability.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Santhosh Echikkanam is one of the most prominent voices in modern Malayalam short fiction. Hailing from Kasaragod, his writing often captures the distinct linguistic nuances and social realities of North Malabar. He has received numerous accolades, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. His work is characterized by its realism, subtle irony, and deep empathy for those on the margins of society.

The Title Story: "Biriyani"

The titular story is the centerpiece of the collection. It revolves around the life of Basheer, a man working at a lavish wedding feast in Kerala.

The Conflict: The story highlights the staggering contrast between the massive amount of food being wasted at the wedding and the crushing hunger faced by the migrant laborers (often referred to as "Bhais" in Kerala) who work behind the scenes.

The Symbolism: Biriyani, a dish associated with celebration and luxury, becomes a symbol of social inequality. The act of dumping buckets of perfectly good Biriyani into a waste pit while people go hungry serves as a haunting critique of the "New Kerala" middle-class psyche.

The Climax: The story ends on a gut-wrenching note that forces the reader to confront their own complicity in a culture of waste.