UPSC Malayalam Literature Optional Syllabus 2026

• Early phase of the Malayalam Language :

1.1 Various theories: Origin from proto-Dravidian, Tamil, and Sanskrit.

 1.2 Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A. R. Rajarajavarma.

 1.3 Pattu School—Definition, Ramacharitam, later Pattu works—Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

• Linguistic features of :

2.1 Manipravalam—definition. Language of early manipravala works—Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later manipravala works—medieval Champu and Attakkatha.

2.2 Folklore—Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.

2.3 Early Malayalam Prose—Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

• Standardisation of Malayalam :

3.1 Peculiarities of the languages of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.

3.2 Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.

3.3 Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam; Malayalam as an administrative language. Language of scientific and technical literature—media language.

• Ancient and Medieval Literature :

4.1 Pattu—Ramacharitam, Niranam Works and Krishnagatha.  

4.2  Manipravalam—early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.

4.3 Folk Literature.

 4.4 Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

• Modern Literature—Poetry :

5.1 Venmani poets and contemporaries.

5.2 The advent of  Romanticism—Poetry of Kavitraya, i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol.

5.3 Poetry after Kavitraya.

5.4 Modernism in Malayalam Poetry.

• Modern Literature—Prose :

6.1 Drama.

 6.2 Novel.

 6.3 Short story.

 6.4 Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism. 

• Unit 1

1.1 Ramacharitam—Patalam 1.

1.2 Kannassaramayanam—Balakandam first 25 stanzas.

1.3 Unnunilisandesam—Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana.

1.4 Mahabharatham Kilippattu—Bhishmaparvam.

• Unit 2

2.1 Kumaran Asan—Chintavisthayaya Sita.

2.2 Vailoppilli—Kutiyozhikkal.

2.3 G. Sankara Kurup—Perunthachan.

2.4 N. V. Krishna Variar—Tivandiyile pattu.

• Unit 3

3.1 O. N. V.—Bhumikkoru Charamagitam.

3.2 Ayyappa Panicker—Kurukshetram.

3.3 Akkittam—Pandatha Messanthi.

3.4 Attur Ravivarma—Megharupan

• Unit 4

4.1 O. Chanthu Menon—Indulekha.

4.2 Thakazhy—Chemmin.

4.3 O. V. Vijayan—Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

• Unit 5

5.1 M. T. Vasudevan Nair—Vanaprastham (Collection).

5.2 N. S. Madhavan—Higvitta (Collection).

5.3 C. J. Thomas—1128-il Crime 27.

• Unit 6

6.1 Kuttikrishna Marar—Bharataparyatanam.

6.2 M. K. Sanu—Nakshatrangalute Snehabhajanam.

6.3 V. T. Bhatttathirippad—Kannirum Kinavum.