Trends in Modern Malayalam Literature: A Renaissance in the Making

Abstract

A notable revival is taking place in Malayalam literature, as seen by the unexpected success of ‘Ram c/o Anandhi’ by Akhil P Dharmarajan. This comeback can be attributed to several things, such as the influence of social media, changing reader demographics, improvements in printing technology, and a return of interest in a wide range of literary genres. Social media has developed into an effective tool for book promotion, enabling writers to swiftly connect with a large audience. A portion of the reason for Akhil P Dharmarajan’s success is the widespread social media activity around his book, where users are making reels and shorts that increase the book’s exposure. In a similar vein, Nimna Vijay and Joseph Annamkutty Jose have used their social media followings to increase book sales by converting indifferent readers into ardent advocates. The publishing sector has seen a radical transformation thanks to technological developments in printing, especially print-on-demand technologies. Publishers may now more effectively address the urgent demand
from readers by lowering expenses and financial risks thanks to this innovation. This has been essential in allowing for the increase in book sales. Diverse genres are gaining popularity once more. A rising interest in crime thrillers and autobiographies has counterbalanced the fall in the market for pornographic books. Reprints of classic works are being released, and new writers are finding willing readers for their stories. All these signs point to a bright future for Malayalam writing. The convergence of contemporary marketing tactics, technology developments, and the interest of a lively new readership suggests a robust and long-lasting literary renaissance. Using a qualitative methodology, this study looks at reader demographics, sales data, social media trends, and case studies of prominent Malayalam writers. Authors and publishers were interviewed by various media, as part of the data collection process these interviews were analysed, and sales records and social media analytics were also analysed.