Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for VJ James authored Malayalam novel Nireeshwaran
Malayalam novelist VJ James authored Nireeshwaran has won the prestigious Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.

Popular Malayalam writer VJ James authored novel, Nireeshwaran has won the coveted Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel, Nireeshwaran (Atheist). Earlier, the popular author had also bagged Muhammad Basheer Award 2018 recently.


Born in Vazhapally, Changanassery in Kottayam district of Kerala. His childhood was spent in Vazhapally where he pursued his schooling from the Saint Theresa’s Higher Secondary School and Saint Mary’s Higher Secondary School in Champakulam. Later VJ James joined Saint Berchmans College in Changanassery and continued his college education. VJ James also pursued Mechanical Engineering from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering and he now serves the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
Though by vocation and profession VJ James is an engineer, he is equally passionate about writing. What prompts him to write amidst his tight schedule at VSSC, James says, “I am a keen observer of things that happen around me. I observe everyday life quite closely and that helps me immensely to write about a common man’s life with such finesse and authenticity.”
Rightly so, VJ James’ works deals with complex subjects, but narrated in a lucid way to that any layperson can understand the depth of the story without any hassle. VJ James’debut novel, Purappadinte Pusthakam was published by the DC Books in 1999, which was followed by novels such as Dathapaharam, Leyka, Chorashasthram, Ottakalam Kakka, Nireeshwaran and Anticlock. VJ James’ short story collections include Shavangalil Pathinaraman, Bhoomiyilekkulla Thurumbicha Vaathayangal, Vyakulamathavinte Kannadioodu and Pranayopanishath.

The Malayalam cinema, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumobol (When the Grapevines Sprout) is the film adaptation of the VJ James’ Malayalam short story, Pranayopanishath. A wonderful family drama, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, starring Mohanlal and Meena is directed by Jibu Jacob and story written by Sindhu Raj and produced by Sophia Paul.
VJ James has also bagged the DC Silver Jubilee Award, Malayattor Prize in 1999, Rotary Literary Award for Purappadinte Pusthakam, Thoppil Ravi Award, Kerala Bhasha Institute Basheer Award (2015) for Nireeshwaran. The Indian.News wishes VJ James well in all his future endeavours.