The Japanese term “ikigai” or the “art of living” refers to the practice of living a purposeful life with respect to a person’s sense of self..

Kamala Das, popularly known by her one-time pen name Madhavikutty, was an Indian poet in English as well as an author in Malayalam from Kerala.

Khasakkinte Itihasam is the Malayalam debut novel by Indian writer

O. V. Vijayan.

Appu Nedungadi was an Indian writer best known as the author of Kundalatha, which was published in 1887, making it the first novel published in the Malayalam language

Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil is a Malayalam language novel by M. Mukundan. The novel vividly describes the political and social background of Mahé, the former French colony, in the past, in a mystical way. The novel was translated into Tamil, English and French, All the versions winning accolades.

Yakshi is a Malayalam novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1967. The novel follows a college lecturer, Srinivasan, who is disfigured in an accident in his college lab. He meets a beautiful woman who is willing to accept him despite his disfigurement.

Marthandavarma is a historical romance novel by C. V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It recounts the history of Venad during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma's reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma.

Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu is a short novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer published in 1951. It is one of the most famous among his works. The story is woven around the love of Kunjupattumma for Nisar Ahmed

Oru Desathinte Katha is a 1971 Malayalam novel written by S. K. Pottekkatt. It portrays the people of Athiranippadam, drawing on history while detailing the story of one place. It won the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1972, and the Jnanpith Award in 1980. The story takes place over a span of about 55 years

Odayil Ninnu is a Malayalam novel written by Indian author P. Kesavadev in 1942. The protagonist of the novel is a rickshaw-puller named Pappu. The novel is one of the best-known works of Kesavadev.