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Structuring literature for children

Santosh Priyan

Santosh Priyan is emerging as a popular name in the realm of Malayalam literary genre appealing to children. Creating supernatural characters and ghosts to entertain children is his passion. His characters are already entertaining and inspiring a good number of children.

Some of the characters created by him include Chiriyakshi, Kuttichatahan, Unnooli Muthani, Gusthikaran Mallaya, Che Rappai, Kochammalu and Kunji Maalu. All of them have supernatural powers. Because of their good nature, these characters have a fan following among the children who read his works. Mr. Priyan says that magic, supernatural powers and ghosts are an irresistible attraction for children. When that attraction is translated into literature in an appealing manner, that literature too becomes irresistible for them. This passion was kindled in him when he was an eight standard student. By that time he was a voracious reader of stories for children. Reading kindled in him the urge to write and he wrote a story.

With high expectations he sent it to a children’s book publisher. But his expectations got belied when the publisher rejected it and sent it back to him. But that did not deject him. It was something he anticipated could happen. He understood that a lot of fine-tuning had to be done.

Soon after passing his SSLC he managed it. He named the work “12 Bala Kathakal” and when it got published Santosh Priyan was thrilled.

Today Mr. Santosh has seven books of his published. In addition to that he is scripting a serial “Zim Fom Kuttichathan” for Balamangalam.

Mr. Santosh is a popular guest at most vacation camps for children.

As soon as the children become aware that he is the author of of the stories with these captivating characters, they have a hundred questions to ask him.

Mr. Santosh also works as a reporter for Mangalam.

Ignatius Pereira

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