P. F. Mathews

P.F. Mathews
Born	(1960-02-18) 18 February 1960 Ernakulam, Kerala State, India
Occupation	Author, screenwriter
Spouse(s)	Shobha
Children	Unni, Anand
Parent(s)	Poovankery Francis Mary Francis
Awards	National Film Award (India) for Best Screen Play – 2010 State Television Award for Best Screen Play – 1991 State Television Award for Best Screen Play – 1993 National Film Development Corporation of India Prize for Best Screen Play – 1993 State Bank of Travancore Award for Best Novel – 1996 KCBC Award – 1999
Website	pfmathews.com

Poovankery Francis Mathew is an Indian author of Malayalam literature and a screenplay writer in Malayalam film and Television industries. A Winner of a National Film Award for Best Screenplay and multiple State television and other literary awards, he is known for his original style of writing. Literary works such as Iruttil Oru Punyalan, Chaavunilam, Njayarazhcha Mazha Peyyukayayirunnu, Jalakanyakayum Gandarvanum and 2004il Alice and screen plays which include Sararaanthal, Mikhayelinte Santhathikal, Megham and Kutty Srank are some of his notable works.

Early years

Mathews was born in a Latin Christian family on 18 February 1960 in Ernakulam, Kerala to Poovankery Francis and Mary Francis. After his early schooling in Don Bosco School and St. Augustine's School, Kochi, he graduated in Economics from St. Albert's College Kochi, in 1980 and secured his master's degree in Malayalam in 1982. He started writing at the age of 10 when he used to write and direct one- act plays. He took to short stories at the age of 16 and his short stories have been published in leading Malayalam publications like Malayala Manorama, Kalakaumudi, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam and Bhashaposhini.

Literary career

Iruttil oru Punyalan, Book cover

His first short story anthology, Njayarazhcha Mazha Peyyukayayirunnu (It Was Raining on Sunday), was published in 1986 by Current Books. His second work was a novel, Chaavunilam (Land of Death), based on the coastal life in Kochi and published in 1996 by DC Books, which won the State Bank of Travancore award for the best novel. Subsequent years produced two more short story collections, Jalakanyakayum Gandarvanum (the Mermaid and the Celestial Lover) and 2004il Alice (Alice in 2004). In 2013, a short story anthology, Kathakal (Stories), and his memoirs, Theerajeevithathinu Oru Oppees (A Dirge for the Coastal Life), were published. His second novel, Iruttil Oru Punyalan (A Saint Shrouded in Darkness), was published in 2015, and two of its chapters were published by Mathrubhumi weekly, prior to the official release of the book.

Film and television career

Mathews debuted into screen writing with a documentary film, Keep the City Clean. In 1991, he won the Kerala State Television Award for screen play, for the tele-series Sararaanthal (The Lantern), broadcast in Doordarshan. He received his second state television award for Mikhayelinte Santhathikal (Descendants of Mikhayel), in 1993. Several works followed, which included Dr. Harischandra (1994), Roses in December (1995), Charulatha (1999), Aathma (2000), Edayanum Mankidavum (2003), Megham (2004), Mantharam (2005), Aa Amma (2006), Pakalmazha (2009) and Daivathinu Swantham Devootti (2012), the last one winning State television award for the best Series.

His foray into big screen was in 1986 with the story of Thanthram (the Plot), a Mammooty starrer. This was followed by Puthran (the Son), a sequel to the successful tele series, Mikhayelinte Santhathikal. Savithriyude Aranjanam preceded Kutty Srank, directed by Shaji N. Karun, which won him the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for the year 2010. Antichrist, a Lijo Jose Pellissery project, with Prithviraj, Fahadh Faasil and Indrajith in lead roles, was put on hold after the initial discussions. Instead, a film with Mammootty as the protagonist, has been announced. He has also won the script writing competition held nationwide by National Film Development Corporation of India, for Naattukaaryam, in 1993.

Personal life

Mathews, a recipient of the KCBC Yuvaprathibha (Young Talent) award (1999), is married to Shobha and the couple has two sons. He has been employed with the Advocate General's Office, Ernakulam, and has since superannuated from service.

Awards and recognitions

Award	Year	Work
National Film Award for Best Screenplay	2010	Kutty Srank
Kerala State Television Award for Best Screenplay	1991	Sararaanthal
Kerala State Television Award for Best Screenplay	1993	Mikhayelinte Santhathikal
National Film Development Corporation of India Prize for Best Screen Play	1993	Naattukaaryam
State Bank of Travancore Award for Best Novel	1996	Chaavunilam
KCBC Yuvaprathibha Award	1999	General Contribution

Literary works

Work	Year	Genre
Njayarazhcha Mazha Peyyukayayirunnu	1986	Short story – Anthology
Chaavunilam	1996	Novel
Jalakanyakayum Gandarvanum	1998	Short story – Anthology
2004il Alice – 2004	2004	Short story – Anthology
27 Down	2011	Short story – Anthology
Kathakal	2013	Short story – Anthology
Theerajeevithathinu Oru Oppees	2013	Memoir
Iruttil Oru Punyalan	2015	Novel

Tele-series and Documentaries

Work	Genre	Director	Year
Keep the City Clean	Documentary	Jude Attipetty	1981
Sararaanthal	Tele-series	Jude Attipetty	1991
Mikhayelinte Santhathikal	Tele-series	Jude Attipetty	1993
Dr. Harischandra	Tele-series	Jude Attipetty	1994
Roses in December	Tele-series	Jude Attipetty	1995
Charulatha	Tele-series	Prashanth	1999
Aathma	Tele-series	Mohan Kupleri	2000
Edayanum Mankidavum	Tele-series	Jude Attipetty	2003
Megham	Tele-series	Saji Surendran	2004
Mantharam	Tele-series	Saji Surendran	2005
Aa Amma	Tele-series	Kiran	2006
Pakalmazha	Tele-series	Gireesh Konni	2009
Daivathinu Swantham Devootti	Tele-series	Madhupal	2011

Filmography

Work	Contribution	Year
Thanthram	Story	1986
Puthran	Screen Play	1994
Savithriyude Aranjanam	Screen Play	2002
Kutty Srank	Screen Play	2009
Antichrist	Screen Play	Suspended

External links

• P. F. Mathews at the Internet Movie Database