K. Velappan

Who is K. Velappan?

K. Velappan was a Malayalam journalist and film critic.

K. Velappan was born in Uchakkada, India, the eldest son of Omana Krishanan and father Krishnan Nair. After completing his Master's Degree in Linguistics he worked in Kerala University as a clerk before moving to write articles for Kalakaumudi Weekly. In 1984 he joined Kala Kaumudi where he worked until his death. In 1985 he married a Christian, Rosamma Velappan and a year later they had a son, Apu, whom he named after the main character in Satyjit Ray's The Apu Trilogy. An asthmatic, he died on July 15, 1992 of a heart attack.

After his death his work was published as a book called Cinimayum Samoohavum which won the Kerala state film award and film critic award in 1994. His other book named 'Adivasicalum Adivasi Bashakalum' about the tribal languages in Vayanadu won the Kerala Sahithya Academy award in 1994.