K. B. Sreedevi
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Kerala State Film Award for Story
K. B. Sreedevi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 May 1940 |
| Died | 16 January 2024 (aged 83) Tripunithura, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Notable awards | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions Kerala State Film Award for Story |
| Spouse | Brahmadathan Namboodiripad |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Narayanan Bhattathippad Gowri Antharjanam |
Koodalloor Brahmadathan Sreedevi (1 May 1940 – 16 January 2024) was an Indian writer, who wrote in Malayalam, under the genre of children's literature. She received several awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions and the Kerala State Film Award for Story.
Her granddaughter Ranjana K. made her novel Yajnam into a forty-five-minute film with the same title.[1] Her story Shilpe-rupini was translated into English by Gita Krishnankutty as Woman of Stone (1990).[2] When her work Niramala was made into a film, she did its screenplay, too.
Personal life
K. B. Sreedevi was born on 1 May 1940, in Vellakattumana in Vaniyambalam in present-day Malappuram district to V. M. C. Narayanan Bhattathippad and Gowri Antharjanam.[3] Her father, Narayanan Bhattathiripad, was a progressive thinker.[4] Initially, she studied in a building within the premises of her house. Realizing the hardships of children in the village walking kilometers to study, Narayanan Bhattathiripad, along with his friends, established a school in Wandoor town.[4] With that, Sreedevi also joined there as a sixth-grader.[4] She was later educated at Tripunithura Girls' High School and Varavoor Government School.[3] She studied up to tenth class.[1] Sreedevi also studied music and Sanskrit.[1] Later she did higher studies in Sanskrit under Panditharaja P. S. Subbarama Pattar.[3] For three years she practiced Veena under Naravath Devakiamma.
Sreedevi wrote her first story, about the death of a bird, at the age of thirteen.[1] She published many novels and short stories through publications like Ezhuthachan Masika, Jayakeralam and Mathrubhumi.[5]
She married Brahmadathan Namboodiripad at the age of sixteen.[6] While living with her husband, in 1960 she founded a Mahila Samajam (group of women).[6] Formed for the upliftment of women and children, the group had more than 100 members.[6] The group organized education classes to make women literate, cultural activities for women, and job training for women.[6] She was active with the group until she shifted to Thrissur.[6]
Sreedevi and her husband Brahmadathan Namboodiripad of Koodalloor Mana had 3 children.[6] Sreedevi, who lived in Thrissur for many years, later lived in Tripunithura in Ernakulam district.[7]
K. B. Sreedevi died on 16 January 2024, at the age of 83.[8]
