Uroob
P. C. Kuttikrishnan (8 June 1915 – 10 July 1979), known by his pen name Uroob, was a Malayalam writer from Kerala, India, noted for his novels, short stories, and contributions to film that explored rural life, interpersonal dynamics, and cultural synthesis in southern India.[1][2]
His seminal works include the novel Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum (1960), which received the Sahitya Akademi Award, and Ummachu (1954), both exemplifying his skill in dialogue and character portrayal.[1][2] Uroob authored approximately forty literary pieces across genres such as poetry, plays, essays, and children's literature, often drawing from the Hindu-Muslim-Christian milieu of his native Ponnani region.[1]
A key achievement was his screenplay and story for the film Neelakuyil (1954), the first Malayalam production to win a national award from the President of India, highlighting inter-community harmony amid caste tensions.[1][2] Professionally, he served at All India Radio from 1950 to 1975, edited publications like Kumudam and the Malayala Manorama weekly, and later presided over the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.[1][2] The pseudonym "Uroob," meaning "eternal youth" in Persian or "dawn" in Arabic, originated from an article he wrote about a colleague, reflecting his multifaceted career that also encompassed teaching, translation, and acting in dramas.[2]