Prof. P. N. Unnikrishnan Potti, born in the year 1942 at Kappil East, Krishnapuram, Kayamkulam (Alleppey District) as the son of Shri. Neelakantan Potti and Sreedevi Antharjanam. Being a part of an aristocratic Brahmin family with the cultural tradition and artistic background has helped him a lot to cultivate and develop remarkable appreciation in Kathakali and music .Having listened to discussions on Kathakali and watched stage performances during his younger days, he has developed high fascination and special interest in Kathakali .He is a great appreciator of Karnatic music and musicians.
His association with elder brothers also helped him to understand more about the classical art forms . After Passing M.A (English Language & Literature) from S N College , Kollam in the year 1964, he joined as Lecturer at S N College , Kannur. Later he joined as Lecturer at D B College, Sasthamcotta in 1965. After long years of teaching service as professor and Head of the Department of English in the colleges of Travancore Devaswom Board(D.B.College, Sasthamcotta & D .B.Pampa college,Parumala,Mannar), he retired from service in year1997. After retirement he worked as Principal at T.D.B.Central School,Chakkuvally,Sooranad.
After retirement he dedicated his time and energy to reading and writing .During this time he went deeply through the great Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. His curiosity to travel through the epic characters inspired him to make critical studies about many characters in Mahabharata . He tried to interpret the epic characters in his own style .His studies are original and honest to the very core . His views and ideas are pertinent and relevant in modern life .His artistic genius is found expression in writing novels. His keen observation and deep insights into the hidden regions of human mind are revealed in the novels like,Dussala,Draupathi,and Bhishma .
He has special talent and interest to analyse the mental workings of women characters . His poetic style in the Novels is surely a pleasant experience to the readers. His original views are really capable of creating new standard of appreciation in the readers .His close observation and study of Kathakali,the wonderful art form of Kerala, and its literature had been of great help to render Nalacarita Attakadha into English .It is certainly a testimony to his skill and efficiency in translation .The sweetness and melody of Nalacarita have been kept up brilliantly in the translation
In a ceremony conducted at Sasthamcotta in 2010, his first books were published .Retired Chief Secretary Sri.R.Ramachandran Nair was the chief guest .The books published were ,Nalacaritam Attakadha,and ‘Maxims of Ezhuthachan’ .It inspired him to write more and more and dedicate his time to literature.
His high standard of appreciation of English and Malayalam languages has assisted him in translation .Another noteworthy text is ‘Maxims of Ezhuthachan’ which is a collection of the pearls of wisdom lying scattered in the texts,’Mahabharata’ and ‘Adhyathma Ramayana’.
Family
His family consists of Retnamani Devi ( Wife), Dr Geetha (Daughter ), Venukrishnan ( Son), Sreejakrishnan ( Daughter).
Grandchildren: Gayathri, Rahul, Nandana, Anand, Navin
In laws: K E Muralidharan, Savitha Venukrishnan, M S Indushekhar.
He is settled at Sasthamcotta, Kollam Dist.
The books published him are
- Nalacarita – Attakadha (English Translation)
- Maxims of Ezhuthachan ( English Translation)
- Vyasakadhapathrangal (A critical Study)
- Dussala (Malayalam Novel)
- Darupadi (Malayalam Novel)
- Vyasadarpanam(A Critical Study)
- Bheeshmar (Malayalam Novel)
Some of the Literary work in progress are
- A Study of Characters in Ramayana
- A Novel titled Sarmishta
- A Novel titled Urmila
- A Novel Titled Akshatham
The poetic works of the following poets have been translated Ulloor,Vallathol,Kumaran Assan ,G SanakaraKurup,P,Kunjiraman Nair, Edassery Vailoppally ,Dr.Ayyapa Panicker,N.N.Kakkad and SugathaKumari. He has translated Kalidasa’s ‘Mekhaduthu’(The Malayalam translation of the poet Thirunalloor Karunakaran) and ‘Bhaja Govidam’ of Sankaracharya,and Njanappana of Poonthanam.He continues his literary work.
