Unni R.

P. Jayachandran (born 12 April 1971), better known by his stage name Unni R., is an Indian short-story writer and screenwriter, who is known for his work in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema. Born in Kudamaloor in Kottayam district, he is currently based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He studied in Kudamaloor LP school, CMS college High school, CMS College Kottayam and Baselius College, Kottayam. Unni R. won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for the film Charlie (2015). His notable screenplays include Munnariyippu, Kullante Bharya in 5 Sundarikal and Bridge in Kerala Cafe.

Reckoned as a non-conformist writer, Unni R. is known for his stories like Kaalinaadakam, Leela, Kottayam 17, Bahujeevitham, Oru Bhayankara Kaamukan etc. His unique writing style is appreciated for its fantasy elements often blended with the alarming depiction of otherwise ordinary human experiences. Deliberately relinquishing the conventional literary practices, his stories are experimental and multi-layered in essence, uncommon in theme and colloquial in narration. Profound expressions of social sensitivity, sensuality and unpredictability are the defining characters of his writing style embellished with elements of black humour. Ozhivudivasathe Kali was his first published short story collection. For the story of same name, he has received the prestigious Kerala Sahithya Academy Geetha Hiranyan Endowment, Anganam-E.P. Sushama Endowment and Thomas Mundasseri Award. Ozhivudivasathe Kali has been later made into the film of the same name by Director Sanal Shashidaran. It won the 46th Kerala State Award for Best Film in 2015. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards including K.A. Kodunalloor Award and T.P Kishore Memorial Award (both for Praanilokam); V.P. Shivakumar Memorial Award and SBT Award (both for Mudraraakshasam); as well as Abudabi Shakti Award and Ayanam C.V. Sriraman Award (both for Kottayam 17)

His works have been translated into English and other Indian languages such as Tamil. His Leela and Bhootam were translated for the Tamil monthly magazine Kaalachuvadu by Tamil poet Sukumaran. Kalinaadakam which was translated to Tamil has been widely read and noted Tamil writer Perumal Murukan opined in his 19th D.C. Kizhakemuri Memorial lecture that Unni R.’s stories have extensive readership in Tamil Nadu along with the veterans such as Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Madhavikutty.Several of his articles, including one on Nakulan and on Madhavikutty, were also translated to Tamil and English. Indian Literature, a bi-monthly journal of Sahitya Academy featured his translated stories – Catwalk (Vol.231/2006) and Pedestrian named Badushah (Vol 260/2010). Malayalam Literary Survey (Jan-Mar 2008) published the translation of his short story, The Kali Play.

Besides screen writing, he has also acted as supporting roles in Aparahnam, Chappakurishu, Munnariyippu etc. He started his career as a sub-editor in the Karpooram Weekly, Kottayam, Kerala (1994-1995). He also worked as a Producer in Asianet Satellite Communications for a long period of time (1995-2013).

• Kerala State Film Award 2015 (Best Screenplay) - Charlie
• Geetha Hiranyan Endovement - Ozhivu Divasathe Kali (2006)
• Thomas Mundasseri Award - Ozhivu Divasathe Kali
• Ankanam E.P. Sushama Endovement- Ozhivu Divasathe Kali
• Abudhabi Sakthi Award - Kottayam 17
• Ayanam C.V. Sreeraman Award - Kottayam 17
• K.A. Kodungalloor Story Award
• T.P. Kishore Award
• V.P. Sivakumar Memorial Keli Award
• Mohan Raghavan Award for Best Script Charlie
• IIFA Award for Best story Charlie
• Freedia Entertainments NorthAmerica Film Award for best Script Charlie