Mathews was born in a Latin Christian family[4] on 18 February 1960 in Ernakulam, Kerala to Francis of the Poovankery house and his wife Mary.[5] After his early schooling in Don Bosco School and St. Augustine's School, Kochi, he graduated in economics from St. Albert's College Kochi, in 1980 and secured his master's degree in Malayalam in 1982.[5] He started writing at the age of 10 when he used to write and direct one- act plays.[6] He took to short stories at the age of 16[6] and his short stories have been published in leading Malayalam publications like Malayala Manorama, Kalakaumudi, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam and Bhashaposhini.[5] He spent his regular career at Advocate General's Office of the High Court of Kerala from where he superannuated in 2016.[7]
Literary career
His first short story anthology, Njayarazhcha Mazha Peyyukayayirunnu (It Was Raining on Sunday), was published in 1986 by Current Books. His second work was a novel, Chaavunilam (Land of the Dead),[8] based on the coastal life in Kochi[9] and published in 1996 by DC Books,[10] which won the State Bank of Travancore award for the best novel.[10] Subsequent years produced two more short story collections, Jalakanyakayum Gandarvanum (the Mermaid and the Celestial Lover) and 2004il Alice (Alice in 2004).[11] In 2013, a short story anthology, Kathakal (Stories),[12] and his memoirs, Theerajeevithathinu Oru Oppees (A Requiem for the Coastal Life), were published.[13] His second novel, Iruttil Oru Punyalan (A Saint Shrouded in Darkness), was published in 2015, and two of its chapters were published by Mathrubhumi weekly, prior to the official release of the book.[14] The book has since been translated into Tamil, under the title, Iruttil Oru Punithan, by P. S. Ramesh.[15]
Film and television career
Mathews debuted into screen writing with a documentary film, Keep the City Clean.[3] In 1991, he won the Kerala State Television Award for screen play, for the tele-series Sararaanthal (The Lantern), broadcast in Doordarshan.[3] He received his second state television award for Mikhayelinte Santhathikal (Descendants of Mikhayel), in 1993.[3] Several works followed, which included Dr. Harischandra (1994), Roses in December (1995), Charulatha (1999), Aathma (2000), Edayanum Mankidavum (2003), Megham (2004), Mantharam (2005), Aa Amma (2006), Pakalmazha (2009) and Daivathinu Swantham Devootti (2012), the last one winning State television award for the best Series.[16] He has also won the script writing competition held nationwide by National Film Development Corporation of India, for Naattukaaryam, in 1993.[3]
Mathews, a recipient of the KCBC Yuvaprathibha (Young Talent) award (1999), is married to Shobha[3] and the couple has two sons, Unni Mathews and Anand Mathews, both of whom are part of the 'Karikku' team.[5] He has been employed with the Advocate General's Office, Ernakulam,[5] and has since superannuated from service.[7]
Shaji Jacob (9 December 2018). "Maranasankeerthanangal" [മരണസങ്കീർത്തനങ്ങൾ]. www.marunadanmalayali.com. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
"Chila Pracheena Vikarangal (short story)" [ചില പ്രാചീന വികാരങ്ങള്: പിഎഫ് മാത്യൂസ് എഴുതിയ കഥ]. www.samakalikamalayalam.com. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
Mathews, P F (22 May 2018). "'When People Die, They Become Fiction'" (Interview). Interviewed by Aswathy Gopalakrishnan. SilverscreenIndia. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
