M. Mukundan is one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature, born in Mahe on 10 September 1942 at a one-time French territory in India. He served as the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi from October 2006 until March 2010.
Mukundan is known in Kerala as Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran (The story-teller of Mayyazhi). His native village of Mayyazhi figures in his early works: Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil, Daivathinte Vikrithikal, Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma and Lesli Achante Kadangal.
His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and ten collections of short stories (which totals 171 in numbers till 2012). Mukundan's latest four novels Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha,Kesavante Vilapangal and Nritham carries a change in structure and approach.
Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam. Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award. The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature.