Benyamin

Some Lesser Known Facts About Benyamin

• Benyamin’s mother had three miscarriages between him and his elder sister. In an interview, he said that he prayed to live up to 20 years or his first kiss.

  

• He liked playing cricket when he was studying in school.

  

• After completing his formal education in 1992, he moved to Bahrain.

  

• Whenever he had free time after coming back from work, he used to read books. He later started writing short stories.

  

• During his initial days as a writer, he did not want any of his friends or relatives to know that he was writing stories or novels, hence he adopted the pen name Benyamin.

  

• In 2006, he wrote his first Malayalam novel, Abeesagin.

  

• He later became popular for his novels titled Aadujeevitham (Goat Days) in 2008, Manjaveyil Maranangal (Yellow Lights of Death) in 2011, Mullappoo Niramulla Pakalukal (Jasmine Days) in 2014, and Tharakans Grandhavari (The Chronicles of Tharakan) in 2022.

  

• His novel, Aadujeevitham (Goat Days), is used as a textbook in the 10th standard for the Kerala State syllabus, Kerala University, Calicut University, Bharathiar University, and Pondicherry University.

  

• In 2024, his novel, Aadujeevitham, was made into a Malayalam film of the same name which became a super hit. The film was directed by Blessy and featured Prithviraj Sukumaran and Amala Paul.

  

• In 2013, he moved back to India, along with his children, where he continued writing. His wife stayed back in Bahrain.

  

• In 2023, he did a cameo in the Malayalam film Abraham Ozler.

• He has lived in Australia for a few years.

  

• Instead of writing his novel in sequence, Benyamin writes it in parts. After editing them, he later combines those parts to remove any portion or add any new story or plot.

• Most of his stories are based on his experiences of living in different cultures and countries. He mostly likes to write stories of pain and suffering.

• He mostly writes after 10 pm as there are fewer distractions.

• He is a supporter of left-wing politics.

• He said in an interview that the question at the beginning of the Bible in which God asked Cain ‘Where is thy brother?’ always inspired him to write about the imaginary brother (a character in his works) who belongs to the oppressed and marginalised section of the society.

• He is a dog lover and has a pet dog.