Thampi Antony is a prodigious writer who has observed the Malayali lives in close quarters as well as from far away. He lives as a true Malayali in the United States of America, recalling the beautiful memories of his homeland and paying tribute to his mother tongue.
Thampi shares close bonds with the expatriate Keralites in the US. While in Kerala, he can’t help but think about their lives and struggles in a foreign land. It is from this dual thought process that his short story series ‘The Lady Biker’ and ‘Vasco Da Gama and the Priest’ took shape. These incredible works explore Thampi’s unique personality as a short story writer. His experiences and perceptions as a poet, actor and a movie producer add dimensions to his stories.
The collection of stories in the book ‘The Lady Biker’ stand out for its subtle and innocent humour. However, there is an element of mystery too in these stories that capture the interest and imagination of the readers. Though all his stories are about Indians, particularly about Kerala and Malayalis, the stories do not always happen in Kerala. He takes the readers to the cities and places around the world where Keralites set out in pursuit of opportunities. So, Thampi’s stories highlight a mesmerizing perception that is local and global at the same time.
The Lady Biker includes short stories like During That Journey, Sweet Pain, Mysterious Somebody, Paulo Coelho and Kochu Paulo and Guava Mango. Thampi Antony who has won the Basheer Amma Malayalam award in 2019 is also honoured with the Kerala Ezhuthukootam Pravasi award.
Benyamin, the award winning Malayali writer, calls the stories in the collection ‘Vasco da Gama and the Priest’ as exceptional and spectacular. In his preface to this collection, Benyamin says that the incredible visual imagery in the stories could elevate the reading experience to extraordinary heights.
Click the links below for more details:
Amazon url for 'The Lady Biker'
Amazon url for 'Vasco Da Gama and the Priest'
