Malayalam! It's an official language of Kerala, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. The word “Malayalam” literally means “the mountain region”. It is spoken by 2.88% of the total Indian Population. Although most Malayalam speakers are found in these three states, one can find Malayalis in every part of the world, as it is spoken by more than 34 million people worldwide. Many minorities in South India speak different versions of the language, especially in places such as the Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka, and Nilgiris and Kanyakumari, districts of Tamil Nadu.
One of the major languages of Dravidian language family, Malayalam is also known as one of the “Classical Languages of India” as it has a rich literary heritage that was not borrowed from any other language and has a history of over two thousand years. Malayalam is also known by other names such as Alealum, Malayalani, Malayali, Malabari, Malean, Maliyad, Mallealle, and Kerala Bhasha. Malayalam is said to have been derived from both Dravidian roots as well as Sanskrit roots and although Tamil is said to be its closest relative, Malayalam has a distinct accent that stands out from any other South Indian language.
We have come up with 4 ultimate reasons why Malayalum should be taken up as a new language!
1. A Beautiful Language! - The first major reason that anyone needs to learn Malayalam is the beauty of the language! The uniqueness of the language makes it a little hard to grasp initially but after some time it becomes very interesting and rather easy to learn. Also because of the complexity of the language, once a person conquers this language, they will find learning any other language pretty easier. Malayalam is a unique blend of ancient Dravidian languages with significant influence of Sanskrit. Malayalam is a phonetic language with intricate script and a grammar that boasts Tamilian roots as well as Sanskritic roots!
2. Movies! - Malayalam movies are known for their technical superiority and gripping plots. They are not only watched by locals but by people around the country. Some of the most loved and cult classic comedy movies of Bollywood like Hera Pheri, Hungama and Bhul Bhulaiya were remakes of successful Malayali movies. When it comes to comedy, Malayali cinema is the best! The only problem for the non-speakers is that they need to rely on the subtitles to make sure they understand the plot and that sometimes can be very irritating. Translation could be very misleading and confusing. The only way to tackle this problem is to learn Malayalam and understand the movies just the way they were intended. A little patience and practice will help you a great deal.
3. HUGE Diaspora! - The Malayalis have always been a entrepreneurial bunch with strong presence in many parts of the world, especially in the gulf countries! Chances of running into a Malayali in your hometown is quite high and it might take the migrant some time to be able to converse in the local language. In times like this, it would be very helpful to speak to them in Malayalam as it makes them feel welcomed. You might also go to God’s own place Kerala at some point, be it for pleasure or professional purposes and knowing the local language will help a lot. After all, Elaneer Payasam always tastes sweeter when enjoyed with locals in magical backwaters of Kerala!
4. Travel! - One might also travel to Kerala due to its rich cultural heritage and ancient temples. Knowing the language will help you to truly understand the essence of the Malabar culture and traditions. As one of India’s Classical languages, Malayalam also boasts of some splendid literary heritage catchy folk songs, known as Naadan paattukal.
So to sum it up, you can learn Malayalam for a variety of reasons which might be mentioned above or not, but the truth is no matter what reason you learn it for, it helps gain a different perspective and learns a lot of new things about a very beautiful culture and people.
