Mathilukal is a Malayalam novella by the veteran Vaikom Muhammed Basheer. Translated into English as The Walls, the story is about Basheer who spends a brief period of his life at the Travancore Jail.

As the story opens we see Basheer, the protagonist, as a man who is spending his life at the prison befriending other prisoners, planting roses, and frequently in conversation with other inmates. He is obviously not happy being in the prison but is rather very unhappy due to the indifference being shown to him. The prisoners who had come in after him also have left the prison, but not he. So he protests by growing roses in the prison and spending his time writing.

The prison is separated from the women’s prison by a high wall. In due course of time, we see Basheer falling in love with Narayani, a prisoner on the other side of the wall. Though they haven’t met, they exchange words and promises of love, standing on the opposite sides of the wall. There are quite a few romantic moments and dialogues involved. (more…)