Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (b. at Thalayolaparambu in Vaikom, 21 January 1908; d. at Beypore in Calicut, 5 July 1994) was a Malayalam fiction writer. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Sri in 1982.

Awards

• Padma Sri(1982)
• Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship
• Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship
• Lalithambika Antharjanam Award(1992)
• Muttathu Varkki Award (1993) (Paaththummaayude Aadu)
• Vallathol Award (1993)

Published works

 Novels

1. Premalekhanam [The love letter] (1943).
2. Baalyakaalasakhi [Childhood friend] (1944).
3. Shabdangal [Voices] (1947).
4. Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu [Me gran'dad 'ad an elephant] (1951).
5. Maranaththinte Nizhalil [In the shadow of death] (1951).
6. Muchcheettukalikkaarante Makal [The daughter of the card-shark] (1951).
7. Sthalaththe Pradhaana Divyan [The principal divine of the place] (1953).
8. Aanavaariyum Ponkurishum [Elephant scooper and Golden cross] (1953).
9. Jeevithanizhalppaadukal [The shadows of life] (1954).
10. Paaththummaayude Aadu [Paaththumma's goat] (1959).
11. Mathilukal [Walls] ( basis for a film (1989) by Adoor Gopalakrishnan) (1965).
12. Thaaraa Specials (1968).
13. Maanthrikapoochcha [The magic cat] (1968).

Short Stories

1. Janmadinam [Birthday] (1945).
2. Ormakkurippu [Jottings from memory] (1946).
3. Anargha nimisham [Invaluable instant] (See Anal Haq) (1946).
4. Viddikalude Swargam [Fools' paradise] (1948).
5. Paavappettavarudaey Vaeshya [The courtesan of the poor] (1952).
6. Vishwavikhkhyaathamaaya Mookku [The world-renowned nose] (1954).
7. Vishappu [Hunger] (1954).
8. Oru Bhagavadgeethayum Kuraey Mulakalum [A Bhagavadgeetha and some breasts] (Short stories) (1967).
9. Aanappooda [Elephant-hair] (1975).
10. Chirikkunna Marappaava [The laughing wooden doll] (1975).
11. Bhoomiyudaey Avakaashikal [The inheritors of the earth] (1977).
12. Shinkidimunkan (1991).
13. Yaa Ilaahi! [Oh God!] (published posthumously) (1997).

Others

1. Kathaabeejam [Story seed] (Play) (1945).
2. Nerum Nunayum [Truth and lie] (Commentary and letters) (1969).
3. Ormmayudaey Arakal [The cells of memory] (Commentary and reminiscences) (1973).
4. Anuraagaththintaey Dhinangal [The days of desire] (Diary; originally titled Kaamukantaey diary [The diary of the paramour] and changed later on the suggestion of M. T. Vasudevan Nair) (1983).
5. Bhaargavinilayam [The house named Bhaargavi] (Screenplay for a film (1964) by A. Vincent which is credited as the first horror cinema in malayalam; adapted from the short story Neelavelichcham [The blue glow]) (1985).
6. M. P. Paul (Reminiscences of his friendship with M. P. Paul) (1991).
7. Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakaahalam!! [Hark! The final clarion-call!!] (Speech) (1992).