Zacharia is one among the most significant post-modernist writers. Paul Zacharia is a writer of short stories, novels and essays. His short stories and novels are rather radical in theme. His prose works are devoid of sentiment and he is constantly seen experimenting technically. Zacharia`s tightly drawn short stories possess a certain inventiveness and precision seen in some of the finest international writers. The self-conscious narrative voice in his stories showcases and mocks several recognizable styles, often within a single sentence. At the end of each story, he manages to collapse the entire structure with a single suggestion.
His collections Oridath (1978) and Arkariyam (1986) also provide a unique Syrian-Christian texture to his stories. His characters are modern individuals, like Mr. Chacko, who has all the trappings of a Westernized pseudo-intellectual. However at the same time he also has a sense of being trapped in the complex maze of Indian culture which propels Mr. Chacko to commit suicide. But he fails in this task- he couldn`t quite open the poison bottle no matter how hard he tried. So he is condemned to live.
Zacharia`s famous novella Bhaskara Pattelar and My Life (made into a film, Vidheyan, by Adoor Gopalakrishnan) provides one with insights into his constant and evolving themes as the servile narrator lives his life to quench the master`s ruthless thirst for violence and deprivation. In spite of his introspective awareness about serving the devil, the narrator cannot act as a conscientious individual until the master is murdered, which leaves the servile man rather perplexed by the newly gained freedom.
Some of Zacharia`s important works include- Salaam America, Kannadi Kanmolavum, Zachariayude Kathakal, Enthundu Vishesham Peelathose, Bhaskarapattelarum ente jeevithavum, Praise the lord, Ishtikayum aashariyum and Ithanente Peru in Malayalam and Reflections of a Hen in Her Last Hour and Other Stories, Praise the Lord and What`s New, Pilate in English. Zacharia`s open criticism of Religious fundamentalism and expressing of concern over the "hijacking" of religious figures such as Mata Amritanandamayi, has led to his works being severely criticized. However he remains an important figure in contemporary Malayalam literature. Zacharia is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award.
