500 issues in 44 years, a testament to a tiny magazine’s resilience, literary excellence

In a heartwarming celebration, a small yet stalwart Malayalam magazine from Malappuram marked a remarkable milestone — its 500th issue — by hosting a gathering of writers and readers on Saturday (July 12, 2025) afternoon.

With a rich history spanning 44 years, this tiny inland magazine named Innu has carved a niche for itself. The celebration on Saturday afternoon was a testament to its enduring legacy.

The afternoon was filled with emotion as dozens of readers and writers came together to celebrate the monthly publication’s unique capsule format, which had earned it a place in the Limca Book of Records in 2017 as the country’s longest running little magazine.

The logo of Innu magazine

Inaugurating the celebrations, poet Alankode Leelakrishnan asserted that Innu magazine served as a powerful catalyst, imbuing readers with the resilience, passion, and motivation to triumph over adversity and forge ahead.

Releasing the 500^th issue of the magazine along with poet P.K. Gopi, Mr. Leelakrishnan praised his fellow poet and the magazine’s founder-editor Manambur Rajanbabu for his remarkable tenacity in publishing the magazine uninterrupted for 44 years.

Poets Alankode Leelakrishnan and P.K. Gopi releasing the 500th issue of Innu magazine by giving a copy to Jayan Joby and Nived Nitant at Malappuram on Saturday.

Mr. Gopi and Mr. Leelakrishnan launched the 500^th issue by giving a copy to Jahan Joby and Nived Nitant. They felicitated Mr. Rajanbabu on the occasion. Mr. Leelakrishnan also marked the occasion by taking out a lifetime subscription to the magazine.

Since December 1981, thousands of Malayalis across the country have been receiving the magazine every month, almost free of cost. Nearly every prominent Malayalam writer of the past four decades has contributed to it, making the publication a true reflection of the Malayalam literary firmament in a compact format.

“Every writer who made a name in Malayalam began by contributing to the Innu magazine,” said Mr. Leelakrishnan.

The magazine passed several milestones in the past. Four years ago, its 40^th anniversary issue titled ‘Innu Ormakkudanna’ had capsule articles and poems by 1,062 writers.

Poet and founder-editor of Innu magazine Manambur Rajanbabu addressing the gathering at Malappuram on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

“With 1,062 articles and poems by as many writers, I firmly believe no other magazine, big or small, has matched this feat. It is a badge of honour for the Malayalam language,” Mr. Rajanbabu had told The Hindu in 2021.

The magazine boasts an impressive collection of accolades, including the Limca Book of Records Award in 2017 and the Malayalam Book Development Council Award for printing and designing in 1988. Its special issues, such as Kavitha Pathippu, Pirannal Pathippu, Onakkazhcha, Kathakkudanna, and Kavithakkudanna, are highly sought after by collectors.

The Saturday celebration of the 500^th issue featured an exhibition showcasing 11 special issues of the magazine and 10 books published by it. The event featured writer K. Shyama reciting a poem by O.N.V. Kurup and writer-psychiatrist T.M. Raghuram playing three popular Malayalam songs on the flute.

Mr. Rajanbabu credited Malappuram for the magazine’s success, saying that Innu would not have reached this milestone if it were based anywhere else in the State.