Benyamin Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Real name	Benny Daniel
Pen name	Benyamin
Other name	Benyamin Benny
Profession(s)	• Mechanical Engineer • Writer • Screenwriter • Actor
Famous for	Being the author of Aadujeevitham novel
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 9" (175 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Salt & pepper
Career
Debut	Book (as an author): Euthanasia (2000) Film (as a screenwriter & actor): Christy in 2023 (as Thomas)
Awards	• Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Novel) for Malayalam version of Aadujeevitham in 2008 • Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam version of Aadujeevitham in 2009 • Padmaprabha Literary Award in 2015 • JCB Prize for Literature for English version of Jasmine Days in 2018 • Crossword Book Award for Indian language translation of Jasmine Days in 2018 • Muttathu Varkey Award in 2019 • 45th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for Malayalam version of Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal in 2021 • 16th Malayatur Award for Malayalam version of Silent Days in 2023
Personal Life
Date of Birth	18 May 1971 (Tuesday)
Age (as of 2024)	53 Years
Birthplace	Njettoor, Kulanada, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Pathanamthitta
School(s)	• Government U.P. School, Manthuka • NSS Boys High School, Pandalam
College/University	• Catholicate College,Pathanamthitta • Nanjappa Institute of Technology, Tirupur
Educational Qualification	Diploma in Electronics
Religion/Religious Views	He follows Christianity; however, he has no interest in rituals and beliefs.
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian
Hobbies	• Travelling • Cooking
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	2 January 2000
Family
Wife/Spouse	Asha Mathew (Nurse in Bahrain)
Children	Son- Rohan Benny Daughter- Kesia (also spelt as Keziya) Ann Benny (Sportswoman)
Parents	Father- P. M. Daniel (Taxidriver, died on 1 April 2017, aged 84 years) Mother- Ammini (Homemaker) (died when Benyamin was 27 years old)
Siblings	Sister- 1 (elder)
Favourites
Book	Jean-Christophe by Romain Rolland
Writer	Nikos Kazantzakis, Orhan Pamuk
Social Media
Instagram	Benyamin Benny
Facebook	Benyamin

Some Lesser Known Facts About Benyamin

• Benyamin’s mother had three miscarriages between him and his elder sister. In an interview, he said that he prayed to live up to 20 years or his first kiss.
  

  Benyamin when he was an infant

• He liked playing cricket when he was studying in school.
  

  Benyamin during his childhood

• After completing his formal education in 1992, he moved to Bahrain.
  

  Benyamin when he moved to Bahrain

• Whenever he had free time after coming back from work, he used to read books. He later started writing short stories.
  

  Photos of Benyamin over the years when he became a writer from a reader

• During his initial days as a writer, he did not want any of his friends or relatives to know that he was writing stories or novels, hence he adopted the pen name Benyamin.
  

  Benyamin writing during his earliest days

• In 2006, he wrote his first Malayalam novel, Abeesagin.
  

  Cover of Benyamin’s first Malayalam novel, Abeesagin

• He later became popular for his novels titled Aadujeevitham (Goat Days) in 2008, Manjaveyil Maranangal (Yellow Lights of Death) in 2011, Mullappoo Niramulla Pakalukal (Jasmine Days) in 2014, and Tharakans Grandhavari (The Chronicles of Tharakan) in 2022.
  

  Benyamin showing his book, Tharakans Grandhavari

• His novel, Aadujeevitham (Goat Days), is used as a textbook in the 10th standard for the Kerala State syllabus, Kerala University, Calicut University, Bharathiar University, and Pondicherry University.
  

  Benyamin (left) with Najeeb, the person on whom Aadujeevitham (Goat Days) novel is based

• In 2024, his novel, Aadujeevitham, was made into a Malayalam film of the same name which became a super hit. The film was directed by Blessy and featured Prithviraj Sukumaran and Amala Paul.
  

  Benyamin with Blessy (left)

• In 2013, he moved back to India, along with his children, where he continued writing. His wife stayed back in Bahrain.
  

  Benyamin at his home in Kerala upon returning from Bahrain

• In 2023, he did a cameo in the Malayalam film Abraham Ozler.

• He has lived in Australia for a few years.
  

  Benyamin when he was living in Australia

• Instead of writing his novel in sequence, Benyamin writes it in parts. After editing them, he later combines those parts to remove any portion or add any new story or plot.

• Most of his stories are based on his experiences of living in different cultures and countries. He mostly likes to write stories of pain and suffering.

• He mostly writes after 10 pm as there are fewer distractions.

• He is a supporter of left-wing politics.

• He said in an interview that the question at the beginning of the Bible in which God asked Cain ‘Where is thy brother?’ always inspired him to write about the imaginary brother (a character in his works) who belongs to the oppressed and marginalised section of the society.

• He is a dog lover and has a pet dog.
  

  Benyamin with his pet dog