Payyanat Ravindra Nathan better known by his pen name P. R. Nathan, is a novelist, screenplay writer, dramatist, short story writer, travelogue writer and speaker from Palakkad, Kerala, India. He was awarded with the prestigious Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for overall contribution in 2014.^[1] He has written over 55 books in various genres. He is the recipient of 41 major awards across various categories in literature. He is an expert in Naturopathy and Reiki . He has done over 7000 speeches around the world on Vedas, Upanishads and Tantra. His book Vaayikenda oru Pusthakam was selected for the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Bala Sahithya Award instituted by the Gramam Samskarika Vedi. He was born in Kizhayoor, a small village in Pattambi, Palakkad. He was born as the elder son of Prabhakara Menon, a drawing teacher and Sarojiniamma, a music teacher. He took graduation in telecommunication Engineering and was employed in Provident Fund organisation of India. He resigned from the office to concentrate on his literature works and travelling. He was a member of academy of music dance and drama and has been a member of many award juries.

His literature works was prescribed in many universities. He has written around hundred radio dramas also. His book Kanyakumari Muthal Himalayam Vare, so far his most famous work is written based on his travels to various parts of India. The book received huge critical acclaim. He has been delivering daily lectures on moral science using anecdotes on Amrita TV on the TV shows Dhanyamee Dinam on Udayamritham segment from 2004. This programme has been aired daily since Amrita TV's inception and it has been bestowed with multiple State TV Awards for excellence.^[2] In 2015 Media One TV an Indian television channel broadcasting in Malayalam operated by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited started broadcasting a similar show. He has written 21 novels, over 500 shortstories, screenplays, dramas. He has received 41 awards in various fields of literature. His works implies the philosophical view of practical life. He is famous for his philosophical works which at the same time satisfies the rationalist thoughts. He had served as the president of Calicut Book Club. He is also the editor of Pradeepam magazine, which is being published from Kozhikode. He now resides at Kozhikode with wife Vijayalakshmi.

He received the Tagore Award in 1980 and the Gayathri Award in 1995.^[3]