Shankari Chandran is an Australian Tamil lawyer and author whose literary fiction explores themes of injustice, dispossession, and community. Her acclaimed novel "Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens" was shortlisted for the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award, while her debut, "Song of the Sun God," follows three generations of Tamil women navigating Sri Lanka’s civil war. Her speculative fiction work, "The Barrier," examines the convergence of a global pandemic and religious conflict. Chandran’s writing has earned recognition, including longlisting for the International Dublin Literary Award and shortlisting for Sri Lanka’s Fairway National Literary Award and the Norma K Hemming Award.
Before turning to fiction, Chandran spent a decade in London working in social justice, overseeing projects in over 30 countries - from advocating for Guantanamo Bay detainees to advising UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. These experiences deeply inform her writing, which interrogates the erosion of civil liberties and the limitations of humanitarian law. Her short stories appear in anthologies such as "Another Australia" and "Sweatshop Women (Vol 2)," further showcasing her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices.
Chandran’s debut novel, "Song of the Sun God," is being adapted for television, starring Charithra Chandran. She serves as deputy chair of Writing NSW while continuing her social impact work for an Australian retailer. Based in Sydney with her husband and four children, Chandran remains dedicated to storytelling that challenges systemic inequities. She is currently developing two television adaptations and writing her next novel.