Step 1: Identify the novel.
Chemmeen is one of the most celebrated Malayalam novels, published in 1956. It portrays a story of love, faith, and tragedy set in the coastal fishing communities of Kerala.
Step 2: Identify the author.
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai wrote this masterpiece. He is renowned for his realistic and vivid portrayals of the backwater communities of Kerala.
Step 3: Eliminate other options.
M. Mukundan, O.V. Vijayan, and K.R. Meera are all celebrated Malayalam writers, but none of them authored Chemmeen. \[ \boxed{\text{Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai}} \]