Abu Dhabi Shakti Award Archives

SUNIL. P. ILAYIDOM

Born in 1968, to M.C. Pankajakshan Ilayidom and D. Ramani Devi. His spouse is Meena S, and children are Janaki and Madhavan. He completed his bachelor’s degree in physics and a Postgraduate degree in Malayalam Literature. PhD on ‘Political Unconsciousness of Modernism’. Professor of Malayalam at Sree Shankaracharya Sanskrit University, Kalady

Sunil P. Elayidom is a famous writer, critic, orator and university professor. He is also well known for his lectures on contemporary politics, literature, art, epics and culture. Elayidom has published many works on art, literary criticism, history, Marxism and Culture. His major works include Literary Criticism (Ajnjathavumayulla Abhimukhangal-2011). Art History/Art Design (Kanvazhikal Kazhchavattangal-2003, and ‘Anubhuthikalude Charithra Jeevitham’-2014, Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam-2017, Deshabhavangalude Aattaprakarangal-2019). Marxism (Veendeduppukal: Marxisavum and Adhunika Vimarshanavum-2013, Alayadikunna Vaakku-2019). History (Charithram: Paadaroopangalum Prathayasasthravum-2004, India Charithra Vignjanam: Desam, Desiyatha, and Desacharithram-2012). Cultural Studies (Adhinivesham and Adhunikatha-1999), Bhagavad Gita: Charithra Darsanam (ed.)-2000, Uriyattam-2007, Damitam: Adhunikavimarshanathinte Rashtriya Avabodham-2009, Mahabharatam- Samskarika Charithram. Sixteen books in the fields of articles (Nanarthangal: Samooham, Charithram and Samskaram-2016), book studies (Vayanavicharam-2017), and discourses (Aatmam, Aparam, Adhinivesham-2016).

He has received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature in 2006 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book, ‘Ajnjathavumayulla Abhimukhangal’ in 2013. He has also received the Kerala Lalithakala Academy’s Kesari Balakrishna Pillai Award for comprehensive contribution in the field of art criticism, the Kerala Lalithakala Academy Award for Art Criticism, the Prathama Chintaravi Award, the M.N. Vijayan Memorial Award, the Dr K. N. Ezhuthachan Award, the Pavanan Award, the Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, the Thayat Award, the S.B.T. Award, the Pattathuvila Award, and the Gurudarshan Award.

UNNI R

Unni R was born in Kudamalur near Kottayam, to N. Parameswaran Nair and K.A. Radhamma. His spouse is Anu Chandran, and his daughter is Saraswathi. He was educated at Kudamalur Govt. L.P. School, CMS. High School, CMS. College and Baselius College. His first collection of stories, Ozhivudivasthe Kali, received the Geethahiranyan Endowment of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, the Anganam-E.P. Sushama Endowment and the Thomas Mundassery Award. Ozhivudivasthe Kali has been made into a film and has won the 46th Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 2015. The story Pranilokam received the K.A. Kodungallur Kadha Puraskaram and the T.P. Kishore Smaraka Puraskaram, the story Mudrarakshasam received the V.P. Sivakumar Memorial Award and the S.B.T. Award, Abu Dhabi Shakti Award and the Ayanam-C.V. Sreeraman Kadha Puraskaram. A collection of stories titled Kalinadakam has been published in Tamil. He authored a collection of articles and translations: Pusthakapuzhu. He has written dialogues for the films Big B and Anwar and has written the films Bridge (Kerala Cafe), Kullante Bharya (Anchu Sundarikal), Munnarippu, Charlie and Leela. Munnarippu has won the Ramukariat Award for best screenplay, and Charlie has also won the State Award for best screenplay.

HRISHIKESAN PB

Hrishikesan P.B. was born in Melur near Chalakudy to Padutholmana Brahmadathan Namboothiri and Gauri Antharjanam. He worked as a scientific officer in the Atomic Energy Department of NPCIL in Mumbai for a long time and retired. He lives in Melur. His published poetry collections are Paathi Polliyoraksharam, Kannadappuzha, LolachitharamChitrashalabhanale, Mindal, Onnaddu Varamo Nee, Kanataavavanur. He has translated poems from Marathi and other Indian languages into Malayalam. His poetry has received the Changampuzha Award, Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, Moodadi Damodaran Award, Katharangam (Bangalore) Award, Atlas Kairali Award, and V.T. Gopalakrishnan Award (Mumbai). The poems have been translated into English, Hindi and Marathi.

AZEEM THANNIMOODU

Azeem Thannimoodu was born in Thannimoodu village near Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, to E. Abdul Rahman and S. Safiya Beevi. He stepped into the field of poetry through the children’s column in the Mathrubhumi Weekly. Azeem Thannimoodu currently serves the role of Thiruvananthapuram Bureau Correspondent of Deshabhimani Newspaper.

He has published poetry collections ‘Kanataya Vakkukal‘, ‘Marathine Thirichu Vilikunna Vithu‘, and ‘Annu Kanda Kiliyude Mattu‘. And an essay collection ‘Mindiyum Mindateyum’. His works have received numerous awards such as the Mooloor Memorial Award, Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, Dr. Nellikal Muraleedharan Memorial Award, Poorna R Ramachandran Award, and Ulloor Memorial Literary Award, Annu Kanda Kiliyude Mattu has received the Chathannu Mohan Memorial Award and BCV Memorial Poetry Award, Kanataya Vakkukal has received the Vayloppilly Award, VT Kumaran Master Award, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer Memorial Award, Thirunelloor Karunakaran Award’, Moodady Damodaran Memorial Award’, Aniyava Sahitya Award, Yuva Sahitya Award, and Kanyakumari Malayalam Samajam Award. Also, poems of Azeem Thannimoodu have been included in the Kendra Sahitya Akademi’s Anthology of poems in Malayalam (1980–2010), the 21st Century Malayalam Poetry Supplementary Special Section, and the syllabi of Pondicherry University, Kerala University, and Kannur University. He represented Malayalam poetry at the 2021 Kritya International Poetry Festival.

B. MURALI

B. Murali was born on 3 April 1971. He is the Assistant. Editor at the Thiruvananthapuram unit of Malayala Manorama. His works include Umberto Eco, Poomudikattuzhinjathum Pushpajalam Kozhinjathum, Kafka in the Courthouse, Protozoa, Chenthipoloru Malakha, Raga Nibadhamalla Mamsam, Ninte Chorayile Veenjhu, Harithavaishikam, Kamukuri, Panchamibar (collections of stories), Alakambadi (novel), and Writer’s Block (collection of essays). He has translated Maria Amparo Escandon’s novel Esperanza’s Box of Saints and some parts of the collections Lokakatha and Kahlil Gibran’s Kritikal. He has received the Sanskriti Puraskar for literature in Indian languages, Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, V.P. Sivakumar Smaraka Keli Award, S.B.T. Sahitya Puraskar for short stories and children’s literature, Pune Malayalam Shabdam Award, E.P. Sushma Endowment, Anganam Award, Atlas Kairali Award, and Basheer Memorial Story Award of the Kerala Language Institute. Pandalam Kerala Varma Award for best editorial in the field of journalism.

DIVAKARAN VISHNUMANGALAM

Divakaran Visnumangalam, a noted Malayalam author, was born on March 5, 1965, in Visnumangalam, Ajanur village, Kasaragod district. He holds an M.S.C. with a rank in Geology. His spouse is Nisha, and Harsha is his daughter. Worked as a senior geologist in the Department of Geology.

He has published children’s literature works, Nirvachanam, Padavali, Jeevanane Button, Dhamanikal, Ravorma, Koyakatta, Sonamnam (poem collections), Muthasshi Ksheriya (children’s poems), Unniarcha, Palattu Koman (recitation). The poem is entitled V.T. Kumaran Memorial Poetry Award (1989), Mahakavi Kuttamath Award (1995), Kerala Sahitya Akademi’s Kanakasree Endowment Award (1996), Vailoppilly Award (1997), Edassery Award (2005), Jwala Award from Mumbai (2006), Abu Dhabi Shakti Award (2007), Mahatma Gandhi University’s ‘Samskara’ Poetry Award (2014), N.V. Krishnawarrier Memorial Poetry Award (2015), Mahakavi P. Foundation’s Thamarathoni Poetry Award (2017), Moodadi Damodaran Memorial Poetry Award (2018), V.V.K. He is the recipient of the Poetry Award (2019), Mooloor Award (2019), Thirunallur Poetry Award (2021) and other awards. Represented Malayalam poetry at the National Youth Poetry Conference jointly organised by the Kendra Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2003 and at the National All-Language Poets Conference organised by All India Radio in Guwahati on the occasion of Republic Day in 2010.

KUREEPUZHA SREEKUMAR

Kureepuzha Sreekumar was born on April 10, 1955, in Kureepuzha on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake (Kollam), to P.N. Sastry and K. Kamalamma. Girlfriend: Sushama Kumari. Son: Nesin Sreekumar. While a student at Sree Narayana College, Kollam, he won the first prize for poetry in the Youth Festival. While a student, he was imprisoned for participating in the protest. He worked against the Emergency. He has represented India at the Afro-Asian Young Writers Conference and Malayalam at the National Poet’s Conference. He has presented poetry at various universities in India. His works include Uppa, Kureepuzha Sreekumarinte Kavithakal and Fathima Thooruthu

He has received many awards including the Vailoppilly Award, Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, State Children’s Literature Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, P. Smaraka Award, Mooloor Award, Bhima Children’s Literature Award. He refused the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Award. He is not a believer in caste or religion.

AMBIKASUTHAN MANGAD

Ambikasuthan Mangad was born in Bara village of Kasaragod district. He earned his M.A. and M.Phil. degrees with top ranks and obtained a Ph.D. in the field of “Concept of Time in Short Stories.” In 2002, he was awarded the Kerala State Television Award for Best Short Story for Commercial Break. He served as the editor of Jeevithathinte Upamayum (the first campus novel anthology) and Ponjari (the first regional language dictionary). He has published four books of literary criticism. His first novel was Marakkappile Theyyangal, and Enmakaje has been translated into Kannada, Tamil, and English. Many of his short stories have been translated into various Indian languages and English. Ambikasuthan Mangad retired as the Head of the Malayalam Department from Nehru College, Kanhangad. He has received 27 prestigious awards, including the Karoor, Edasseri, Anganam, Cherukad, Abu Dhabi Shakthi, Malayattoor Prize, V.T. Bhattathiripad, SBT, Kovilan, and V.P. Sivakumar Keli Awards

S R LAL

S R Lal is a renowned Malayalam author. Ernakulam South, Coffeehouse, Kalivettam, Statue P.O., Kunjunniyude Yathrapusthakam and Detective Ammu are a few of his acclaimed publications. He is the recipient of several prestigious accolades such as the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award, the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Abu Dhabi Sakti Award and the Siddhartha Literary Award, among others. He currently serves as Editorial Assistant at Grandhalokam, the mouthpiece of the Kerala State Library Council.

V.K. DEEPA

V. K. Deepa is a teacher based in Manjeri, Malappuram district. She regularly contributes short stories, travelogues, and children’s literature to various periodicals. Her published works include the short story collection Janmanthara Snehansanchaarikal. Her collection Woman Eaters has earned her several recognitions, including the T. K. D. Literary Award, Gaurishankaram Story Award, Manoraj Story Award, Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award, Malayattoor Prize, Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Award, and the Ayanam C. V. Sreeraman Award.