Muttathu Varkey Award Archives

NS MADHAVAN

N. S. Madhavan was born in Ernakulam. He received his IAS in 1975 and was a civil service officer. He is a prominent Malayalam writer and former civil servant, known for his sharp social and political commentary. A distinguished short story writer and novelist. Madhavan is credited with making a significant contribution to bringing short story literature back into the mainstream.

He is best known for his novel ‘Lanthanbatheriyile Luthiniyakal’ and several celebrated short stories, including ‘Higuita’, ‘Thiruthu’, ‘Chulaimedile Shavangal’, Panchakanyakakal, Bheemachan and ‘Vanmarangal Veezhumpol’. In addition to fiction, Madhavan writes columns on football and travel.

In 1970, his story ‘Shishu‘ won the first prize in the short story competition organised by Mathrubhumi for college students. He is a distinguished fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and has won numerous prestigious awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Odakkuzhal award for his work Higuita, the Mulberry, Padmarajan and V.P. Sivakumar Memorial ‘Keli’ for best single stories, Muttathu Varkey Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, Crossword Book Award, and the Kerala State Students Federation Sahithyolsav Award. He was also selected three times for the ‘Katha’ Prize in Delhi.

T. PADMANABHAN

T. Padmanabhan was born in Kannur in 1931. He was an officer in FACT. He retired as Deputy General Manager in ’85. He has translated stories into almost all the languages of India and into Russian, French and German. His works include Sakhavu, Karuvannur, Navarasakathal, Gauriyum Mattu Kathakalum, Daya, Padmanabhante Kuttikal and Nalinakantiyum Mattu Kathakalum, etc.

He received the Vayalar Award in 2001 for the collection of stories called Puzha Kadhanu Marangalude Idayileku. He has received the Vallathol Award, the Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Puraskar, the Muttathu Varkey Award and the Ezhuthachan Award in 2003. He has declined awards from the Sahitya Akademi, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, and the Odakuzhal Award.

C V BALAKRISHNAN

C V Balakrishnan is a versatile novelist, short-story writer and screenwriter writing in Malayalam. His oeuvre comprises more than sixty works across several genres. His works titled Athmavinu Sheri Enn Thonunna Karyangal, Paralmeen Neenthunna Padam and Ethetho Saraninkalil won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Awards, and his study titled Cinemayude Idangal won the State Award for Best Book on Cinema. He has also won several Awards for Overall Contributions such as the Muttathu Varkey Award, the Padmaprabha Award, the Basheer Award and the O Chandu Menon Award, among other accolades. Swecha is his latest collection of short stories.