Vayalar Award Archives

THAKAZHI SIVASANKARA PILLAI

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1912–1999) was born on April 17, 1912. His first novel, Thyagathinu Prathiphalam, was published in 1934. From 1936 to 1957, he practiced as a lawyer in Ambalapuzha. He authored more than twenty-five novels and around two hundred short stories, including notable works like Randidangazhi, Thottiyude Makan, and Anubhavangal Paalichakal. Most of his works have been translated into various Indian and foreign languages. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958 for Chemmeen, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965 for Enippadikal, and the Vayalar Award in 1980 for Kayar. He was also honored with the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1974 and the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1984. Thakazhi served as President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 1978 and again in 1981. In 1985, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan. He passed away on April 10, 1999.

O V VIJAYAN

O. V. Vijayan (1930–2005) was a celebrated novelist, short story writer, cartoonist, political thinker, and journalist. Born on July 2, 1930, in Vilayanchaathanoor, Palakkad, he completed his M.A. in English from Presidency College, Chennai, and briefly worked as a college lecturer. He later pursued a career in journalism with publications like Shankar’s Weekly, Patriot, and The Statesman. Vijayan authored around 30 works spanning novels, short stories, essays, and cartoons. He received several prestigious awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Vayalar Award in 1991 for Gurusagaram, the Muttathu Varkey Award in 1992 for Khasakkinte Ithihasam, and the M. P. Paul Award in 1999 for Thalamurakal. In 2001, he was honoured with the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram by the Government of Kerala, and in 2003, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. O. V. Vijayan passed away on March 30, 2005.

M T VASUDEVAN NAIR

M. T. Vasudevan Nair is a renowned short story writer, novelist, screenwriter, and film director, born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur near Ponnani. He began his career as a teacher and later worked as the associate editor and then editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly (1956–1981). He also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Periodicals from 1988 to 1999. His literary brilliance earned him numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Kaalam, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Naalukettu, the Vayalar Award for Randamoozham, the Odakkuzhal Award for Vanaprastham, and the prestigious Jnanpith Award. As a screenwriter, he won several Kerala State and National Film Awards, including the National Award for Best Film for Nirmalyam in 1974. He has been conferred honorary D.Litt degrees by both the University of Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University. In 2004, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan.

MALAYATTOOR RAMAKRISHNAN

Malayattoor Ramakrishnan (1927–1997) was born on May 30, 1927, in New Kalpathy, Palakkad. He earned his B.L. degree with first rank and joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1958. Over his career, he served in various key positions such as Sub Collector, Collector, Department Head, Government Secretary, Chairman and Managing Director of public sector undertakings, and Member of the Revenue Board. He resigned from the IAS in February 1981. He later served as the Chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi for seven years. His novel Verukal won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, while Yantram received the Vayalar Award and the Sahitya Pravarthaka Award. A versatile writer, he authored over 200 short stories and several screenplays. He was also known as a cartoonist and painter. Malayattoor Ramakrishnan passed away on December 27, 1997.

MADHAVIKKUTTY

Madhavikutty (1934–2009), later known as Kamala Surayya, was a renowned poet and writer. She was the daughter of the celebrated poet Nalappatt Balamani Amma and V. M. Nair, who was the Managing Editor of Mathrubhumi. Born on March 31, 1934, she wrote in both Malayalam and English. Over her literary career, she received numerous accolades, including the Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award, Ashan World Prize, Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Short Story, Vayalar Award, and the prestigious Ezhuthachan Puraskaram. In 2001, she was honored with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. She passed away on May 31, 2009.

Lalithambika Antharjanam

Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909–1987) was born on March 30, 1909, at Kottavattam near Kottarakkara in Kollam district. Her father, K. Damodaran Potti of Kottavattam Illam, was a member of the Sreemoolam Praja Sabha, and her mother was Nangayya Antharjanam. She received her education in Sanskrit and Malayalam from tutors at home and also gained proficiency in English and Hindi. Her first short story, Yathravasaam, was published in Malayalarajyam. In 1927, she married Narayanan Namboothiri of Amanakara Illam in Ramapuram, Meenachil Taluk, and had seven children, including the well-known writer N. Mohanan. Lalithambika was actively involved in early reform movements within the Namboothiri community in the erstwhile Travancore region. She received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for her work Seetha Muthal Sathyavathi Vare. Her only novel, Agnisakshi, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977, as well as the Central Sahitya Akademi Award, the Odakkuzhal Award, and the first Vayalar Award. She passed away on February 6, 1987.

P. K. BALAKRISHNAN

P. K. Balakrishnan (1926–1991) was a historian, journalist, and writer, born in Edavanakkad near Ernakulam. His college education was interrupted due to his imprisonment in connection with the Quit India Movement. He later became active in politics and journalism. He served as the editor of Dinaprabha, was a long-time editorial board member of Kerala Kaumudi, and the Chief Editor of the daily Madhyamam. His studies on literary figures like Kumaran Ashan and Ezhuthachan brought new insights to those fields. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1974 and the Vayalar Award in 1978. He passed away on April 3, 1991.

Prabha Varma

Prabha Varma is an acclaimed poet, lyricist and journalist. He writes across various genres such as poetry, novel, travelogs and studies. He is the recipient of such accolades like the Kendra-Kerala Sahitya Academy Awards, the Vayalar Award, the Padmaprabha Award and the Asan-Ulloor-Vallathol Awards. He has also received several notable honors for music composition as well as journalism. His verse novel Syamamadhavam won the Library Council Award for the Best Literary Work of the Decade. Raudra Sathvikam, Ponnikolusu, Kalapasham and Pranayathinte Kavyapusthakam are some of his other most acclaimed works. Ferocious Piety, a novel, is one among his most recent publications.

Subhash Chandran

Subhash Chandran is a noted Malayalam author. He is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades such as the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award, the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Vayalar Award, the Odakkuzhal Award and the Basheer Award, among others. The only Malayalam language author to be in the list of young native language writers by Times of India, he was also selected as one among the ten Personality Brands of Kerala by the Dhanam Finance Magazine. The translation of his work Manushyanu Oru Aamukham titled as A Preface to Man, received the Raymond Crossword Award. The novel has also been translated into Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Khadikharangal Nilakkuna Samayam, Das Capital and Madhyeyingane are a few of his other acclaimed publications. A journalism faculty of the Calicut University, he also currently heads the Mathrubhumi Weekly.

V J James

An acclaimed author, V J James is known for works that deal with complex subjects in an easy-to-understand language. A scientist by profession, he worked at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. His debut novel, Purappadinte Pusthakam won the DC Books Silver Jubilee Novel Award, the Malayatoor Prize and the Rotary Literary Award. For his novel Nireeshwaran, V J James won the 2017 Kerala Sahitya Academy Award and the 2019 Vayalar Award. His novel, Anti-Clock, won the O V Vijayan Award and the Thikkurissi Foundation Award. His works have also been translated into the English Language.