Vayalar Award Archives

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.

UK KUMARAN

U.K. Kumaran was born on May 11, 1950, in Payyoli, Kozhikode district. He did his primary education at Keezhoor AUP School and high school at Payyoli High School. He graduated in Economics from Guruvayoorappan College. He then did a diploma in Journalism and Public Relations. He started his journalism career with the weekly Bikshanam. He was the weekly’s Asst. Editor and the Kerala Kaumudi Kozhikode Unit Chief. He has published around 85 works, including Railway Palathil Oru Kudumbam Dhyanikunnu, Orale Thedi Oralu, Ottakoru Sthri Odunnathinte Rahasyamenthu, Oru Bandhu Kathirikunnu (Orma), Ellam Kannuna Njan, Oro Viliyum Kathu, Viraladayalangal, Illathavarude Saaram, Ottavathil Oru Jeevitham, and Takshankunnu Swaroopam.

He has received many awards, including the Vayalar Award, S.K. Pottekat Award, SBI Literary Award, Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, K.A. Kodungalloor Award, Appan Thampuran Award, Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and many more.

K.P. RAMANUNNI

K. P. Ramanunni, a prominent senior writer in Malayalam literature. He was born in Ponnani in 1955, to Janakiyamma Puthenveetil, Karumathil and Damodaran Nair, Pattaraparambil. His spouse is Raji, and Sridevi is his daugther. Completed post-graduate degree in English literature. He was an assistant manager in the State Bank of India. Served as the editor of Madhyamam weekly and as the administrator of the Thunchan Memorial Trust. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Malayalam University. His notable works include ‘Vidhathavinte Chiri’, ‘Jaathi Chodhikkuka’, ‘Charama Varshikam’, ‘Sufi Paranja Katha’, ‘Daivathinte Pusthakam’, ‘Jeevithathinte Pusthakam’, ‘Prakasham Parathunna Aankutti’, and ‘Thanthapparatheyyam.’

Furthermore, Oxford University Press has published his short story ‘Charama Varshikam’ in English titled as ‘Death Anniversary’ Also, his acclaimed novel ‘Sufi Paranja Katha’ is translated into English, French, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Konkani, and Maithili. It is released as a film.

Furthermore, he is a recipient of several prestigious awards. He has recieved the Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad Sammanam, the Edassery Award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Also, the Vayalar Award, the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad National Award, the V.P. Sivakumar Smarakam Keli Award, the Padmarajan Puraskar, the Abu Dhabi Shakti Award, the Delhi Katha Award, the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Award, the A.P. Kalakkad Award, the C.V. Sreeraman Smaraka Ayanam Award, the T.V. Kochubawa Puraskar and the Kairali Award. His novel ‘Jeevithathinte Pusthakam’, won the Vayalar Award in 2011.

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.