Author Award: Vayalar Award

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.

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 (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 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.

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.