AZEEM THANNIMOODU
Author Award: VT Kumaran Master Award
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.
GIREESH PULIYOOR
Gireesh Puliyoor was born in 1966 in Puliyoor village, Nedumangad, Uzhamalakkal, Thiruvananthapuram. Her parents are L. Sreedharan Nair and K. Saraswathi Yamma. Smita Murali is his spouse and has a daughter, Akshara Girish Murali. While an M.A. (English) student at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, he received the N.N. Kakkad Award and the Kunju Pillai Award for college poetry. He received the V.T. Kumaran Award in 1992 and the Rajaraja Varma Poetry Award in 2000. He has written lyrics for many serials and albums. He has won the American Viewers Award (lyrics: 2002), the K.P. Brahmanandan Literary Award (2011), the Adoorbhasi Foundation Award (lyrics: 2012), the P. Bhaskaran Foundation Poetry Award (2012), “Sicta” Award for Best Television Presenter (2019), Indywood Poetry Award (2020), and Kerala Government Award for Best Television Commentator (2018) have been awarded. He has published poetry collections such as Ottayante Hridayam, Nee Varunilla, Mamboomanakkann, Aadupampe Kadam Kel Pampe, Veesiyaditikku Kate, Orikalenne Nee Kyavartanam, and Snehathm Aayukalilla. He presents programs on various TV channels and runs his own institution called “Puliyoor Herbal Center”.