Kerala Sahitya Akademi Announces 2024 Literary Award Winners

The Kerala Sahitya Akademi, the premier literary body of the state, has announced the recipients of its 2024 literary awards, celebrating both emerging talents and veteran writers in Malayalam literature. The awards honour excellence in genres ranging from novels and poetry to drama, biography, and translation, reinforcing the Akademi’s commitment to fostering literary culture in Kerala.

Why in News?

The 2024 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards were officially declared on June 26, 2025, in Thrissur, recognizing a wide array of Malayalam literary contributions. The awards hold great cultural significance and are considered among the most prestigious recognitions for Malayalam writers.

Key Awardees and Categories

• Best Novel: G R Indugopan for Aano
• Poetry: Anitha Thampi for Muringa Vazha Kariveppu
• Short Story: V Shinilal for Garisappa Aruvi Athava Oru Jalayathra
• Essay (Sibi Kumar Endowment Award): M Swaraj for Pookkalude Pusthakam

Akademi Fellowship & Lifetime Contribution Awards

• Fellowship: K V Ramakrishnan
• Lifetime Contribution: Ezhacheri Ramachandran

Additionally, six authors were honoured with Lifetime Contribution Awards,

• P K N Panicker
• Payyannur Kunhiraman
• M M Narayanan
• T K Gangadharan
• K E N
• Mallika Yunis

Other Categories

• Drama: Sashidharan Naduvil
• Literary Criticism: G Dileep
• Scientific Literature: Deepak V
• Biography/Autobiography: Dr K Rajashekharan Nair
• Travel Writing: K R Ajayan
• Translation: Chinthu Prakash
• Children’s Literature: E N Sheeja
• Humour: Niranjan

Awards Details

• Regular Awards: ₹25,000 cash prize, plaque, and certificate.
• Fellowship & Major Lifetime Awards: ₹50,000, a two-sovereign gold medal, shawl, citation, and plaque.
• Other Lifetime Awards: ₹30,000, plaque, shawl, and certificate.
• Notably, no winner was selected for the Vilasini Award this year.