List of Malayalam literary awards

This is a list of literary awards given for Malayalam–language.

Akkitham Award

Akkitham Award was established in 2021 by Thapasya Kala Sahithya Vedhi in memory of prominent poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a plaque and a certificate.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2021	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2022	Sreekumaran Thampi
2023	K. P. Sankaran

Ashitha Memorial Literary Award

Ashitha Memorial Literary Award was established in 2022 in memory of writer Ashitha. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Santhosh Aechikkanam
2023	Subhash Chandran
2024	Sarah Joseph
2025	M. Mukundan

Ayyappan Puraskaram

The Ayanam – A. Ayyappan Poetry Award was instituted by Ayanam Samskarika Vedi in the memory of celebrated Malayalam poet A. Ayyappan.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2011	Vijayalakshmi	Vijayalakshmiyude Kavithakal
2012	P. N. Gopikrishnan	Idikkaloori Panampattadi
2013	Kalpatta Narayanan	Oru Mudanthante Suvishesham
2014	K. R. Tony	Plamenammayi
2015	NA	NA
2016	Veerankutty	Veerankuttyude Kavithakal
2017	Kureepuzha Sreekumar	Uppa
2018	K. V. Baby	K. V. Babyude Kavithakal
2019	P. Raman	Rathri Pantrandarakku Oru Tharattu
2020	Anwar Ali	Mehaboob Express
2022	M. S. Banesh	Perakkavadi
2023	Anitha Thampi	Muringa Vazha Kariveppu
2024	T. P. Vinod	Sathyamayum Lokame

Balamani Amma Award

Balamani Amma Award was established by the Kochi International Book Festival Committee in memory of prominent poetess Balamani Amma. The award is for lifetime achievement in language and literature and includes Rs 50,000 and a citation.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2004	Sugathakumari
2005	M. Leelavathy
2006	Kovilan
2007	—
2008	Kakkanadan
2009	Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri
2010	M. P. Veerendra Kumar
2011	C. Radhakrishnan
2012	Yusuf Ali Kechery
2013	P. Valsala
2014	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2015	M. Achuthan
2016	S. Ramesan Nair
2017	K. L. Mohana Varma
2018	Sreekumaran Thampi
2019	T. Padmanabhan
2020	No award
2021	M. K. Sanu
2022	V. Madhusoodanan Nair
2023	M. Thomas Mathew
2024	Chathanath Achuthanunni

Basheer Award

Basheer Award was instituted by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Smaraka Trust and consists of an amount of 50,000, a certificate of merit, and a plaque designed by C. N. Karunakaran.

Year	Recipient	Work
2008	N. Prabhakaran	Thiranhedutha Kathakal
2009	Rafeeq Ahammed	Aalmara
2010	Sarah Joseph	Ooru Kaaval
2011	B. Rajeevan	Vakkukalum Vasthukkalum
2012	N. S. Madhavan	Ente Priyapetta Kathakal
2013	Attoor Ravi Varma	Attoor Kavithakal
2014	Subhash Chandran	Manushyanu Oru Aamukham
2015	Kalpatta Narayanan	Kavithayude Jeevacharithram
2016	Ashitha	Ashithayude Kathakal
2017	Sebastian	Prethi Shareeram
2018	V. J. James	Nireeshwaran
2019	T. Padmanabhan	Maraya
2020	M. K. Sanu	Durantha Natakam: Ajayyathayute Amarasangeetham
2021	K. Satchidanandan	Dukham Enna Veedu
2022	M. Mukundan	Nritham Cheyyunna Kudakal
2023	E. Santhosh Kumar	Narakangalude Upama
2024	P. N. Gopikrishnan	Kavitha Mamsabhojiyanu

C. G. Santhakumar Award

C. G. Santhakumar Award is instituted by the Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature for overall contributions of a writer to children's literature in Malayalam. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 60,000, a plaque and a certificate.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
1998	Kunjunni Mash
1999	Sumangala
2000	Prof. S. Sivadas
2004	Palliyara Sreedharan
2006	K. Thayat
2007	Sugathakumari
2009	Sippy Pallippuram
2011	K. V. Ramanadhan
2015	K. Sreekumar
2017	Sooranad Ravi
2017	T. K. D. Muzhappilangad
2019	P. P. K. Pothuval
2021	Malayath Appunni
2022	Payyannur Kunhiraman
2023	Ullala Babu

C. V. Sreeraman Award

The Ayanam - C. V. Sreeraman Award for Story was instituted in 2008 by Ayanam Samskarika Vedi in memory of Malayalam writer C. V. Sreeraman. The winners of the award are:

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2008	V. R. Sudheesh
2009	Asokan Charuvil
2009	K. P. Ramanunni	Thiranjedutha Kathakal
2010	Ambikasuthan Mangad
2011	Unni R.	Kottayam 17
2012	U. K. Kumaran
2013	Vaisakhan
2014	P. K. Parakkadavu	Thiranjedutha Kathakal
2015	Pramod Raman	Drishtichaver
2016	U. A. Khader
2017	E. P. Sreekumar	Adhwanavetta
2018	C. S. Chandrika	Ente Pachakkarimbe
2019	Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu	Oru Paattinte Dooram
2021	Santhosh Echikkanam	Kavana
2022	V. K. Deepa	Woman Eaters
2023	Shanoj R. Chandran	Kalodinja Punyalan
2024	Sithara S.	Amlam

Deshabhimani Award

Deshabhimani Award is an annual award instituted by Deshabhimani for overall contribution in social, cultural and literary fields. The award was instituted in 2017 as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Deshabhimani. The award carries a prize of Rs 2 lakh.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2017	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2018	T. Padmanabhan
2019	K. J. Yesudas
2020	NA
2021	NA
2022	Adoor Gopalakrishnan
2023	M. K. Sanu
2024	NA
2025	M. Leelavathy

Deshabhimani Literary Award

Deshabhimani Literary Award is an annual award presented by Deshabhimani. Instituted in 2017 during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Deshabhimani, this award honours literary works that have been published as first editions within the preceding two years. The award is given in three categories—novel, story and poetry—and carries a prize of Rs 1 lakh in each category.

Year	Category	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2016	Novel	M. Mukundan	Kuda Nannakkunna Choyi
2016	Story	Aymanam John	Aymanam Johninte Kathakal
2016	Poetry	K. V. Ramakrishnan	Kalasakshikal
2016	Miscellaneous	T. R. Raghavan	Indian Kappalottathinte Charitram
2017	Novel	Rajendran Edathumkara	Njanum Budhanum
2017	Story	Ambikasuthan Mangad	Ente Priyapetta Kathakal
2017	Poetry	P. Raman	Rathri Pantrandarakku Oru Tharattu
2019	Novel	S. Hareesh	Meesa
2019	Story	Asokan Charuvil	Asokan Charuvilinte Kathakal
2019	Poetry	K. Satchidanandan	Pakshikal Ente Pirake Varunnu
2022	Novel	T. D. Ramakrishnan	Pacha Manja Chuvappu
2022	Story	V. K. Deepa	Women Eaters
2022	Poetry	Vishnuprasad	Nrithasala
2023	Novel	V. Shinilal	Iru
2023	Story	Unni R.	Thiruvilayadal
2023	Poetry	Ravunni	Mattudeshathe Kallezhuthukal

Deviprasadam Trust Award

Deviprasadam Trust or the OMC Trust is established in the memory of Sanskrit scholar O. M. C. Narayanan Nambudiripadby his son in 1990. Since 1990, the Trust gives awards in various disciplines such as Sanskrit, Vedanta, Music, Malayalam literature, and Kathakali. The award for literature has been given since 1997.

1997	P. Bhaskaran
1998	M. R. Bhattathiripad
1999	Thikkodiyan
2000	Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
2001	Yusufali Kechery
2002	O. N. V. Kurup
2003	C. Radhakrishnan
2004	M. Leelavathy
2005	Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri
2006	Sugathakumari
2007	M. N. Paloor
2008	K. P. Sankaran
2009	K. B. Sreedevi
2010	Attoor Ravi Varma
2014	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2015	K. V. Ramakrishnan
2016	T. Padmanabhan
2017	M. K. Sanu

Federal Bank Literary Award

The Federal Bank Literary Award was instituted by Federal Bank in 2022 to recognise literary works in Malayalam. The award carries a prize of Rs 1 lakh and is distributed during the Kerala Literature Festival.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2022	K. Venu	Oranweshananthinte Katha
2023	Sarah Joseph	Kara
2024	E. Santhosh Kumar	Thapomayiyude Achan

Jnanpith Award (Jnanapeetam)

Jnanpith Award, India's most prestigious literary honour, was won by the following Malayalam authors.

Year	Portrait	Recipient	Work
1965		G. Sankara Kurup	Odakkuzhal
1980		S. K. Pottekkatt	Oru Desathinte Katha
1984		Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai	Kayar
1995		M. T. Vasudevan Nair	Overall contribution
2007		O. N. V. Kurup	Overall contribution
2019		Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri	Overall contribution

Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Award

Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Award was established in 2015 by Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Foundation in memory of prominent poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 55,555 and a citation.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2015	O. N. V. Kurup
2016	Ashok Vajpeyi
2017	V. Madhusoodanan Nair
2018	Chandrashekhara Kambara
2019	Sugathakumari
2020	K. G. Sankara Pillai
2023	Prabha Varma
2024	Rafeeq Ahamed
2025	M. Leelavathy

Kerala Kalamandalam Kalagrandham Award

Kerala Kalamandalam 'Kalagrandham' Award by the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University is an annual award given to the author of the best book for art literature. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 30000, a plaque, ponnada and a certificate. The award was won by the following authors.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2013	K. G. Paulose	Kadhayum Kalapathinte Akhoshangalum
2015	T.S. Madhavankutty	Kali Kadakkapuram
2017	Njayath Balan	Kalluvazhichittayude Kavalal
2018	Kalamandalam Gopi	Nalacharitha Prabhavam
2019	Kottakkal Sasidharan	Pakarnnattam
2021	C R Santhosh	Natyasasthrathile Rasabhavangal
2022	Pallipuram Unnikrishnan	Kathakaliyute Aniyara Lokam
2023	Erickavu N. Sunil	Resounding Mridangam

Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature (Bal Sahitya Puraskar)

The following are the winners of Bal Sahitya Puraskar, awarded annually by Sahitya Akademi for children's literature.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2010	Sippy Pallippuram	Oridath Oridath Oru Kunjunni
2011	K. Pappootty	Chiruthakkuttiyum Mashum
2012	K. Sreekumar	Overall contribution
2013	Leela Nambudiripad	Overall contribution
2014	K. V. Ramanadhan	Overall contribution
2015	S. Sivadas	Overall contribution
2016	N. P. Hafiz Mohamad	Kuttippattalathinte Keralaparyadanam
2017	S. R. Lal	Kunhunniyude Yathrapusthakam
2018	P. K. Gopi	Olachoottintte Velicham
2019	Malayath Appunni	Overall contribution
2020	Gracy	Vazhthappetta Poocha
2021	Raghunath Paleri	Avar Moovarum Oru Mazhavillum
2022	Sethu	Chekkutty
2023	Priya A. S.	Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal
2024	Unni Ammayambalam	Algorithangalude Nadu
2025	Sreejith Moothedath	Penguinukalute Vankarayil

Kunjunni Award

Kunjunni Award is given by Balasahiti Prakashan, the publication wing of Balagokulam, in memory of poet Kunjunni Mash. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a plaque and a certificate.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2013	P. I. Sankaranarayanan
2016	P. K. Gopi
2020	P. P. Sreedharanunni
2021	Gopi Puthukode
2022	Gopinath Muthukad
2023	Mani K. Chenthapure
2024	Malayath Appunni

Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award

The award, instituted in the memory of Lalithambika Antharjanam, was given in two categories: one for lifetime contribution to Malayalam literature and the other for a promising young woman writer. The award was given by the Lalithambika Antharjanam Memorial Trust which was established in 1989 in Ramapuram, Kottayam.

1992: Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer, B. M. Suhara
1993: Balamani Amma, Vijayalakshmi
1994: Sukumar Azhikode, Ashita
1995: S. Guptan Nair, Gracy
1996: Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, Shobha Warrier
1997: N. P. Mohammed, K. P. Sudheera
1998: T. Padmanabhan, S. Lakshmi Devi
1999: M. Leelavathi, Rosemary
2000: K. T. Muhammed, Geetha
2001: Sugathakumari, Prameela Devi
2002: Ponkunnam Varkey, Mayadevi
2003: M. T. Vasudevan Nair, A. S. Priya
2004: C. Radhakrishnan, K. R. Meera

Malayattoor Award (2006–present)

The literary prize was instituted in 2006 by Malayattoor Smaraka Samithi in the name of writer Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. It consists of a cash prize of ₹25,000, a citation, and statuette.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2006	Perumbadavam Sreedharan	Narayanam
2007	K. P. Ramanunni	Jeevithathinte Pusthakam
2008	NA	NA	—
2009	NA	NA	—
2010	N. Prabhakaran	Janakatha
2011	NA	NA	—
2012	Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode	Rathi Rathya
2013	Prabha Varma	Shyama Madhavam
2014	NA	NA	—
2015	V. Madhusoodanan Nair	Achchan Piranna Veedu
2016	T. D. Ramakrishnan	Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki
2017	Satheesh Babu Payyannur	Khamarunnisayude Koottukari
2019	Zacharia	Then
2020	George Onakkoor	Hridaya Raagangal
2021	Sajil Sreedhar	Vasavadatha
2022	Benyamin	Nishabda Sancharangal
2023	Sarah Joseph	Esther
2024	E. Santhosh Kumar	Thapomayiyude Achan

Malayattoor Award (2022–present)

The literary prize was instituted in 2022 by Malayattoor Foundation in the name of writer Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. The first Malayattoor Award was awarded on 30 May 2022, the 95th Birth Anniversary of Malayattoor. The award includes a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, a statue and a citation.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2022	Subhash Chandran	Samudrashila
2023	V. J. James	Anticlock
2025	Ambikasuthan Mangad	Allohalan

N. V. Krishna Warrier Award

The literary prize was instituted in the name of writer N. V. Krishna Warrier.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
1993	Olappamanna	Jalakapakshi
1994	M. P. Sankunni Nair	Chathravum Chamaravum
1995	M. Mukundan	Daivathinte Vikrithikal
1996	Madhavikutty	Nashtapetta Neelambari
1997	Balamani Amma	Nivedyam
1998	M. Leelavathy	Adipraroopangal Sahithyathil
1999	Kovilan	Thattakam
2000	M. T. Vasudevan Nair	Sherlock
-	-	-

Nalappadan Award

The literary prize was instituted in the name of writer Nalapat Narayana Menon.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
1989	Mullanezhi	Naranath Prathan
1990	Puzhankara Balanarayanan	Ardhanagnar
1991	N. Mohanan	Sheshapathram
1992	Vayala Vasudevan Pillai	Oru Pakshikunjinte Maranam
1993	M. Leelavathy	Adipraroopangal Sahithyathil
1994	O. N. V. Kurup	Ujjayini
1996	Anand	Govardhande Yathrakal
1998	E. Harikumar	Sookshichu Vacha Mayilpeeli
1999	M. P. Veerendra Kumar	Prathibhayude Verukal Thedi
2000	K. B. Sreedevi	Chanakkallu
2001	Yusufali Kechery	Mukhapadamillathe

Nooranad Haneef Award

The literary prize is instituted in the name of writer Nooranad Haneef. It consists of a cash prize of 25,001 and citation and is given for writers under the age of 45.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2011	V. M. Devadas	Pannivetta
2012	E. Santhosh Kumar
2013	K. R. Meera	Aarachaar
2014	Benyamin	Manjaveyil Maranangal
2015	Susmesh Chandroth	Paper Lodge
2016	Shemi	Nadavaziyile Nerukal
2017	Sangeetha Sreenivasan	Acid
2018	Sonia Rafeeq	Herbarium
2019	G. R. Indugopan	Padinjare Kollam Chorakkalam
2020	V. Shinilal	Sambarkkakranthi
2021	Yasar Arafath	Mutharkunnile Musallakal
2022	Nisha Anilkumar	Avadhootharude Adayalangal
2023	K. N. Prashanth	Ponam
2024	M. P. Lijin Raj	Margarita
2025	Farsana	Elma

P. Kesavadev Literary Award

Puthoor Award

Puthoor Award was established by Unnikrishnan Puthoor Memorial Trust and Foundation in memory of writer Unnikrishnan Puthoor. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 11,111, a statuette designed by J. R. Prasad and a certificate.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2016	M. Leelavathy
2019	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2020	Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
2021	Sreekumaran Thampi
2023	George Onakkoor
2024	Vaisakhan
2025	U. K. Kumaran

S. Guptan Nair Award

The Prof. S. Guptan Nair Award was instituted in 2007 by Prof S. Guptan Nair Foundation, to honour Malayalam scholar S. Guptan Nair. The award carries Rs. 25,000 in cash and a citation. Some of the recipients of the award are listed below.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2007	Dr. M. Leelavathy
2011	Dr. M. V. Vishnu Namboothiri
2015	Puthussery Ramachandran
2017	Prof. M. K. Sanu
2019	Prof. K. P. Sankaran
2022	Dr. M. M. Basheer

Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad Award

Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad is an organisation established in 1926. The Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad Award was established in 1988. The award was given to individual works published in Malayalam but since 2004, it is given for the overall contribution of a writer in Malayalam literature.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
1988	T. Padmanabhan	Kalabhairavan
1989	Punathil Kunjabdulla	Kanyavanangal
1990	Balamani Amma	Thiranjedutha Kavithakal
1991	Anand	Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu
1992	Ayyappa Paniker	Ayyappa Panikerude Kavithakal
1994	N. P. Mohammed	Daivathinte Kannu
1995	Thikkodiyan	Arangu Kanatha Nadan
1996	Madhavikutty	Neermathalam Pootha Kalam
1998	Kovilan	Thattakam
1999	O. V. Vijayan	Thalamurakal
2001	C. V. Sreeraman	C. V. Sreeramante Kathakal
2002	Mundur Krishnankutty	Enne Veruthe Vittalum
2004	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2004	Sukumar Azhikode
2004	O.N.V. Kurup
2004	Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair
2004	Kakkanadan
2008	Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
2009	M. Leelavathy
2010	Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri
2011	M. K. Sanu
2012	K. Satchidanandan
2015	Sugathakumari
2019	Sethu
2020	N. S. Madhavan
2021	Sreekumaran Thampi
2022	M. Thomas Mathew

Saraswati Samman

Saraswati Samman was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation for outstanding prose or poetry works in any of the Indian languages. The award was won by the following Malayalam authors.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
1995	Balamani Amma	Nivedyam
2005	Ayyappa Paniker	Ayyappa Panikerude Kritikal
2012	Sugathakumari	Manalezhuthu
2023	Prabha Varma	Roudra Sathwikam

Thakazhi Award

The award was instituted by Thakazhi Smaraka Samiti and Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala in the memory of renowned writer Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The award consists of Rs.50,000, a citation and a plaque.The award is given for a writer's overall contributions to Malayalam literature.

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2015	M. T. Vasudevan Nair
2016	C. Radhakrishnan
2017	NA
2018	T. Padmanabhan
2019	Sreekumaran Thampi
2020	Perumbadavam Sreedharan
2021	M. Leelavathy
2022	M. Mukundan
2023	M. K. Sanu

Thanima Puraskaram

The award was instituted in 2009 by Calicut-based Thanima Kala Sahithya Vedi, a literary organisation founded in 1991. Seminal works in a specific literary genre are considered for the award each year.

Year	Recipient	Work	Category
2009	Jayarathnam Paatyam	Six Days More	Screenplay
2010	Rasheed Parakkal	Oru Thakkali Krishikkarante Swapnangal	Novel
2011	J. Anil Kumar	Bibleil Krishnan, Mayilppeeli, Pranayam	Short story
2012	Sulfikar	Marannu Vacha Kudakal	Poem
2013	Dr. B. Balachandran	Keraleeya Vasthra Paramparyam	Scholarly literature
2014	Radhakrishnan Perambra	Red Alert	Drama
2015	E. M. Sakeer Hussain	Jerusaleminte Suvisheham	Spiritual literature
2016	Abubakkar Kappadu	Chollum Chelum	Children's literature
2017	Dr. K. T. Jaleel	Malabar Kalapam Oru Punar Vayana	History
2018	V. N. Prasannan	P. Gangadharan: Nishkasithanaya Navothana Nayakan	Biography
2019	Prasanth Babu Kaithapram	Derappan	Novel
2020	P. A. Aboobacker	Arabi Malayalam: Malayalathinte Classical Bhavangal	Scholarly literature
2021	Ambikasuthan Mangad	Yokoso Japan Viseshangal	Travelogue
2022	Sunu A. V.	Indian Poocha	Short story
2023	Deepak P.	Nirmmithabuddhikalathe Samoohika Rashtreeya Jeevitham	Technology studies

Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair Award

Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair Award was instituted by the Sharjah chapter of Yuvakalasahithy UAE in memory of writer Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair. The 12th edition of the award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a certificate, was announced in 2024.

Year	Recipient	Work	Ref.
2012	U. K. Kumaran	Thakshankunnu Swaroopam
2016	Alankode Leelakrishnan	NA
2021	K. K. Kochu	Dalitan
2023	C. Radhakrishnan	Overall contribution
2024	P. N. Gopikrishnan	Hindutva Rashtreeyathinte Katha