Kerala PSC | List of Odakkuzhal Award Winners

Odakkuzhal Awards

The Odakkuzhal Award is a literary award given annually to the best children's literature in Malayalam, a language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. It was instituted in 1977 by the Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature, which is part of the State Institute of Languages in Kerala. The award is named after the "odakkuzhal", a traditional musical instrument used in Kerala.

The award is given for the best original work of fiction or non-fiction for children in Malayalam published during the previous calendar year. The winner is selected by a jury comprising eminent literary figures and experts in children's literature. The jury is appointed by the Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature.

List of Odakkuzhal Award Winners

Year	Recipient	Work
1969	Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup	Tulsidasa Ramayanam
1970	O. V. Vijayan	Khasakkinte Itihasam
1971	Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon	Vida
1972	N. Krishna Pillai	Thiranjedutha Prabandhangal
1973	Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri	Nimisha Kshetram
1974	K. Surendran	Maranam Durbalam
1975	V. K. Govindan Nair	V. K. Govindan Nairude Krithikal
1976	Nalankal Krishna Pillai	Krishna Tulasi
1977	Lalithambika Antharjanam	Agnisakshi
1978	Kainikkara Kumara Pillai	Naatakeeyam
1979	M. Leelavathy	Varnaraji
1980	P. Bhaskaran	Ottakkambiyulla Thamburu
1981	Vilasini	Avakasikal
1982	Sugathakumari	Ambalamani
1983	Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri	Mukhamevide
1984	G. Kumara Pillai	Sapthaswaram
1985	N. N. Kakkad	Saphalamee Yathra
1986	Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan	Kalimuttam
1987	Yusufali Kechery	Kechery Puzha
1988	Olappamanna	Nizhalana
1989	M. P. Sankunni Nair	Chhathravum Chamaravum
1990	O. N. V. Kurup	Mrigaya
1991	P. Narayana Kurup	Nishagandhi
1992	Thikkodiyan	Arangu Kanatha Nadan
1993	M. T. Vasudevan Nair	Vanaprastham
1994	N. S. Madhavan	Higuita
1995	T. Padmanabhan	Kadal
1996	Anand	Govardhanante Yathrakal
1997	M. P. Veerendra Kumar	Athmavilekkoru Theerthayathra
1998	Asha Menon	Paraga Koshangal
1999	Chandramathi	Rain Deer
2000	Satchidanandan	Thiranjedutha Kavithakal
2001	Ayyappa Paniker	Ayyappa Paniker Kavithakal
2002	Mundur Krishnankutty	Enne Veruthe Vittalum
2003	Zacharia	Thiranjedutha Kathakal
2004	P. Surendran	Chinese Market
2005	Njeralathu Surendran and KP Nair	Naatyacharyante Jeevithamudraka
2006	C. Radhakrishnan	Theekkadal Kadanju Thirumadhuram
2007	N. K. Desam	Mudra
2008	K. G. Sankara Pillai	K. G. S. Kavithakal
2009	Sreekumaran Thampi	Ammakku Oru Tharattu
2010	Unnikrishnan Puthoor	Anubhavangalude Nerrekhakal
2011	Subhash Chandran	Manushyanu Oru Amukham
2012	Sethu	Marupiravi
2013	K. R. Meera	Aarachaar
2014	Rafeeq Ahammed	Rafeeq Ahammedinte Kruthikal
2015	S. Joseph	Chandranodoppam
2016	M. A. Rahman	Oro Jeevanum Vilappettathaanu
2017	Aymanam John	Aymanam Johninte Kathakal
2018	E V Ramakrishnan	Malayala novalinte desakalangal
2019	N Prabhakaran	Mayamanushya
2021	Sarah Joseph	Budhini
2022	Ambikasuthan Mangad	Pranavayu
2023	P. N. Gopikrishnan	Kavitha Mamsabhojiyanu

The Odakkuzhal Award and Features

The Odakkuzhal Award is a prestigious literary award presented annually to the best children's literature in Malayalam, a language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. Here are some of its features:

Origin: The Odakkuzhal Award was instituted in the year 1977 by the Kerala State Institute of Children’s Literature, which is a part of the State Institute of Languages in Kerala.

Eligibility: The award is given for the best original work of fiction or non-fiction for children in Malayalam published during the previous calendar year.

Selection process: The winner is selected by a jury comprising of eminent literary figures and experts in children's literature. The jury is appointed by the Kerala State Institute of Children’s Literature.

Prize: The award consists of a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 (approximately 135 USD), a citation, and a memento.

Presentation: The award is presented at a special function organized by the Kerala State Institute of Children’s Literature. The ceremony is attended by prominent literary figures, publishers, and writers.

Significance: The Odakkuzhal Award is one of the most prestigious literary awards for children's literature in Malayalam. Winning the award is considered a significant achievement for writers and publishers in the field of children's literature.

Past winners: Some of the notable winners of the Odakkuzhal Award include M. Mukundan, P. Kesavadev, Kakkanadan, C. Radhakrishnan, and M.T. Vasudevan Nair.

Overall, the Odakkuzhal Award is an important recognition of excellence in children's literature in Malayalam and has played a significant role in promoting the growth and development of children's literature in Kerala.

Odakkuzhal Award Question Answers

Who is the winner of the first Odakkuzhal Award in 1969?

Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup

In which year did O. N. V. Kurup receive the Odakkuzhal Award for his work Mrigaya?

1990

In which year did M. T. Vasudevan Nair receive the Odakkuzhal Award?

1993 for Vanaprastham

In which year did M. Leelavathy receive the Odakkuzhal Award for her work Varnaraji?

1979

Who was the first woman to win the Odakkuzha Award? In which year did she receive the award?

Lalithambika Antharjanam, 1977

Who is the winner of the Odakkuzha Award 2022?

Ambikasuthan Mangad

Points to Remember about Odakkuzhal Award

Odakkuzhall Award Indian literary award given every year to writers for a particular outstanding work of him/her in Malayalam–language
Awarded for	Literary award in India
Sponsored by	Instituted by the Guruvayurappan Trust
Reward(s)	Rs 30,000, citation, and plaque
First awarded	1969
Last awarded	2022
Total awarded	53
First winner	Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup
Last winner	P. N. Gopikrishnan