Madath Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as M.T., is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He is a prolific and versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, and is one of the masters of post-Independence Indian literature. At the age of 20, as a chemistry undergraduate, he won the prize for the best short story in Malayalam at World Short Story Competition conducted by The New York Herald Tribune. His first major novel Naalukettu, written at the age of 23, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. His other novels include Manju (Mist), Kaalam (Time), Asuravithu and Randamoozham. The deep emotional experiences of his early days have gone into the making of MT's novels. Most of his works are oriented towards the basic Malayalam family structure and culture and many of them were path-breaking in the history of Malayalam literature. His three seminal novels on life in the matriarchal family in Kerala are Naalukettu, Asuravithu, and Kaalam. Randamoozham, which retells the story of the Mahabharatha from the point of view of Bhimasena, is widely credited as his masterpiece.
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon was an Indian poet of Malayalam literature. Known for his works such as Kudiyozhikkal, Kannikkoythu and Mambazham, Menon was the founder president of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, an organisation of Kerala-based artists, writers and art and literature enthusiasts. He was a recipient of several honours including Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry, Vayalar Award and Odakkuzhal Award.
Thakkathu Amayankottu Rajalakshmi, better identified as Rajalakshmi, was an Indian novelist, short story writer and poet of Malayalam literature. She was the author of three novels, two poetry anthologies and a short story anthologies. Kerala Sahitya Akademi awarded her their annual award for novel in 1960, making her the third recipient of the award. Her novel, Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum, has been adapted into a tele-series as well as into a play by the All India Radio.
Gracy is a Malayalam author. Her first collection of short stories, Padiyirangippoya Parvati, was published in 1991. Her awards include the Lalithambika Antharjanam Award (1995), the Thoppil Ravi Award (1997), the Katha Prize for the Best Malayalam Short Story (1998) and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2000). Her major works are Narakavaathil, Randu Swapna Darsikal, Kaveriyude Neru, Eezbu Penkathakal, Panikkannu and a collection, Gracyude Kathakal. Her stories have been translated into English, Hindi, Tamil and Oriya. She was the head of the Malayalam department, Al-Ameen college, Edathala, Aluva.
Malikathazhathu Pulluvazhy Narayana Pillai, affectionately known as Nanappan among his friends, was a journalist and writer of Malayalam literature. Known for his novel, Parinamam, and a number of short stories including Murugan Enna Pambatty and George Aaramante Kodathi, Pillai was associated with Far Eastern Economic Review and McGraw-Hill World News. He was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1991, but he declined the award.
Chandrika Balan is an Indian writer who has published books in English and Malayalam, under the pen name Chandramathi, ചന്ദ്രമതി in Malayalam. She is a writer of fiction, a translator, and critic in English and Malayalam. Chandramathi has published four books in English and 20 in Malayalam, including 12 collections of short stories, an anthology of medieval Malayalam poetry, two collections of essays, two memoirs, and five books translated from English. The Malayalam film Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela was based on her book.
Ashitha was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, best known for her short stories, poems and translations. She helped popularize haiku poems in Malayalam through her translations. She was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story and other honours including the Padmarajan Award, Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award and Edasseri Award.
Susmesh Chandroth is an Indian writer, who writes in Malayalam. He won the first Yuva Puraskar for Malayalam in 2011 instituted by the Sahitya Akademi, Government of India. Susmesh Chandroth is also involved in the Malayalam film industry. He scripted and directed the feature film Padmini (film) based on the life story of the painter T. K. Padmini in the year 2018.
Nalini Bekal is a Malayalam novelist and short story writer. She has written many novels and short stories, and won many awards including the Mathrubhumi Novel Award (1977), Edasseri Award (1987), SBI Award (1992), and Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship.
Paipra Radhakrishnan is a Malayalam writer, columnist, editor and cultural observer. He was the Secretary of Kerala Sahitya Akademi during the period 1991-1995. He is the president of Akshaya Pusthaka Nidhi, and Director, Arshavidyapeedom. He writes the much acclaimed cultural critic column Aazhchavettom in Kalakaumudi weekly. He has authored many books of short stories, essays, and children's literature. He represented Kerala in many international and national literary events and book festivals.
Geetha Hiranyan was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Known for her short stories, compiled in three books, Ottasnappil Othukkanavilla Janmasathyam, Asangaditha and Iniyum Veedatha Hrudayathinte Kadam, she was a recipient of a number of honours including G. Sankara Kurup Janmasathabdhi Kavitha Award and Kunju Pilla Smaraka Award.
Kadathanat Madhavi Amma was an Indian poet, novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. Known for poetry anthologies such as Kalyopaharam and Kanikkonna, she was also the author of two works based on Vadakkan Pattukal viz. Thacholi Othenan and Payyamvelli Chandu. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi awarded her their annual award for overall contributions in 1996.
Lopa R. is an Indian poet and translator writing in Malayalam language with the pen name Lopamudra. Her works include Parasparam, Vykkolppaava, which have won literary awards. She began writing poems during her college days and became well known among literary circles at the age of 22 when she got first prize for Vishuppathipp poetry competition conducted by Mathrubhumi weekly in April 2000. She has been writing for in Malayalam periodicals since early 2000s and has translated many English poets into Malayalam.
Aryambika S. V. is a Malayalam language poet from Kerala, India. She received several awards including Yuva Puraskar by Sahithya Akademi and Kanakasree Award by Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
Aswathy Sasikumar is a Malayalam language short story writer from Kerala, India. Her first short story collection Josephinte Manam has won the 2017 Yuva Puraskar and the 2015 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Geetha Hiranyan Endowment. She has also received several other awards including Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer Awardand EP Sushama Ankanam Award.
Anagha J. Kolath is a Malayalam language poet from Kerala, India. In 2022, she received Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar.
Shyamkrishnan R. is a Malayalam language short story writer from Kerala, India. His short story collection Meeshakallan won many awards including the Yuva Puraskar (2024) by Sahitya Akademi.
Ganesh Puthur is a bilingual poet from Kerala, India, who writes in Malayalam and English languages. His first anthology of poems named Achante Alamara won many awards including the Yuva Puraskar (2023) by Sahitya Akademi.
