M. R. Ramakrishna Panikkar, popularly known as Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan or Kadammanitta, was an Indian poet. He was born in Kadammanitta province of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. His childhood experiences, especially the Patayani songs, had a strong influence on his literary work.
Sreekumar P. K., better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or Jagathy, is a versatile Indian film actor, director and playback singer, who has starred in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades. Widely regarded as one of the most influenical actor and finest comedian in the history of Malayalam cinema, he is also known for his highly nuanced character roles. He is the son of acclaimed dramaturge and writer, the late Jagathy N. K. Achary.
Sreenivasan is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 200 films. Considered among the best screenwriters of Malayalam cinema, he is known for his rich and detailed screenplays based on the social and political scenario of Kerala. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Pattanapravesham (1988), Varavelpu (1989), Thalayanamanthram (1990), Sandesam (1991), Midhunam (1993), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998), Udayananu Tharam (2005), Katha Parayumpol (2007), and Njan Prakashan (2018) among which the latter is one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. He has won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay, for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe.
Innocent Vareed Thekkethala is an Indian film actor and politician. He predominantly works in Malayalam cinema in addition to Bollywood, English, Tamil, and Kannada films, mostly in comedic roles. He has acted in more than 750 films, and is considered one of the best comedians in Malayalam cinema. He has also appered in villainous roles, such as in Mazhavilkavadi, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu and Ganamela. Innocent has won several awards, including three Kerala State Film Awards. He served as the Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha of India representing Chalakudy constituency.
Sugathakumari was an Indian poet and activist, who was at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India. Her parents were the poet and freedom fighter Bodheswaran and V. K. Karthiyayini Amma, a Sanskrit scholar. She was the founder secretary of the Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi, an organisation for the protection of nature, and of Abhaya, a home for destitute women and a day-care centre for the mentally ill. She chaired the Kerala State Women's Commission. She played a prominent role in the Save Silent Valley protest.
Biju Menon is an Indian film actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, and also has a few Tamil and Telugu film credits. He made his debut in 1995 in Puthran. In a career spanning over two decades, he has appeared in over 150 films, and has won two Kerala State Film Awards,two Filmfare Awards South and nine Asianet Film Awards.
Madhupal Kannambathu is an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Madhupal made his acting debut with Kashmeeram in 1994 and his directorial debut with Thalappavu (2008), which was about Naxal Varghese and won several awards in 2008.
Yusufali Kechery was a poet, film lyricist, film producer and director from Kerala, India. He wrote during the modern era of Malayalam poetry and won the Odakkuzhal Award, the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award and the Vallathol Award.
Karuvattu Mana Vasudevan Namboothiri, better known as Namboothiri, is an Indian painter and sculptor, known for his line art and copper relief works. He has done illustrations for many Malayalam writers such as Thakazhy Shivasankara Pillai, Kesavadev, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Uroob, S. K. Pottekkatt, Edasseri Govindan Nair, and V.K.N. and is reported to be one of the most prolific literary illustrators in the world. He is a former chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. The Akademi awarded him the Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2003. He is also a recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director.
P. Kesava Pillai, better known by his pen-name P. Kesavadev, was a novelist and social reformer of Kerala, India. He is remembered for his speeches, autobiographies, novels, dramas, short stories, and films. Odayil Ninnu, Nadhi, Bhrandalayam, Ayalkar, Ethirppu (autobiography) and Oru Sundariyude Athmakadha are some among his 128 literary works. Kesavadev along with Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer are considered the exponents of progressive Malayalam Literature.
Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup was a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He received the awards Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011, the fourth and second highest civilian honours from the Government of India. In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala, Trivandrum. O. N. V. was known for his leftist leaning. He was a leader of All India Students Federation (AISF). He died on 13 February 2016 at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram due to age-related illnesses, aged 84.
M. K. Sanu is a Malayali writer, critic, retired professor, biographer, journalist, orator, social activist, and human rights activist. He is a prominent literary figure who has authored over thirty-six books. He is a permanent member of the International Body for Human Rights, as well as the founding member of the Mithram, a school for the mentally handicapped, in Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam District, Kerala. He was a member of the award selection committee of the Vayalar Rama Varma Literary Award; however, he resigned in September 2019. In 2011, he won the Padmaprabha Literary Award.
Perumbadavam Sreedharan is a prolific Malayalam author from Kerala, India. He is former Chairman of Kerala Sahithya Academy. He has written several novels and short stories. One of his most famous and critically acclaimed novels is Oru Sankeerthanam Pole (1993) for which he won the Vayalar Award in 1996. He got Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for his novel 'Ashtapadi'. In 2006, he was awarded the Malayattoor Award for his novel, Narayanam.
George Varghese Kakkanadan, commonly known as Kakkanadan, was an Indian short story writer and novelist in the Malayalam language. His works made break from the neo-realism that dominated Malayalam literature through the 1950s and 1960s. He is often credited with laying the foundation of modernism in Malayalam literature. He is a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards in addition to numerous other awards and recognitions.
P. Valsala is a Malayalam novelist, short story writer, social activist, and a retired Head Mistress from Kerala, India. She a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Nizhalurangunna Vazhikal. Valsala was the Chairperson of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
Poovankery Francis Mathew is an Indian author of Malayalam literature and a screenplay writer in Malayalam film and Television industries. A Winner of a National Film Award for Best Screenplay and multiple State television and other literary awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, he is known for his original style of writing. Literary works such as Iruttil Oru Punyalan, Chaavunilam, Njayarazhcha Mazha Peyyukayayirunnu, Jalakanyakayum Gandarvanum and 2004il Alice and screen plays which include Sararaanthal, Mikhayelinte Santhathikal, Megham, Kutty Srank and Ee.Ma.Yau are his major works.
O. V. Usha is a Malayalam poet and novelist. Described by K. M. George as a poet with "deep moral concern and technical dexterity", she has written four volumes of poems and a few short stories while also authoring a novel. She has also written articles in various journals. Usha served the Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam as its director of publications. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics for Mazha, a Malayalam film released in 2000.
N. Mohanan was a Malayalam–language short story writer and novelist from Kerala state, South India. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1998 for the novel Innalathe Mazha. He has published some ten collections of short stories including Ninte Katha (Enteyum), Dukhathinte Rathrikal, Poojakkedukkatha Pookkal, N. Mohanante Kathakal, Sheshapathram, Nunayude Kshanikathakal Thedi, Snehathinte Vyakaranam, Nishedha Rajyathile Rajavu and Orikkal. He was the son of noted Malayalam writer Lalithambika Antharjanam, and A.N. Narayanan Namboothiri of Amanakara Illam, Palai, Kottayam district.
Narayanan Nair Harikumar is a sound editor, designer and mixing engineer, known for his works in Malayalam films. He has won two National Film Awards and nine Kerala State Film Awards for audiography. He has worked for many Adoor Gopalakrishnan movies like Anantaram, Mathilukal, Nizhalkuthu, Naalu Pennungal, Oru Pennum Randaanum etc. He worked as Chief Sound Engineer and Studio Manager at Kerala State Film Development Corporation's Chithranjali Studio and later as the Chief Audio Engineer at Aries Vismayas Max.
The P. Kesavadev Literary Award is an Indian literary award presented annually by P. Kesavadev Trust to writers in Malayalam literature. The award is named after renowned Malayalam writer P. Kesavadev.
