The best literary work in Malayalam is recognised with the Vayalar Award. The Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Fund established the award in 1977 as a tribute to the poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma (1928-1975). The award was once made up of a cash payment of 25,000, a silver plate, and a certificate. It is been increased to a figure of ₹1,00,000. Every year on Vayalar Ramavarma's death anniversary, on October 27, it is presented.

List of Vayalar Award Winners

List of Vayalar Award Winners


YearRecipientWork
1977Lalithambika AntharjanamAgnisakshi
1978P. K. BalakrishnanIni Njan Urangatte
1979Malayattoor RamakrishnanYanthram
1980Thakazhi Sivasankara PillaiKayar
1981Vyloppilli Sreedhara MenonMakarakoythu
1982O. N. V. KurupUppu
1983Vilasini (M. K. Menon)Avakasikal
1984SugathakumariAmbalamani
1985M. T. Vasudevan NairRandamoozham
1986N. N. KakkaduSaphalameeyathra
1987N. Krishna PillaiPrathipathram Bhashanabhedam
1988Thirunalloor KarunakaranThirunalloor Karunakarante Kavithakal
1989Sukumar AzhikodeThathwamasi
1990C. RadhakrishnanMunpe Parakkunna Pakshikal
1991O. V. VijayanGurusagaram
1992M. K. SanuChangambuzha: Nakshathrangalude Snehabhajanam
1993AnandMarubhoomikal Undakunnathu
1994K. SurendranGuru
1995ThikkodiyanArangu Kanatha Nadan
1996Perumbadavam SreedharanOru Sankeerthanam Pole
1997Madhavikutty (Kamala Surayya)Neermathalam Pootha Kalam
1998S. Guptan NairSrishtiyum Srishtavum
1999KovilanThattakam
2000T. PadmanabhanPuzha Kadannu Marangalude Idayilekku
2001M. V. DevanDevaspandanam KERALA ARTIST M.V.Devan
2002K. AyyappapanickerAyyappapanickerude Krithikal
2003M. MukundanKesavante Vilapangal
2004Sarah JosephAlahayude Penmakkal
2005K. SatchidanandanSakshyangal
2006SethuAdayalangal Malayalam writer
2007M. LeelavathyAppuvinte Anweshanam
2008M. P. Veerendra KumarHaimavathabhuvil
2009M. Thomas MathewMarar: Lavanyanubhavathinte Yuktishilpam
2010Vishnunarayanan NamboothiriCharulatha
2011K. P. RamanunniJeevithathinte Pusthakam
2012AkkithamAnthimahakalam
2013Prabha VarmaShyama Madhavam
2014K. R. MeeraAarachaar
2015Subhash ChandranManushyanu Oru Aamukham
2016U. K. KumaranThakshankunnu Swaroopam
2017T. D. RamakrishnanSugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki
2018K. V. Mohan KumarUshnarashi
2019V. J. JamesNireeshwaran
2020Ezhacherry RamachandranOru Virginian Veyilkaalam
2021BenyaminManthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal
2022S. HareeshMeesha
2023Sreekumaran ThampiJeevitham Oru Pendulum

Points to Remember about Vayalar Award

Vayalar Award
Award for individual contributions to Malayalam literature
Awarded forLiterary award in India
Sponsored byVayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust
Reward(s)₹100,000 and a silver plaque
First awarded1977
Last awarded2022
Total awarded45
First winnerLalithambika Antharjanam
Last winnerS. Hareesh

Vayalar Award Question Answers

Who is the first Vayalar Award winner?

Lalithambika Antharjanam

What is the prize for Vayalar Award winner?

A sum of ₹100,000, a silver plate and certificatem

On which day Vayalar Award is awarded?

It is presented each year on 27 October, the death anniversary of Vayalar Ramavarma.

Who is the sponser of Vayalar Awards?

An award given for best literary work in Malayalam instituted by Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust from 1977

What was the controverys in Vayalar Award 2022?

First time in the history of Vayalar Award a controversial article, which was later published by DC Books as a Novel. Hareesh's Meesha, the novel was an insult to women and Hinduism, it is rich in fantasy and folklore and addressing caste politics, some people took offence alleging that parts of it were obscene and ridiculed Hindu religion.