Methil Radhakrishnan Chosen for Keralam Government’s Ezhuthachan Award

Methil Radhakrishnan has been chosen for the 34th Ezhuthachan Award, the highest literary honour of the Keralam government.

Minister for Cultural Affairs P.C. Vishnunadh announced the award at a press conference here on Sunday (November 1, 2026).

The award consists of a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation and a plaque.

The selection was made unanimously by a jury headed by poet K.G. Sankara Pillai.

Kalpatta Narayanan, K. Satchidanandan and Sarah Joseph were members of the jury, while M.P. Surendran was the member secretary.

Jury’s assessment of his writing

The jury assessed Mr. Radhakrishnan as a writer who created a new sensibility in Malayalam literature through his unique sense of aesthetics and unparalleled intellectual ability.

It said he became a notable presence in post-modern Malayalam literature by creatively integrating science, philosophy and psychology into his writings.

Mr. Radhakrishnan works across novels, short stories, poetry and scientific articles.

The jury observed that a fundamental philosophy constantly brings these different fields together in his writing.

His major novels include Sooryavamsam, Hitchcockinte Itapetal and Laingikathayekkurichu Oru Upanyasam.

His short fiction works include Sangeetham oru Samayakalayanu, Kayarinte Attam, Nayakanmar Shavapedakathil, Sooryamalsyathe Vivarikkal, Melinjavarude Manashasthram and Enganeyoru Pazhutharaye Kollaam.

The jury said his deep interest in world poetry, philosophy, ecology, music, anthropology, history and entomology gives immense depth to his essays.

Award’s literary significance

The jury also stated that Mr. Radhakrishnan has been creating a new sensibility in the language for decades.

It assessed that he is fully deserving of the award, which is named after the writer who created a new poetic language for Malayalam.

The jury said Mr. Radhakrishnan’s works encourage readers to constantly renew their tastes.

It also assessed that these works have created a major break in the literary aesthetic of Malayalam.

Source: The Hindu