Vayalar Award
An annual literary award from Kerala state given to the best literary work written in Malayalam for that year. Established in 1977.
- Established
- 1977
- Organizer
- Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust
- Category
- Literature and General Literary Arts
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Vayalar Award is a literary prize awarded annually in the Indian state of Kerala to the best literary work written in Malayalam for that year. It was established in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust to honor the poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma. Initially, the prize money was ₹25,000 along with a silver plaque and certificate, but currently (as of the time of writing), the prize money has been increased to ₹100,000. The award ceremony is held every year on October 27, which is Ramavarma's death anniversary. As of 2024, there have been 48 awards (first recipient: Lalithambika Antharjanam, most recent recipient: Ashokan Charuvil).
Prize
- Main Prize
- Prize money ₹100,000, silver plaque, and certificate
- Cash Prize
- 100,000 INR
- Silver plaque
- Certificate
- Initially prize money was ₹25,000
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate selection | — | — | |
| Final selection | — | Winners are announced at the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust award ceremony (every year on October 27) |
Criteria
- Awarded to the best literary work written in Malayalam for that year
Application Tips
Dos
- Check the official application guidelines from the organizing body (Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust) or related organizations
- Write the work in Malayalam and enhance its literary quality
- Read past winning works to understand the judging trends and standards
Don''ts
- Ignoring application guidelines and making mistakes in format or submission destination
- Submitting in languages other than Malayalam (translations, etc.) (generally not eligible)
- Failing to meet deadlines or submission requirements
From Judges
- Emphasis on precision and originality of language expression
- Consistency and structure of the work are evaluated
Related Awards
- List of Malayalam literary awards
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
- Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
- Mathrubhumi Literary Award
- Odakkuzhal Award
- Vallathol Award