Thiruvananthapuram, | Noted Malayalam writer Maythil Radhakrishnan has been selected for the 2026 Ezhuthachan award, the highest literary honour instituted by the Keralam government, Cultural Affairs Minister P C Vishnunadh announced here on Sunday.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a plaque.
The jury, chaired by noted poet K G Sankara Pillai and comprising Kalpetta Narayanan, K Satchidanandan and Sara Joseph, with C M Surendran as member secretary, selected the awardee.
Vishnunadh said the selection was particularly significant as it coincided with the 70th anniversary of the formation of Keralam.
"The 70th Keralam Piravi is also a proud occasion marking the growth of our language, culture, literature and arts. It is a matter of pride that we could announce the Ezhuthachan award to Maythil Radhakrishnan on this occasion," he said.
Describing Radhakrishnan as a writer admired by several generations, the minister said his readership and admirers extended beyond the boundaries of the Malayalam language.
"His contribution cannot be claimed as belonging only to Malayalis. He is a source of pride for Malayalis, with admirers beyond the boundaries of our language," Vishnunadh said.
Kalpetta Narayanan, chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and a member of the award jury, said the honour instituted in memory of Ezhuthachan, who expanded the horizons of Malayalam, was being conferred on another writer who had similarly transcended linguistic boundaries.
"Radhakrishnan is a poet in every sense. He is a poet not only when he writes poetry but also when he writes stories, essays, novels or even a brief note," Narayanan said, reading out the jury's assessment.
The jury described Radhakrishnan as a writer who had created a new sensibility in Malayalam literature through his distinctive aesthetic vision and exceptional creative ability.
Though he had explored different genres, including novels, short stories and scientific essays, an original philosophical vision consistently connected his works, the jury said.
The award presentation ceremony will be held in Kozhikode towards the end of November, taking into consideration the convenience of Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the award recipient, the minister said.
Radhakrishnan said he had not expected the award but expressed happiness, as it is in memory of Ezhuthachan, whom he greatly respects.
"I don't particularly think about awards, especially at this point of time," the 82-year-old writer told reporters.
He said the decision to hold the award presentation ceremony in Kozhikode was convenient for him as he found it difficult to undertake long train journeys.
"If such an option is available, I think that would be better. I now feel a greater closeness to Kozhikode," he said.
Radhakrishnan said the minister had contacted him to convey the news of his selection for the award.
Asked whether he had any advice for young writers, he said he could not offer any, as they were living in a very different era shaped by technological and scientific developments.
Radhakrishnan was seen wearing a band belonging to his daughter, June K Maythil, who passed away last year.
Asked about it, he said, "That is my strength. My strength is the memories of her."
Minister Vishnunadh also said in the press conference that the government planned to expand the proposed literary festival into a wider cultural festival involving various academies, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Folklore Akademi.
The proposed festival would be held over two or three days and bring together different art forms, ensuring greater diversity rather than limiting the event to literature alone, he said.
The minister said the proposed cultural festival would be organised at different locations across Keralam to ensure representation from all districts, including Idukki, rather than concentrating events in a few major cities.
On the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Vishnunadh said an additional screening venue would be introduced this year, increasing the number of screens and screenings compared to the previous edition.
"The two most important things in a film festival are having good films and ensuring that people get the opportunity to watch them. Everything else is only to add to the festival's appeal," he said.
He said the additional screen would help address the difficulty delegates face in accessing film screenings.
The minister said another late-night screening would be introduced alongside the existing midnight shows, including horror film screenings at Nishagandhi.
Vishnunadh also said the government was exploring the possibility of a permanent film festival complex on the premises of the Tagore Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said the Tagore Theatre was currently under the control of the Public Relations Department (PRD) and that the government was considering transferring it to the Cultural Affairs Department to facilitate the development of a permanent facility.
"We are looking at the possibility of creating a complex with seven or eight screens at the Tagore Theatre premises. Kalabhavan, Kairali-Sree and Nishagandhi are already located nearby. Together, these venues could form a major screening hub in the city," he said.
The minister said the proposal would help reduce the substantial expenditure incurred on hiring theatres for the festival.
The government spends around Rs 1.5 crore on theatre rentals, and the investment in developing permanent screening facilities could be recovered through savings on rentals over two or three editions of the festival, he said.
