Malayalam writer UK Kumaran bags Vayalar Award for Thakshankunnu Swaroopam

Malayalam novelist UK Kumaran, who is best known for Policekarante Penmakkal, has bagged the Vayalar Award for novel Thakshankunnu Swaroopam.

The Kerala-based writer was selected as the winner of the award by jury members AK Sanu, Sethu, Mukundan and Kadathanad Narayanan. Kumaran has also won this year's Cherukad Award and Basheer Memorial Award.

The 66-year-old, a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, will be presented with the prestigious award on October 27 coinciding with the death anniversary of poet Vayalar Ramavarma. The winner will be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a sculpture designed by Kanayi Kunhiraman.

Other important novels of Kumaran include Aasakthi, Oridathum Ethathavar, Valayam, Mulappaal, Kananullathalla Kazhchakkal, Ezhuthappettathu and Ottavaakkil Oru Jivitam. He has also penned many short stories and novelettes as well for which he has won SK Pottekkatt Award, EVG Puraskaram, Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, JC Kuttikkad Puraskaram, Appan Thamburan Puraskaram, SBI Sahitya Award, Tatapuram Sukumaran Puraskaram, KA Kodungalloor Puraskaram, Sahitya Samiti Puraskaram and Thoppil Ravi Puraskaram, among others.

Kumaran, who started his literary career with short story Chalanam at the age of 17, started his career as an assistant editor at Veekshanam Vaarika. The journalist has also served as the chief of Kerala Kaumudi's Kozhikode unit.