Kerala authors win big in 2025 Sahitya Akademi Literary Awards

New Delhi: Akhil P. Dharmajan, author of the Malayalam novel Ram c/o Anandi, has been awarded the Kendra Sahitya Akademi's Yuva Sahitya Puraskar for 2025. Sreejith Moothedam, author of the children's novel Penguinukalude Vankarayil, received the Children’s Literature Award.

In its press release, the Akademi announced that the awards — which include a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a sculpture — will be presented at a later date.

Akhil P. Dharmajan, a native of Pathirappally in the Alappuzha district, is also a screenwriter. Sreejith, a native of Vanimel, Nadapuram in Kozhikode, works as a teacher at CNN School, Cherpu, Thrissur.

The award was decided at the Akademi's Executive Board meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday. Books published between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, were considered for the award.

The Yuva Sahitya Puraskar for Malayalam was selected by a committee comprising A. G. Oleena, Dr. V. Rajeev, and Dr. Sreevrinda Nair. The Children's Literature Award jury included Gracy Joseph, Dr. P. K. Kushalakumari, and Rajeev Gopalakrishnan.