Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday, November 20, 2010: Jnanapith laureate and eminent Malayalam novelist Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and poet and lyricist Vayalar Rama Varma have been posthumously selected for literary awards instituted by the Kerala Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (SPCS).

The first of the literary awards instituted by the Malayalam writers co-operative carry Rs 1.25 lakh each, state Co-operation Minister G Sudhakaran told reporters here today.

Thakazhi and Vayalar were chosen for the honour in view of their outstanding contribution to Malayalam literature in general and SPCS in particular, the minister said.

Both writers had most of their works published by SPCS and had played a vital role in nurturing it as a prestigious publishing house in Kerala.

Thakazhi (1919-1999) is a widely read novelist and short story writer of Malayalam.

Vayalar (1928-1975) was the most popular lyricist of Malayalam cinema and stage who had rendered hundreds of songs.

(Agency)