The State government is understood to have taken a decision to appoint short story writer Vaisakhan as chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
It has also been decided to appoint actor KPAC Lalitha as chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and film editor Bina Paul as vice chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. The official announcement of the appointments is expected on Monday.
Vaisakhan has carved a niche for himself in the Malayalam short story world with his rooted stories, some of which were set around the Railways, of which he was an employee. Joining the Railways as a station master in the 1960s, he served for over two decades in all the southern States, before retiring and taking up writing full-time. A winner of major awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, his major works include Noolpalam kadakkunnavar , Nishashalabham, and Bommidippoondiyile paalam .
Beginning her career enacting roles in the Left progressive drama troupe Kerala People’s Arts Club, KPAC Lalitha went on to essay hundreds of acclaimed roles in both commercial and parallel cinema. A winner of two national awards and four State awards, she is still an active presence in the industry. She was considered as the LDF’s candidate from the Wadakkanchery constituency for the recent Assembly elections, but later opted out citing health reasons.
An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, Bina Paul began her film editing career with John Abraham’s Amma Ariyan .
She has been a part of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) right from its early years and has been credited with nurturing it into its present form as one of the most popular film festivals in the country. She had resigned from her position as the Chalachitra Academy’s Deputy Director two years ago and has been helming a film school in the city.
Published - July 31, 2016 12:00 am IST
