Novelist Subhash Chandran has won this year’s Vayalar Ramavarma Literary Award for his novel Manushyanu Oru Aamukham .
The award, to be presented to him on October 27, the death anniversary of the late poet-lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma, carries a purse of Rs.1 lakh, statuette and a citation.
Manushyanu Oru Aamukham , a novel spanning two generations, was chosen for the award by a panel comprising writers Thomas Mathew, C.R. Omanakkuttan and G.V. Appukkuttan Nair. “This is a novel about the futility of life, one which is an outstanding work in terms of its characterisation and treatment,” said critic Thomas Mathew. “This is one of the finest work of fiction in Malayalam over the past two decades,” said writer Omanakkuttan.
Announcing the award, Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust president M.K. Sanoo said the prize money has been increased this time from the earlier Rs.25,000 with the support of the State government, which had made a special allocation for the purpose. Manushyanu Oru Aamukham was chosen through a three-level selection process that involved 128 works nominated by 268 persons from different walks of life. — Special Correspondent
