Dr Leelavathi to receive Vayalar award

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 (UNI) Noted critic and litterateur M Leelavathi has been selected for this year's prestigious Vayalar literary award for her book ''Appuvinte Anveshanam.'' Announcing this here today, Vayalar Rama Varma Memorial Trust president M K Sanu, said the award was selected by a three-member committee comprising Dr P V Krishnan Nair, Dr B Benjamin and Prof Sebastin Antony.

The judging committee members said ''Appuvinte Anveshanam,'' a critical work on the nine novels of famous writer C Radhakrishnan, was a true presentation of the works. It also showed the transition of the country in the past 50 years.

Though Radhakrishnan was considered a great novelist, his works had not been discussed much, they said and added this book would throw a light in that direction.

Radhakrishnan himself had bagged the Vayalar award in 1990 for his novel '' Munpe Parakunna Pakshikal.'' The award comprising a citation, a statuette sculpted by Kanayi Kunhiraman and a purse of Rs 25,000, will be presented to Dr Leelavathi on October 27, the death anniversary of Vayalar Rama Varma, one of the greatest Malayalam poets.

Apart from literary criticism, Dr Leelavathi got accolades in various other literary genres like poetry, translation and biographies. She won the Odakuzhal award in (1978), Kerala Sahitya Academy award in (1980), Sahitya Academi award (1987), Lalithambika Antarjanam award (1999), Padmaprabha award (2001), and Vallathol award in 2002.

UNI